San Francisco Civil War Round Table Meeting Thursday 19th November 2015 at the United Irish Cultural Center 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco ==========================================================
The meeting opened at 6:45pm with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Gil Lopez, and the introduction of guests.
The president announced that the December meeting will include a Book Raffle that promises to surpass all previous such events and make a major contribution to the Round Table exchequer.
Long time SFCWRT member Art Buckley presented a paper on "Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery." He recounted the many attempts to address the issue of slavery which had to be tempered to retain the support of the border states, which did not want to see the "peculiar institution" abolished. Lincoln and Congress attempted many solutions, including purchase of slaves and "colonization," i.e. deportation. None were successful. Finally, in a rising tide of Northern support for abolition, and following the Union victory at Antietam, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on the first of January 1863.
Program Chair Bob Hubbs announced that the December speaker will be Phil Avila and his topic will be General William Barksdale and the Battle of Antietam.