Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-09
m-rhe following communIeatiOn vas sent in

g The following communication was sent IN /
for publication by prominent and radical Re-
publican, and who has heretofore sympathized /
with Abolition ideas and policy:
lFor the Indiana State Sentinel.
About the Negro.
Though ! entertain the usual dislike to the
negro. which is almost an instinct with the white /
race yet / would not carry this to the extent
which shall be equally ruinous to him and us.
Existing facts call upon every wise man to review
his old theories and plans and inquire whether
they are adapted to the unusual and unlocked
for state of Affairs around US. We may not have
experience enough TO induce stubborn to
acknowledge change of opinion, yet certainly
the events of the last twelve months have been
such TO require a examination OF our policy
and inquire whether it is the best for Us at
present.
Eleven years ago the people of Indiana, by a
majority never equaled voted to prevent the
coming OF any more negroes into our State. If
the same question we're again before the people
il would receive even a larger majority now than
then Nothing has transpired TO change public
opinion to a more favorable regard of the race,
but rather otherwise. But facts different.
Then slave property in the South secure
as any other, and the number seeking home
among US lawfully was very small Ii is other
wise new Hundreds of thousands, the bes and
the worst, of the black population have been set
free by the fortunes of war. IL not free bv the
confscaton act and the proclamation they have
taken advantage o. the unsettled state of the
coul.try and escaped, until the colOred population
OF Indiana has quite doubled within twelve
months, in spite OF Constitution and the law.
Aud Jew il becomes question how to meet
this new state of facts. Our first impulse is TO
increase the penalties and intensity the law which
forbids their coming among US This is natural.
Abstractly We claim the right to say who may
and who may not live in our State, but prac-
tically cannot. The failure of the present
law is not lroma want OF penalty or from defect
in details; it is from the same principle which
renders stringent law against small notes on
foreign banks failure-its execution is impossi-
bic. And any law more stringent will be still
more difficult of execution, it is most likely
TO be revolving to the ideas of humanity which
we can but cultivate, however We may abhor the
negro
90 not lay stress upon the possibility that
military necessities may require the Government
~ send large numbers of the freed negroes into
the free States, il sends other prisOners-of war
Independent of the proclamation the movements
of our army loosen the slaves from their masters,
and when the number becomes too great to be
provided for, as now, some new disposition must
be made of them. That they may be sent North
is possible, least. Neither do l question the
policy, economically. of keeping out aborers, at
time when at least 70 900 of our producers are
absent, and thousands of acres To be lett IN
cultivated for want of labor while the wives of
our soldiers and the widows OF those slain in bat
tie have to pay exorbitant prices for bread and
wood for this very cause. The dem gogical cry
of competition with white labor would more than
neutralize an argument on this point, though
there is twice as much work do all the se-
naming white labor perform, and the prices
enhanced from such cause fall heaviest upon
those least able to bear them. What have to
recommend is based upon the probability that
emancipa,ed or fugitive slaves will come into the
State in spite of forbdding laws.
What snail be done with themI Negroes raised
among US are bad enough; those who come from
slave States with erroneous notions of freedom
and its immunties will be a great pest unless we
can rise above preudces and boldly meet the
crisis by wise legislation. Wsnnt may drive them
to labor for thieves though they be, iii IA small
way. they cannot make living by stealing when
having to compete with more experienced and
better cultivated white men. But when left to
choice their labor will be only ii,fu, and there
fore unreliable. Experience IN every part of the
State has shown that the new negroes have no
correct idea of the sacredness of contracts the
value of money. They work only while their
immediate wants are supplied, or until some one
more needy for the moment offers higher wages.
The consequence already is that men refuse to
employ them, except from day 70 day, leaving
them mostly unemployed, and therefore exposed
to temptations and probably engaged in vice.
Would it not be wise craftsmanship 90 rec0g-
nze the facts but briefly alluded to, and instead
of madly beating the air and yainly wasting our
strength on impossibities, TO meet them by a
wholesome law7 | would suggest that instead of
any new provisions to keep them out OF the State,
we make it the duty of the Overseer of the Poor
to take immediate charge of every one thus com
ing into the State aud bind them out to suitable
persons at reasonable wages for their own benefit
for period of from to five years, and making
it public oense for any person to interfere with
the apprentices thus iEdeniufed, or 10 employ any
negro who shall have come into the State since
the adoption of the Constitution or since the be
ginning of the war, or from the passage OF the
act, unless through the Overseer of the Poor.
am not particular as TO the details of such law,
only let it consult the interests of the parties.
can and will be enforced and its enforcement
will be more OF a terror to those seeking home
here than our imperative prohibitory laws.
This is intended only as suggestion il would
be well if the Legislature could quit discussing
military men and military matters which they
cannot affect and give heed to pressing necessi
ties. Something of this kind must take place Oh
we are ruined. Better now, while it would be
terror in some respects and every way practical
than to wait until we shall have suffered for year.
by the influx of this ignorant and degraded pop
ulatiOn.