Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-08-29
Free Blacks in Indiana.

than was given for the other parts of the con-
stitution -
SEC l. No negro or mulatto shall come into
or settle in this State after the adoption of this
Constitution.
See. All contracts made with any negro
or mulatto coming into this State contrary to
tie foregoing section shall be VOID and all per-
sons who shall employ or otherwise encourage !
such negro or muatto to remain in the State,
shall be fined in any sum of not less than ten
dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
SIC. 3. All fines which may be collected for
a violation of the provision, of this article, or
any law which may hereafter be passed for the
purpose of carrying the same into execution,
shall be set apart and appropriated for the col
onlzation Of such negroes and mulattoes, and
their descendants, as may be in the State at
the adoption of this Constitution, and may be
willing to emgrate.
: c. 4. The General Assembly shall pass
laws to carry out provisions of this article.
institutional or legislative provisions.
scarcely less narrow. tyrannlcul and inhuman
than those above stated, exist in many of the
western states. They strike blow deep and
fearful, and should not be passed by without
careful note and candid comment. Palpably
antagonlstic as they are to the general scope
and theory of the institutions of our govern
ment; glarngly violative of the first prime pies
of our Declaration of Independence; and en-
anating as they do in section of our country
that daily vaunts o its political lberality and
its peculiarly tender regard for the poor and
| oppressed Of all nations, we feel called upon to
give them few moments consideration.
When such provisions are read by intelligent
and liberal foreigners, will they not look upon
us and our professions with sheer of con-
tempt? They understand, as historical fact,
that large proportion of the inhabitants of
these prescribing states is composed Of Euro
pean emigrants, many Of whom, while in their
native land helped TO swell the list of paupers,
vagabonds and culprits, and were furnished by
the governments of their own country with the
funds necessary for their removal to this. They
know that these very states offer to this portion
of their population inmunites to which native
born white American can make no claim For
instance: In some of those states, foreigners
I have been admitted to the right o. suffrage in
three months after landing upon their shores
while New Englander, or citizen of any Am
erican state, could take no part in governments
al affairs until after residence of IA year. And
why is this 4? Simply for the purpose of at
once fratern2ing them into the great family Of
democrats Tie liberulity of these states is sheer
political sellishness. 1t extends only to the
Caucasian race and to them, whether wise
+ or ignorant, virtuous or vicious. What COM
mentary upon American liberty! What an il
lustration Of American democracy Taking
Indiana for an exampler, no matter what may be
mans attainments in science, literature, NOR
ais, politics, or religion, he cannot constitution
0ly step his foot upon no inconsderabc por-
ton of the richest soil of this boosted free re-
public. Neither NJ. DUMAs, the celebrated
French author, Frederick DoUGLAss, CHAs
LESox RAYMOND, nor any one of the many ed
ucated, wealthy and respectable men of co'or
who can walk, with heads erect, through the
rep lies, the aristocracies, monarchies and des
otsns of the old world, can legally tread upon
he soil of Indiana, a member of the great Am.
erican Republic! In that state they can make
no binding contract for even a supper or night,
: dying. A "ncgro or muiatto," living upor
that sacred soil before the adoption Of the pre-
sent Constitution, is now turned into an alieI
and an enemy to his own friends and kindred
Il he should give shelter or comfort to his fathe
| or his mother his brother, sister, or friend, he
subjects himself to fine, " not less than ten no
more than ive hundred dollars" His ancestors
or kindred may die there leaving him large
; estates but he cannot 90 there to occupy anc
= enjoy them, Had we space, we would say
much more. We hope we have already sal,
enough to induce reflection.