Remarks on the First Anniversary of the Death of Abraham Lincoln

What it is

This is a printed record of remarks given by James A. Garfield in the House of Representatives on April 14, 1866, marking the first anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln.

Why it matters

Garfield speaks of the day as one that would be remembered for as long as the nation endured, reflecting on Lincoln's life and the tragedy of his assassination. The remarks show how members of Congress who lived through the Civil War and Lincoln's death publicly processed that loss, and give insight into Garfield's own views on Lincoln and the Union just a year after the war's end.

Look closer

• Why might Garfield choose to speak about Lincoln a full year after his death rather than right away?
• What words does Garfield use to describe the importance of this day, and why?
• What does this remark suggest about how the Civil War generation wanted Lincoln to be remembered?