The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-03
Afternoon Session.

The bill failed to pass-yeas 43, nays SO.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Williams called up his resolution to
amend the rules so that no man can explainh is
vote except by consent of a majority of sthe
House.
Mr.. Sears raised the point of order that the
Chair had, in the morning, ruled out similar
resolution.
The Speaker pro tenn said he had deliberated
and changed his views.
Mr.. McMullen said he should offer his resolu-
ton that no member be allowed to explain his
vote under call of the previous question, as
substitute. He said that under the resolution
by the gentleman from Knox Mr.. Williamsl a
vote would be called during another vote by
roll call.
Mr.. Williams withdrew his resolution.
Mr.. Browning thought that the House had
played with this question long enough. Some
members here have peculiar way of getting
recognition. They make a speech, move the
previous question and put on the gag law.
Mr.. Copeland opposed the resolution because
it was gag law.
Mr.. MeClelland offered an amendment, pro-
viding that no member shall be allowed more
than two minutes to explain his vote
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Robinson's bill Fl. r. 2S0l relating to en-
frances of mines was read third time and
passed-yeas "a, nays O.
THE RIGHTS OF THE coLoRED.
Mr. Townsend desire just at this point to
know if have any rights and privileges as
member. move that the bill Fl. r. 99l regard
ing the colored race which was the other day
made special order for 2:30 o'clock to- day, be,
now taken up.
Mr. Moody-Because the House agreed to it
IL no reason that it should now be considered
Mr.. Townsend-Is the gentleman willing that
this House should so stultify itself as to not adj
here to that promise?
Mr.. Moody-The gentleman from Wayne can
IAL~o
Mr.. Townsend--Does not the gentleman IN
derstand that this bill is not engrossed, and that
the House agreed, in order to save time the
other evening, to allow me time at this hour to
speak upon itE
Mr. Goodlng-I think this House owes it to
Mr. Townsend to hear him upon this bill after
having almost unanimously voted to make it
special order for this afternoon.
Mr.. Mack-I think the appropriation bill is
more important than this measure, and that was
voted down
Mr. Pendleton-I think that the gentleman
from Wayne should withdraw his measure in
favor of Senate bill No. 49,
Mr.. French--This House agreed to let Mr..
Townsend have this floor. | think we should let
Mr.. Townsend have his time.
Mr.. Pendleton-I move that Senate bill No.
43 instead of 80 be taken up.
The motion was ruled out of order.
Mr.. Dittemore moved that further considera-
ton of this bill be postponed until next Wednes-
day.
The motion was laid On the table.
Mr.. Gooding offered an amendment to the bill,
providing that its provisions should not apply to
the existing law relating to miscegenation
Mr.. Townsend have introduced a bill here
asking the repeal of the statutes Of Indiana
known as the "black laws" the statutes include
just what the amendment from the gen.
tleman from Hancock Mr.. Goodingl
includes, and which is excluded in
the bill have just offered. I am driven to
make some remarks on the statutes of the State
of Indiana they stand. Butas these statutes
mostly stand on amalgamation, my remarks
must be mostly on that subject. Limited time
compels me TO make but summary of the
case. First, that simple and exact justice may
be done to all people of every race or color: Sec
ond, because they are repugnant to the principles
underlying our constitutional government; third,
because in my opinion, they cannot be reconciled
with the State Constitutions; fourth because
they. as they stand, are not In accord with per-
sonal liberty and personal contract, to choose
in marriage as allowed to those not colored,
though fact there are few of the colored,
who have taste, who are so inclined; fifth, be-
cause of this forbidding of intermarriage, de-
fense, aye, encouragement, is given to the white
man who may be so vile as to ruin the colored
woman while, she haseno recourse in her shame;
sixth, under this law, unmarried colored women
have no protection in the State against
men responsible for bastardy; seventh. be-
cause children born of white and colored
parents, out of wedlock can not be legalizea;
eight. for the reason that this law allows that
inequality which says that the colored shall suf-
fer all the penalty of such wrong, while the
white shall go free; ninth, because | believe
that the prejudice education and tastes of each
race will allow it to better choose for itself with
out these laws. Society is self-distributing; So
ciety will take care of itself More thanaH. for the
reason that whiteman so low, so degraded as to
dishonor and degrade a colared woman, should
be made, believe by the laws honorable
enough to marry the woman he has thus de-
graded. In rebuke to loud applause, the
Speaker announced that if there were further
manifestations of this kind he would have the
galleries dlobby cleared have now given
youlbriefy the reason think the "black laws"
should be repealed. This bill proposes to wipe
Efrom Indianas laws the relic of this most bar
barious age. This State stands alone
in this injustice, and this is the last
of the black laws which have disgraced Indiana.
These are the laws preventing blacks from
marrying whites and from their belonging to the
militia of the State. The colored man, though
prevented from belonging to the militia, is good
enough to fight to,vote, to hold Office, to sit on
the jury and to be witnesses in court. One
hundred thousandof GODS sons, carved in4ebong,
were in $50 battles Of the South Underthe
laws of our State they cannot belong to
the militia, but the negro is good
penough to die for his country.
Thirty three.yeaFS agoahe question of allowing
the scofored man freedom in Indiana submit
ted to THE voters ofsthis State OF these voters
E2ls066 voted for liberty apd 109. 976said~no-fve
/ to- ouesthat the negro should not live in your
Stale. Yhan the sun In its course locked down
Up6n cruelty ~ inhNman as ever characterized