Read the article below about the horrors of slavery:
The below article is from a Boston newspaper in 1848 on the horror of slavery. The slave pens of traders were located near the Mall and at Lafayette Square within sight of the White House. The trade finally was outlawed in the district by the Compromise of 1850 and abolition of slavery in 1862. There is a photo from the Library of Congress below showing a slave pen from Alexandria VA.
Transcribed - The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, writing from Washington, gives the following notice of some of the 'peculiar Institutions' of our National Capitol. Today I had the curiosity, and held it no sacrilege to visit the 'Slave Pens,' of which there are two in this city. A large yard surrounds a small dwelling house, to the latter of which is attached a strong brick building, built very much after the manner of our jails, in which are confined, or rather shut up, Negroes who come from a distance and are for sale, or who may be driven south to market. The keeper charges commission for storing and safely keeping the commodity until called for. They co not allow auction sales here of these chattels now, as was once the custom. The purchaser examines his purchase, and pays for the same keeper charges a commissions for storing as he would buy a horse or any other person.
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