The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-14

convention adjourned of contagious dis
ease. Mr.. Hendricks was a member of the
committee on county and township organ
ization, power and officers. As member he
appears to have been nothing more than an
ordinary member He only made three
speeches of any length, and these, taken to-
gether, do not exceed dozen pages. On the
Goth of November Mr.. Hendricks made
strong speech opposing the immigration OF
negroes 10 this State. Alter stating that he
was opposed to slavery, he said, with respect
to the Immigration of negroes from the
South: "Shall the State of Indiana suffer
the South to throw upon her, TO be provided
for, the old, the diseased and the vicious OF
her black population? Shall we bear the
burthen which the institution OF slavery
creates? Every principle of justice, every
dictate of sound policy, answers we should
not. We have none OF the advantages OF the
institution Gf it have any) and we ought to
bear none of its burdens Under the lnf1u-
ence of the present Southern policy, the
number of negroes and mulattoes amongst
US is greatly increasing, and in few years
the North will be burdened with the whole
black population of the United States, II we
adopt no measure to prevent IL
l will not go into any comparison OF the
white and black race. 1t is enough for my
purpose in this argument. that the races are
different-physioally intellectually and NOR
ally-as different in all these particulars as
in their color. They cannot meet and min
gle in a state of social and political equality
without violation of the laws of nature,
and gross outrage of all our better feelings,
and without producing degradation of cur
own race Ii the blacks are permitted to be
among us, it must of necessity be in state
of social and political inferiority-a c0ndi-
ton preiudicial to both races. l hope never
to see permanently established among us
race that will be regarded as inferior. Under
such an influence We cannot maintain i'll
their purity our plain republican principles
and manners, regarding all politically equal.
Nor could we maintain the dignity OF labor.
The white would not be willing 20 work
at the same empioyments with an
inferior race. / will close my argument
upon this subject by saying that the races
ought to be separate; and hope yet to see
policy adopted that will eventually place the
unfortunate race, as an independent people,
in their own country" Should Mr. Hen
bricks receive the nomination for President,
how many colored voters, after reading this
extract from his speech, would willingly vote
for him? Mr.. Hendricks took a very decided
stand upon the proposed banking measure,
having Mr.. Petit and Mr.. Biddie as his chief
opponents
Hon. John Petit, of Tippecanoe, afterward
a judge OF the Supreme Court was also
member of the convention, and perhaps there
was no more active, if as active, member on
the floor. He took part IN all questions be-
fore the convention, and was ever ready to
debate them. He was fearless and bold in
expressing himself, and drew upon himself
many attacks.
Another member of the convention was A.
p. Hovey who afterwards reached the Su-
preme Court bench In him the convention
found an able legislator.
Another member of the convention was
Schuyler Colfax. Mr.. Colfax was evidently
very useful member and was foremost in
the debate on the banking system and home
stead exemption. He especially championed
the latter
The convention contained many excellent
men, and their work was done well. If there
is any thing that Indianians have a right to
be proud of, it is their present constitution
Some few sections are open to criticism, but
as whole, very few better legal documents
were ever produced by convention.
CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Ind, July 49,