Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-19
THE JEFFERsONVTLLE AND INDIANAP.
OILS RAIL ROAD.

Several times of late we have noticed accounts
of outrageous treatment of colored people, travel
ling on this railroad. They struck us as remark
able, even in this age and country so Characterised
by mean oppression of the colored man. A late
No. of the Tribune explains the secret, 1t seems
the stockholders of the Il. r. Company, have in
troducod into their regulations the insolent char
actcristics of slave state travel, with additions
Ordinarily free papers" would pass q man
through Kentucky but when these Kcntuckians
make regulations for Ohio travel, somebody in
their interest must certify to the free papers. The
IIcosiers seem quietly content with this arrange
ment. The paragraph of the Tribune rcbukes
them with merited severity. 1t is as follows:
SLAVERY IN INDIANA.
The phenomena of Northern servility 10 the
south upon supposed reasons Of seli-interest, are
myriad-headed. From the time when a New-York
mercantile house was able to excite animadyersion
by the affirmation that they sold their goods and
not their principles" such was the circle of base
ness that surrounded their independence to the
last hotel-puff of arrivals from the south not
going beyond this period-we can find examples,
prominent and comprehensive, Of Northern servil-
ity enough to make q sensitive soul ashamed that
il ever knew being. a fresh evidence of this SER
Witty has now come to our knowledge. 1t seems
That the stock Of the Jacksonville and Indiauapo-
lis Railroad is chiefly held in Louisville, Ky.
though the road is in Indiana, q free State, social
cd. The direction being thus controlled in a Slave
State, has established a rule that every colored
person travelling thereby, shall prove himself free!
Papers are not sufficient, no matter how well au-
thenticatcd, but a passport ia required from some
wel-known resident Of Jeforsonyillc, before any
black en- travel by the road! BY means of this
rule, submitted to in a free State with Il degree OF
sprVIlitv mt nNcppDp1 Inv a Cluy va OUTRIGHT wa nrc
informed that freemen Of color have been seized,
taken to Kentucky, imprisoned and whipped, until
their freedom could be proved. In the practice OF
this rule, the railroad in question stands alone. 1t
has no peer in the other roads, except so far as the
wkole State is responsible. Ii Indiana wishes to
have a reputation as a civilized State she will bring
the slavc-driving directors of that road to their
senses, and insist upon the right of every man to
travel by that road unquestioned, until legally APP
pretended for crime or misdemeanor. So far as
she admits such slaye-directions in her affairs she
adds ono more impeachment to the Acknowledgement
Of the free States, all of which are sunk TO the
level Of ~lacqueys, of o~verseers by the infamous
Fugitive Slave bill.
We learn that three colored persons, who have
suffered under the oppressive regulation of thu
company, have commenced suit against it, which
will test the right of the company to refuse an,
person q passage over their road. and especial,
on the i~mpudcnt presumption that travellers ar
slaves, in opposition to the constitution of Indiana
which prohibits slavery. And yet there is reason
to fear that colored men in conflict with a rc
corporation in slavery-ridden southern Indiana, vii
have small chance of success. a Louisville pape
says that it is of vital Importance to the slavehold
ing interest that the company's regulations be su'
I tanned.
A new feature of slave extension, is this, thI
railroad corporations may introduce the slave law
of Kentucky into Indiana or Ohio. 1t has bee
done. Whether it shall be sustained or no, W
shall see.