Garnet's Memorial Discourse

On February 12, 1865, Henry Highland Garnet became the first African American to lead the worship service in the House of Representatives. Chosen by President Abraham Lincoln, Reverend Garnet was a former slave and then pastor of the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. He spoke on slavery and urged Congress to "Let slavery die. It has had a long and fair trial. God himself has pleaded against it. The enlightened nations of the earth have condemned it. Its death warrant is signed by God and man. Do not commute its sentence. Give it no respite, but let it be ignominiously executed.”