Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-25

Era.
LEGISLATION oF INDIANA RESPECTING
C0L0RED PEOPLE
! We purpose brief exposition Of the legal dis
abilities of colured people in Indiana, as matter
Of general interest, and as having particular refer
ence to the mitigation or remoya! OF those dlsapii
ties, through the agency of enlightened public
sentiment. We shall eUnfne observations Oh
this subject to the present time, merely remarking
,hat, with the exception Of the 18th article OF the
Constitution, which, as We shall show, originated
/ in rather abnormal" state Of public feeling
/ there has, perhaps been some mitigation OF the
rigors of our legislation in this direction, in the
progress Of the times. That it is yet sufficiently
stringent or rather most oppressive AMI UNJUST
will appear from the following enumeration Of its
principal provisions bearing on this subject
By article second, eectiUn fifth, Of the Consttu-
tion, negroes and muluttoes are denied the right Of
suffrage.
Bv the thirteenth article Of the same instrument
negroes and mulattoes are forbidden to come int
settle in the State all contracts made with them
contrary to the preceding provision are declared
void and fine of not less than ten more than
five hundred dollars is imposed on any person who
shall employ or otherwise encourage them to re-
main in the State. The same article further pro-
vidcs that nl fines which may be collected for
violation Of the provisions Of the same, or Of any
law which may be passed for the purpose Of carry
ing the same into execution shall be set apart for
} the colonization Of such negroes and muhttoes.
and their descendants, rs mny lie in the state at
the adoption Of the Consultation, and may he will
ing to eingratc Said article further enjoins leg
isaton to carry ont its provisions.
Il BY chapter 18th volume lst Of the Revised
i Statutes Of 1852, the General Assembly proceeded
to obey this injunction. In addition to this reen-
actment of the principal provisions Of the 18th ar
licle they provide for the registry, hy the clerks
Of tie several Circuit Courts in the State, Of all
negroes and muattoes who were inhabitants Of The
same prior to the first day Of November, lS)l, and
entitled to reside therein. The clerk is authorized
to supUna witnesses to prove the right OF inhabl
tution Of any such negro or mulatto and it satis
ed OF such right, is required to register his name
and issue him a certificate. Tie act also extends
, to the colorcd people coming into the State the
same penalty which had been imposed upon rer-
sons employing them. The provisions Of the l3;h
article in regard to cOioai=di2R carried out aud
f Improved upon" by chapter Sth, first revised stat
utes, and chapter 18Th, Acts 1853, which appropr
ate five thousand dollars annually for some years
to that ohject--the purchase Of lands in Africa,
+ payment Of salary OF agent, &c.
. BY chapter 42d Acts 1853, it is provided that
. mo person having ono. eighth or more of negro
blood shall te permitted to testify as witness in
e any case in which any white person il party in
- interest.
BY section lst, chapter l06th, Acts 1858, it is
. enacted tllat "thc property Of negroes shall not be
. taxed for school purposes nor shall any negro or
n mulatto derive any Of the benefits Of the common
schools of this State" But though, thus ostcnsi-
bly, exempt from taxation for the support of schools
colored people, in common with other citizens, arc
required to contribute towards the school fund, IN
tho way Of fines assessed for breaches Of the pen
al laws Of lho State, as also by escheats and other
fnrtetures. See Constitution, article Sth section
! ID, and Revised Statutes, chapter 93th section
second)
. Lastly, colorcd people are not exempt from a
i property tax, from labor on the public high
ways. See revised statutes, chapter 9th, section
9th. and chapter l02l section Gth--9th)
o The above, we believe, are all the legal provis
C ions worthy Of note, pertaining to this suIqeet
n For the sake of brevitv We have not set them ont
= in full but have been careful give fair render
ing of their substance and spirit We now pro
ppSe taking them up III their ORDER beginning will
Il the second, and making such remarks upon theil
gin and bearings as may conduce 70 bette
a understanding OF the character Of our Legislation
d in the promises
Comment, at this ao day on the cnormity o
&c this exclusion clause, would seem to lie snpertu
Gus. It's unjust and unconstitutional character has
,C already been fully exposed far rs language Is
10 udcquate to do So But there is connected with il
Y a feature Of peculiar me2nness. which should mo-
=. Ibe passed uln0tccd The same body who thu,
i shut out from our borders the colored people gene
n, rally and sought to Danish those already here
. all native American citzens-by the same instru
Ne mcnt spread wide our gates, inviting to partc'
~ ton of equnl pIirile9cs with ourselves, n ve:y
merely Europeans however degraded or infamous
" but inhabitants Of ASIA Africa, and 1.-THE isles Of
e the sea in short all moderately white foreigners
)" and other exception whatever! Could any
thing short Of the latent spirit and influence of the
Is peculiar Institution" have inspired peculiar al
/ exception?
re As to the effect of this exclusion clause, ord tht
laws made in furtherance of its oblect-althougI
it has hot corresponded with the intention of then
es authors-althoufh we have heard of but one east
Il arising under them-although the statute requlsI
- ton of registry is we believe, very generally ant
T. very properly disreGarded and contemned by oui
$ resident cologed popuaton-although in short
is this clause is to be considered, to good degree
r. simply proclamation, at once gratuitous ant
;. mpotent of the inhuman- and anti Christian char
acter of our pcoplc-is latent influence upon III
- ,colored population, both within and without th'
e State, is doubtless, nevershe!ess very oppressive
- though overt manifestation Of its power may in
a dicate the fact,
~ The same observations applicable to the colo
nization scheme. As yet IT has been far more IN
Operative. And who doubt that it will renlaii
ID 20? The idea of sending our colored population
to Africa, of founding an empire" there, with tn
u means provided by our Legislature-not to say b.
any practical purpose whatever--is too supreme
ridiculous TO be worthy Of serious notice. That
lis most transparent deception, is known to al
H. intelligent minds, and could readily be demonstra
;a ed, this proper place to do so. Yettis bu
" too evident that on the shrine of this monstrou
d. cmera the rights of the colored people have beer
" offered NJ! is true that the colonization schem
er is ostens;bly designed to operate only upon tho,
IL; ''who may be willing to emigrate.' But the who
III series OF oppressive acts with which We are no
he dealing seem clearly designed to the desire
he degree of Willingness" To apply the languae
II of another, "theso or kindred enormities mus
ly extend over the und-persecution, abuse, barba
W inv ,t ,vhirh the mind revoltS TO induce the cor
y, sent of these people to go to Liberia. "WHia
OF to emigrate ? ay, the willingness of the conVic
M who-0ne or the other being ineyitahe-choose
transportation instead of hanging Such is tn
IN, mode by which our Empire in Africa" is to b
rd -
3D. *Suit, it is said, has been commenced against
he Methodist minister in the Southern part of tn
nd Stnte for emnlnzing n cnlnrea Clergyman of Kel