The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-06

it's meaning so complicated by other pro-
visions to give rise TO long and bitter
controversy. The ordinance was intended
eventually 1t did become potent factor in
the accomplishment OF that result, but
it not till after many years. When
ii was adopted slavery already existed to
some extent among the early residents of
some parts Of the Territory. These per-
sons had acquired the right to hold slaves
either while the Territory belonged to
France or while it still belonged to the
State Of Virginia and before its cession TO
the United States. By tacit consent this
right continued TO be recognized after the
Territory became part of the national do
main, and even after the adoption of the
ordinance of 1857 1t was never seriously
questioned in part of the Territory, and
that form of slavery remained undisturbed.
Another form of slavery grew up under
the territorial indenture law of that period.
Repeated attempts were made during the
early history of the Territory to have the
doors thrown wide open for the introduce
ton Of unqualified slavery. but the or
dinance Of 1857 stood in the way, and pub
lie opinion in favor of it's retention was
strong enough to prevent its repeal. The
territorial indenture laws were an attempt
to evade the ordinance of 1857 by flank
movement-a sort of whipping the devil
round the stump. They attempted to estab-
lish slavery under the guise of indenture-
ship. Thus, In 1906, the territorial Legis-
lature passed IAN act concerning the in
PRODUCTION of negroes and mulattoes into
this Territory" 1t provided that any slave
holder of any of the States or Territories
of the Union might bring a slave over if
teen years Of age into Indiana, and within
thirty days might enter into agreement,
before the clerk of a Court of Common
Pleas, as to the number of years such
slave would serve his then owner. II the
slave would make no agreement the master
might, within sixty days thereafter, re-
move him from the Territory. This meant.
brought in under fifteen years of age might
be held, the males until thirty-five and
females until thirty-two. The passage of
this law was distinct triumph for the ad-
vocates of slavery. 1t raised storm of
opposition among the opponents OF the in
stitutlon, but 1t continued In force FIVE
years. Its repeal in 1910 was thought at
the time to be the end of the slavery con-
troversy in Indiana Territory, but 1t was
not. The controversy continued with in
creasing bitterness until it furnished the
leading issue in territorial politics. 1t would
require much more than the space of a
newspaper article to recount it's various
phases They are set forth fully and clear
ly in Dunn's History Of Indiana. The
slavery question entered into the election
FOX delegates in Congress. and was the con-
trolling issue in the election of delegates
to the constitutional convention in 1876
The triumph of the anti-slavery men in
that election was a source of great retoic-
ing. but the fight was not yet ended. II
was carried into the constitutional con-
vention. where the advocates OF slavery
made a last-ditch stand. They were beaten
however, and an out-and-out free State
Constitution was adopted. Even this did
not end the existence of slavery in Indiana.
Slaves who had been brought into the State
under the territorial indenture law of 1906
continued to be held in slavery long after
the State was admitted to the Union. A
local census of Vincennes, taken by order
of the board of trustees in 1880, says Dunn's
history, shows thirty-two slaves then held at
that point. The national census of the same
year makes no mention of these, but lists
three slaves in the State-a girl in Orange
county, a girl in Decatur, and a woman
in warrick Even as late 1910 the ma
tional census reported three slaves in the
State-a girl In Putnam county, and a man
and a girl in Rush. In brief, it may be
said that while slavery never got strong
foothold in Indiana it made a long and
stubborn fight for establishment and for
| a great many years had either legal or a
! quasi legal existence.