The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-29
AMALGA NATION

LII ~ announcer mat tue colOled people OF
the city will hold public meeting for the
purpose of depouncing the law prohibiting
white and colored persons from intermarfy-
ing. 1t is said that this aw Is q relic OF
slavery days, and is a discrimiL on against
toe colored race. The statute Is as follows:
No person having one-eighth part or more OF
negro blood shall be permitted 10 marry any
wlite woman CT this State; nor shall any white
man be permitted 10 marry any negro woman 81.
any woman having one-eighth part or more OF
negro blood. And every person who shall know
iDEly marry In violation OF the provisions OF this
section, on conviction thereof, be fined. etc.
Another section makes tie crime for any
person TO counsel or assist in such inhibited
marriage between the races. 1t appears,
then, from the statute itself, that it Is no
more discrimination sgeinst the negro than
il is against the Caucasian race. The punish
ment for an infraction OF the law is visited
equally On white and black. III the inter
marrying of the two races is not desirable
thing for the interests Of the State and soci.
ETY., it ought to be prohibited By law, for
while it Is argued that natural tastes wolid
be q SD fficient barrier, the frequent prosecu.
lions under the law show that there is ne
ncessity for the statute. Amalgamation has
always been condemned by thinking men.
The result Of it, a mongreI racs, lie certainly
condition to be deplored. While statute
inhibiting amaIgamation will not prevent 1t
altogether, just as q statute against burglary
will not eradicate burgling, yet the presence
of such law on the books tends to mate.
rally reduce the extent of IL.
1t is but a narrow. minded view of this
law that 1t 10 the outgrowth of slavery times,
of race rejudioe, or of the cry Of Demo
cratic naideps, white husbands or none."
The idea OF matrimonial alliances between
whites and blacks is repugnant to intelligent
people Of either race. TIE result on the
social life OF each party to euch union is
that the white woman who marries colored
man is ostracsed from white society, and
she Is likewise refused admission to the
social circles of the negroes. The same
thing is true of the colored man who marries
o white woman or white man who takes q
colored wife. The teachings and instincts OF
both races oppose such state OF affairs, and
those going counter thereto become social
outcasls. The Offspring OF such a mar
risge is also Lubject to like indig.
nifty, and fnds itself without race.
A representative colored man OF the city
rays: my wife is a colossd woman. have
no desire to marry whiIo woman. Bat
there must be no special laws against Us on
account OF our color. This last badge of
caste and slavery must be wiped out" Ths
10 gross misrepresentation OF tho spirit OF
the law and is q conclusion evidently arrived
nj without knowledge OF is pro.
visiona There Is such salute "a
nearly every State, and there would
undoubtedly be II there never had bean
such an institution AZ slavery. Marrying IL
not "mere matter OF tsste," AID there Is
no more reason why tho State should not
lsgialnte on the subject OF amelgemation
than on any other given subject affecting the
present aud future welfare OF Its cltizcns. II
ainalganation DO an evil and ga undesirable
stete Of affairs, ~ on oil hends II IL conceded
| 10 be. why should II not be prevented by law
That the State has q right 10 legiulete con.
cerning buoh matters ID unquostlcnod. The
statute under confederation finds the strong
estsupport In reason, and Ia b wholesome law