CHAPTER XLIV.
THE CAPITAL FREE.—PROCLAMATION OF FREEDOM.
In 1862 slavery was abolished in the District of
Columbia, the honor of which in the main belongs to
Henry Wilson, Senator from Massachusetts.
With the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, commenced a new era at our country's capital. The representatives of the governments of Hayti and Liberia had both long knocked in vain to be admitted with the representatives of other nations. The slave power had always succeeded in keeping them out. But a change had now come over the dreams of the people, and Congress was but acting up to this new light in passing the bill admitting the representatives of the black republics.
As we have before stated, the slave-trade was still being carried on between the Southern States and Africa. Ships were fitted out in the Northern ports for the purpose of carrying on this infernal traffic. And although it was prohibited by an act of Congress, none had ever been convicted for dealing in slaves. The new order of things was to give these trafficers a trial, and test the power by which they had so long
