Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-16
THE NEGROES FRIEND.
Senator Palmer's Great Fight Against
Illinois Black Laws.
FOR sUCCORING A COLORED MAN,
He is Indicted, but Acquitted Through His
Effective Plea.
C0LORED CLUB NAMED IN HIS HONOR

The John NJ. Palmer Colored Democratic
Club was formed in this city last week, says
the Washington Post. The club, as its
name indicates. is purely political one, but
whether it was called after the Democratic
Senator from Illinois merely out of compli-
ment to the man or because it means to
'eboom" for the presidency does not appear.
Whichever the clubs future action may be-,
it is certain that no colored man makes o
mistake in paying honor to General John
NJ Palmer.
In the anti-slavery agitation during the
decade preceding the events of 1861-5 he
was consistent friend of the race, and one
incident of his career during the war mark
ed his sympathy toward the black man in
manner almost bordering on the tragic
Until the close of the war among the
statutes of Illinois was what was familiarly
known as the ''black laws of the state.
These we're an inheritance from the terri
torial government of Indiana, of which Illi-
nois had been q part, and they were re-en-
fcted, with all their barbarous features, by
the First General Assembly of the state,
March 80, 1819
NATURE OF THE LAWS.
They provided that no negro or mulatto
could reside or settle in the State until he
had first produced certificate OF freedom
under q seal Of court record, which,
together with description of the person
producing it and his family, if any, was to
he entered of record in the county he pro-
posed settling in, but the overseers of the
Door could expel such family at their dis
cretion.
Anv person settling in any county of the
State for the purpose OF emanclpating ms
slaves was required to give bond OF Sl,O0O
as guarantee that the emancipated, person
would not become public charge, and for
neglect or refusal of this he was liable to a
fine of 5000. To harbor any slave or ser
want or hinder the owner in retaking
slave or servant was felony punishable by
restitution, or heavy fine and whipping,
not to exceed 80 stripes. Every negro or
mulatto not having certificate OF freedom
was deemed a runaway slave, who If not re-
claimed or his freedom established could be
sold into seryitude in the State for one
year.
Auy slave or servant found ten miles
from home was liable to arrest and 90
stripes on the order of a justice, or If he
appeared at any dwelling or plantation
without leave of his master the owner of
the place was entitled to have him pun
ished by ten lashes on the bare back
WORSE LAW ADDED.
Tn the wear 1853 a member of the Illinois
Legislature introduced a bill to add to the
''black laws provision that if any free
negro or mulatto went into the State and re-
mained ten days with the evident intention
of residing therein he should be fined $50,
and if the fine were not paid at once he
should be arrested, advertised and sold into
servitude to the highest bidder for stated
length of time; and, further, that any white
citizen of the State who should take into 1t
any negro or mulatto should be subject to
arrest, fine and imprisonment.
John NJ. Palmer was Democratic men,
ber of the upper House during this session
of the Legislature. Though born in Ken
lucky, he had inherited from his father, an
ardent Jacksonian Democrat, strong anti
slavery convictions, and he vigorously op-