The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-22
STATE OF THINGS IN INDIANA.
Extracts of a letter, dated

RICHMOND, IA, December 8, 1891
To the Editor of the National Era:
While have pen in hand will address you
a few lines on the state of parties IN Indiana.
There seems to be spirit abroad 10 irown
down the Free Soil party, and TO make the fu-
gitiye Slave Law a grand test both OF bunker
Whiggery and Democracy and 1T would seem
from the prayers of certain clergymen, OF
church membership also, agitation must be ar
rested, except in the extension and perpetual
ton of slavery and the Union, if preserved,
must be effected by the extension OF slavery
whenever and wherever South Carolina may
require it. From present indications. | am led
to believe that the Wing and Democratic nom-
nees for the President, in 1852, will endeayor
to outdo each other in laudation of the social
ed COMPROMISE measures, and especially the
"best of all" as Gen Lane, in his Indianapolis
speech, said of the Fugitive Slave Law En-
deayors will be exerted to please the slave
States. and the nominee who will be esteemed
the feetest and safest on the cold track of a
runaway negro will in all probability be sue
cessful In the selection OF fit persons In the
Methodist Episcopal Church South for the
Office of Bishop, an eye was had no doubt To
the individuals who owned the greatest num-
Der of human cattle because Bishop Andrew
had been suspended because he owned few
80, in nominating candidate for the Presi-
dency his claims would be much strengthened
were he large stakeholder, and dealt much in
that kind of stock.
During the Territorial Government OF In
diana, more than one attempt was made by It's
Governor and Council to suspend the Ordinance
of 1887, so far as it related to slavery; and
now some thrty-tiye years OF State Govern
ment has passed away and we find the same
spirit rampant, either to drive the negroes from
the State or, if retained here, have them con-
verified into slavery.
Notwithstanding this dark picture we have
some noble souls in the State-men who would
be an ornament to any State-men who have
not and viii not bow to the Bill Browns nor ex-
saf,sN-..v -.~-. 80 l---s-s =. ~
occasion viii uySSe ther faith by their words
Yet the spirit of 1879 seems to have deserted
us. The extraordinary provisions in the new
Constitution, and its adoption by such an over
whelming majority, is calculated to make an
honest man hang his head and blush that he
is man. An individual who has any claims on
society, and who looks to an office as probable,
must acquiesco in the negro-chasing law-must
subscribe to tho constitutional provision prohlb-
ting free persons of color from entering the
State, and agreeing to become intormers
against such who may employ them to labor or
give them comfort These things he must do,
or priest and people will give him leave to re-
tire from public service.
Nor is this negro-proscription principle con-
fined to any class of citizens exclusively for,
to my knowledge and belief the clergy of In
diana are equally guilty with the rum seller or
horse jockey; and rarely indeed is the case of
the enslaved presented before the throne of
grace.
Gov. Wright urges upon the Legislature &C
ton upon tho negro clause in the Constitution );
and from his expressed views on that article,
there need be no fears of the Executive veto,
should legislative action be ever 30 stringent.
have for years past been considered DEM
ocrat-have acted with that party in public
places and in private life, and am now three
score and rising, and find myself no longer
Democrat-kicked out of the party, and can
truly say that thank God for the kicking, at
least in my case.
Some person has suggested the name of ].
p Hale for President, and c. M Clay for Vice
President. This is perhaps as strong team as
the Anti-Slavery party could bring into the
terfere with the nominees of other parties
The Anti-Slavery party would not be sufficient
ly strong to drive the other parties together
hence they could Do their own voting, and look
on and see fair fight; and, 30 far as the ques-
ton Of slavery is concerned, very little odds
which whips.
Under view of all these dscouraging cir
cumstances | do not despair The overt acts
OF the dominant parties, and the extremities
towards which they are fastening would seem
to admonish us that point is about being
reached when reaction will check the onward
course Of men in power-when truth and
justice will be melted out to the poor, and when
the precipice is uncapped, and the abyss into
which the nation is about to be plunged will
cause the sober second thought to commence
its reign, not Of terror, but of reason.
These indictments for treason are certainly
alarming - the cause of liberty and should
convictions take place, and executions follow, q
flame will be ignited which fear will be diff
cult to extnguish
Excuse, my dear sir this scrawl; and say
to you, do your duty in the cause in which you
are embarked iearlessly and in the fear Of
Heaven. H. HOOVER