Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-21


may be found to enforce the law, and in
case the negro does not comply ne is
to be sold into slavery-not voluntary
servitude-a kind Of Mexican peon slave
ry-under the free iars Of the free
State of Indiana. The mere coming
here Of the negro is no violation OF our
cons,itution-it is not crime in the let
ter or spirit Of that instrument, and yet
YOUR law, if enforced makes him slave
for six months, or be transported without
the limits Of the State. as felon. The
Overseers Of the poor in entering upon
the duties Of the office takes an oath 10
,,erirUfIn all the acquisitions of the law
What officer has performed his duty IN
der this law. lie commits not moral per-
Jury. but he violates his oath Of office SO
long as the law remains in our books.
To make the law more stringent, the
p!ov Them. the 4th section Of this act.
makes such person liable to heavy pen
atty. The free negro, for the first four
sections Of this law do not refer TO
slaves Ascending from other States, the
free negro, no matter how destitute, how
hungry or worn down he may be, cannot
receive the common charity due dog.
unless you violate the free laws of In
diana.
The 9TH section secures the right TO
slave holders TO pass through your State,
and hold "their negroes" in slavery as
long as they are travelling through the
State The uncons,itutionality Of this
provision is admitted by all the citizens OF
the State. The courts have SO decided
why then not repeal it. and wipe off the
disgrace attached to it.
The brief space of an editorial will
not permit US to write down all the argu-
ments for the repeal of this law, which
is but relic OF the darker ages, without
redeeming feature on It's tace-a law
which cannot be justified by single prin-
ciple Of justice in either morals or re-
ligion.
The next act TO which your attention is
invited, relates TO witnesses, dispositions,
and evidence, and is recorded in the Re-
vised Statutes Of 1881, Chap. 10, sec p,
and reads as follows:
"No negro, mulatto. or Indian, shall be
a witness, except in pleas OF the State
against negroes, mulatloes or Indians,
and in civil cases where negroes, mulat-
toes, or indians alone are parties. Every
person other than negro. having onv
fourth part or more of negro blood. OF
any one whose grandiaihers or grand
mothers shall have been negro shall be
deemed mulatto.'
Prejudice against the colored race
alone prompted the enactment of this
law. The abject of all legislative action
should be to ensure justice and the en-
forcement Of right. We have known
several instances where white persons
suffered wrongs and impositions from the
dishonest, simply because negroes coulo
not be permitted TO give evidence in wha
are called ..courts Of Justice This Law
does too much. But negroes are permit
ted to give evidence in cases where thu
parties are all blacks. We suppose III,
sapent projectors Of this law supposed
that any kind of swearing was good e
, nough for negroes-that justice between
them was not essential. We confess tia
> arise in the administration of justice
from permitting persons OF every com
| plexion giving evidence. and subjectin,
: their testimony to the scrutiny of the bar
the sagacity of the bench, and the goo
sense of the jury.
Another act in the list Of laws general
> " denominated the Black laws. may b
. found on page 578. of the Revised Sta.
utes of 1913. 1t saws:
.All marriages between a white perso
$ and negro or mulatto. if solemnize
Il within this State, shall be absolutely vol
: without any decree OF divorce or other &c
gal proceeding
The next may be found on page 964 {
: the Statutes of '43. and reads thus
'lf any person. without proper auihor
= ". shall give TO any one owing service i
any State or Territory within the Unite
:, States. a certificate or other testimonial c
/ emancipation. or shall knowingly harbo
or employ any such one, owing servic
= as aforesaid. or held as a slave. who ma
have come into this State without the con
/. sent Of his or her owner. or shall assist O
encourage any such one TO desert or ne
90 with his or her owner, or shall use an
e violence or other means TO prevent. let. Q
:. hinder any person in lawfully recoverin
5 any fugitive slave or person owing SCI
e vice. such person SO offending. shall, up
, on conviction thereof. be fined in an
sum no, exceeding five hundred dollars
and be liable for damages to any perso
: or persons injured by any of the sal
; acts"
' To discuss the inconsistency of thi
/ &C, with the spiri, of freedom upon whc