Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-23
INDIANA.s FIRST GOVERNOR.
sketch Of Jonathss jennings -slsverS
N lndiAns-rhe Great treaty OF 1913.
Later services.
70 the Eai,or or the Palladium :

only SONG remarks upon the events
within the carrier years OF the State .
career and when these men were par
ticipants in the affairs Of the State.
We will begin with the governors.
THE FIRST GOVERNOR.
Jonathan Jennings was the first chief
executive OF the State of Indiana. He
WAS . native of New Jersey, born abouf
1888, reared in western PennsylYania
and came to Indiana in 1906. He began
the practice of law. and In 1869. WAS
elected to Congress - the territorial
delegate to the House of Represents
tives from Indiana Territory. He was
serving his third term when elected .
member of the constitutional conven
ton, over which he presided. DE WAS
elected governor In Augrst OF 1916 and
WAS inaugurated on the 9Th OF Novem-
Der IN that year.
His career may be considered in three
parts. Oae, the period BEFORE he was
governor, second, the years he WAS
governor; and, last, the time AFTER he
had been governor.
The most interesting of these parts il
the first. when he was the champion OF
the anti slavery party; Was three times
elected over the ablest men OF the other
and had deciding influence In
maintaining the exclusion OF slavery
from Indiana. But all that part belongs
to the history OF the Territory of In
diana, and 1T present the Pioneer Period
of the State Epoch Ii under considera-
ton.
At the time of the formation of the
State government. Jennings wss the
u ost popular man in the State. He was
elected In 1916. over Thomas Posey. the
territorial governor, by . vote OF 300
TO J, $50. As some measure OF j jennings Z
popularity, it may be said that Posey
was . veteran of the Revolutionary
war. having been mem
Der of Washington's militay staff
and . colonel under Wayne at the
storming of Stoney Point, with him
when fighting the Indians in Georges.
sad again under him In his campaign
against the northwestern tribes. Posey
had just filed out the term of . de-
ceased Uaited States Senator from
Louisiana, when he was appointed ter
ritorial governor by President Madison,
(lS13) in command of the American
army defending the northwestern iron
tier. Posey was an amiable man, but
The events of Jennings's term of ser
previous letters when the Pioneer
Period has been mentioned. The direc.
lions of effort of the people of Indiana
- follows:
a. Immigration, settlement upon the
land and the opening of farms; (2) ex-
of Indians titles to the land
yet unpurchased from them, and sur
veying and selling such land; 90 exps-
temporary prosperity, enduring
hard times from general and local
causes, and anticipating the return of
with great internal improve
ments.
FIRST MESSAGE.
In his first message, Governor Jen-
aings recommended attention to the
present need of means to defray the
expenses of the government then going
INTO operation; the just apportionment
n the levying of taxes; provisions for
.oads, and for schools As contempi. ted
n the plan prescribed by the eonstitu.
ion; passage OF laws forbiddiEg sale of
liquor TO the Indians, and ito. prevent
my unlawful attempts to seize 9nd Garry
entitled 20 Their freedom.
Some slaves had been br., .ght into
Indiana while it was . terri1ory and
held by form OF indenture or Contract,
in evasion of the Ordinance OF 1887
When the anti-slavery constitution
was adopted some OF these
persons were removed by their
owners to other States. Slaves
rom Kentucky and other slave States
,ometimes escaped into Indiana Terri
.ory. Frequently they were pursued
md taken back. Sometimes rosues
would kiduap, or in some manner carry.
ID, oolored persons who were lawfully
rec, pretending that they were fugitive
'lAves. When such unfortunate persons
we're once sold, or again enslaved, it was
very doubtful whether they ever recov-
,red their freedom. A black man on .
Southern plantation-with no friends.
10 money, no rights in the courts, and
10 means to get into court it he had any
lights there-was most likely to remain
slave, no matter how unjust his deten
ion. "A black man had NO rights
white man was bound to re
psct,' vas believed and practiced by
many. 1t vas an active time in this dis.
honest traffic. about the time Indiana
vas expected to become . free State.
There were numerous instances of at
empts to reduce to slavery colored per-
ons residing In Indians. who had been
Considered tree, in 1915 and 1916
There was one case In Wayne County.
ried 1T old Salisbury, told in the Life
4 Elder David Puryiance." who acted
6 volunteer attorney for the colored
aAn. Governor Jennings, In that rec
tou ohed . prominent sub
cot in the public mind at that time.
The whole subject OF slavery in In.
lana is an interesting one. much more
rominent in its time than il now gen
rally known; and the part in its dis
ussion. performed by Jonathan Jen-
ings, was exceedingly important even
hen viewed from . national point of |
lew, but must be passed by. now.
THE NEW PURCHASE
The most notable event in Jennings's
,rm - governor. was the treaty with |
lie Indians. By which q large tract of
md in the central part Of Indiana. was
.cured to the United States govern.
ent. and subsequently opened to set
ers.
When Indiana became . State. only
bout one third OF its area belonged to
lie United States. Begin . boundary
the Ohio state line. nearly east from
ortlsnd in Jay County; extend it
u.hwest to near Ridgeville on the L
ississinewa river; thence slightly west
south (through the western part of
'ayne County. where it is known Is
e west limit of the Twelve mile Pur-
Iase' to the northwes, line of Ripley I
,unty; with that line extended to near :
ymour in jackson County; there.
rring to the northwest and con
,u.ng until crossing the Wabash
yer and the Illinois state line
ar the middle of Vernillion County.-i
We thus have the dividing line he
cen the part of Indiana previously
from the native owners, and
e part which still remained in their
session. 1T the time Indiana became | F
Il Il