1862-April-24: The Senate debate over recognition revealed that old racial prejudices remained potent despite the absence of the Deep South.

1862-April-24: The Senate debate over recognition revealed that old racial prejudices remained potent despite the absence of the Deep South. Senator Garret Davis, a Democrat from the border state of Kentucky, used language reminiscent of the 1820s to argue that Washington society was “not yet ready” to receive a black minister. Similarly, Senator Saulsbury of Delaware objected to the idea of a Haitian diplomat appearing in the Senate gallery reserved for foreign representatives. These objections highlighted that the move toward recognition was driven by Republican political dominance and wartime necessity. There had been no total shift in national racial attitudes.