Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-08
From the Free Presbyterian.
Inhumanity in Indiana.

ne OOnStliutlOnal COnNcntiOn OF lnNlnNn
has Incorporated an article in the new Con-
sttulion, containing the following provisions
Negroes and mulattoes are forbidden to
settle in the State hereafter; all contracts
with them are declared void any person en-
pioying them 10 pork, or encouraging them 10
remain in the State, shall be fined from $40
10 $500; such fines shall be applied to the
gradual colonization of the negroes IN the
State. This article is to be submitted to a
separate vote by the people.
The question, "why don't you 20 TO the
South, and preach your doctrines" &c, need
certainly not bc asked of the abolitionists in
Indiana. They have work cnough for one
generation Mt home for whether the above
article shnll he adopted 10y the people or not,
the fact that convention elected by them,
can seriously propose such measure, is cv-
ideuce of degree of inhunnnity that is de-
plOrable. The plain English of the above
article is, 10 negro or mulatto shall live
where we have power TO take from them the
means of living. The first thing said is,
none of them shall come into our territory.
IL has always been considered every inno-
cent mans privilege TO choose his own place
of residence, when he does not interfere with
the rights OF any one else. But this right
the Indiana Convention says shall not he en-
joyed, by portion Of the inhabitants of this
country.
The second thing is that all contracts made
with the prescribed class, shall be void. A
poor negro, we will suppose, Ius contracted
to labor n year for u wcnthy nciglbor, Tor Il
certain compensation. He honestly puts in
his time tolls on through summers heat
and winters cold. chccrcd by the hope of the
many comlnrs lic may purchase, with the
reward of his labor, for his iiuily. But his
employer happens TO he no more honest than
hc ought to he. To cuahle him TO cheat his
poor laborcr ont of his rights, the Constlu-
ilonnl Convention has put in this article
lie cOuly snys to lis poor workman, when
the price OF his work is demanded, prefer
not paying you your wages, md co'iccs them
y you can. A poor widow tolls over the
waslI-luh to earn bread for her dependent
children A mean employer chooses TO keep
her wages and the Convention says 10 him,
do so with inpuiiy il you wish.
A tlrd particular is, that any one employ
ing rolorcd persons shall be fined from Sl0
10 $500. II is not enough for the benevolent
law makers of Indiana 10 provide for the vi
ont,on of contracts with negroes and munt-
toes, they alse cut them oil from the means
of living altogether. To give them work in
future, is to be an oflense against the Coasli-
tiition aud laws. To allow father and
Woihcr TO earn bread for Heir children, is
hcnceiorward TO he II matter OF fine. The
negro is not 10 he permitted TO "earn bread
hy the sweat of his brow;" what blIsiness
have niggers" TO need bread at all ? The
very scum of Europe's ulms-houscs and jails
may freely settle in Indiana, get work aud
wages if they choose, or be kept as paupers
il they don't, but American born inhabitants
however quiet and orderly, however peacea-
hle and Christian in their deporment,nre cut
off from the means OF earning n living by
even the lowest drtdgery.
The last thing noteworthy in this consii-
tutiOnul provision, is that the fines collected
from those who employ negroes aud mulat-
toes shall he appropriated 10 the co'oniz7lion
of those already therc. This provision is u
most significant commentary on tie chnrac-
ter of the colonization scheme. After adopt
ing the most barhnrOus provisions for the OPP
preston and wronging OF the poor, the Con-
venlon provides way for the appropriation
Of the proceeds Of this iniquity. After de-
nying the cOored man the right to obey
Gods command 10 "labor with his hands !"
after providing the most ample inpunity for
all who choose TO cheat aud abuse him, the
conveniionists order the wages OF iniquly
zation society, TO be appropriated to the eX-
patriaton of the hated class. This fact is Il
faithful index To the character of the Colo
nizhtion movement. We have no comments
to offer on it, save that we think this appro-
priation Of the contemplated fines is aPpro-
PIRATE.
We have long believed that the proscrip-
tive, pro.slavery spirit Of the North, is
meaner spirit than that which leads many
men in the South TO own slaves. This be-
lief finds abundant confirmation in the above
action of the Indiana Convention.
The LIBERTY OF SPEECH AND APPLAUSE.
When Theodore Parker was handed Shad-
rachs note on Sunday requesting "the
prayers of all Christian people," he remark
ed uflcr reading il, that he did not think,
when he came TO Boston, that he should ever
receive such document as that, but, said
Mr.. Parker in solemn earnesmess, " THANK
God the fugitive has escaped}" The audience