January 9, 1865---Two Congresses Carry On

JANUARY 9, 1865:  

Tennessee abolishes slavery.

The debate on the Thirteenth Amendment goes on in the House of Representatives. Slowly, President Lincoln is winning over members of the fractious House.

While the Northern Congress argues over abolishing slavery, so does the Southern Congress. There is much resistance to the idea (in both Congresses), and the idea of arming slaves to fight remains anathema to most Southrons.  

Complicating the debate are rumors of Francis Preston Blair’s supposedly secret trip to Richmond to discuss peace with Jefferson Davis. The idea that the end of the war may be imminent stiffens the back of the slaveocracy, Northern and Southern.