The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14
Valuable Document to Be Presented to
State Library by Mrs, Smith
King, of This City.
RECORD KEPT BY HER FATHER
SOCIETY WAS ORGANIZED IN 1880 IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Names of Charter Members, Many of
Whose Descendants Now Live
I'm Indiana.

twenty-five years before the first gun
was fired on Fort Sumter the anti-slsvery
sentiment had grown TO such proportions
In Indiana that the Indiana State Anti
slavery Society had been organized, with
branches "auxiliaries." as they were
termed, in almost every county. Compare
lively little is known. however, OF the
exact nature OF the society and its auxil-
iaries. save that they fostered and dissem-
mattel the doctrines of abolition and that
I'm time they conducted the famous ''un-
foreground railway" thai transported so
many fugitive slaves to freedom.
In view Of the lack of information con-
corning the work OF the Anti-slavery Soci-
ETY., document that is soon to become the
property OF the Indiana State Library is
of especial interest and historical value
being nothing more nor less than the Sec
retafy's record covering the proceedings of
one of the auxiliary societies from the date
OF its organization. Jan. 3. 1899, to May 3,
1s45. The volume Will be presented to the
State Library by Mrs. Smith King, of BIO
North Meridian street, this city, whose
father, Benjamin Hoyt, was a member
and the secretary of the society which
fiourished in Jefferson county, Indiana,
during the first six years of its organiza-
ton. The minutes in the handwriting
of Mr.. Hoyt
The first entry in the book reads:
Agreeably TO notice a meeting was held
In the public schoolhOuse on NeiHs creek
Jefferson county, Indiana. Saturday
evening, Jan. ., 1888, for the purpose of
forming an antt-slavery society. Rev. Lewis
Hicklin was called 10 the chair and j. c.
TfbbetS appointed secretary pro tenn The
object Of the meeting being stated by the
CHAIRMAN, constitution was presented
and read, which. after some discussion and
slight amendment, was adopted
The first three articles of the constitu-
ton. setting forth the purpose of the soci-
ETY., were as follows:
This society shall be called the Niel's
Creek Anti-slavery Society, auxiliary to
the Indiana State Anti-slavery Society.
THE object Of this society shall be the
entire abolition OF slavery in the United
states. While ii admits that each State
In which slavery exists has by the Con-
stitution OF the United States the excIus-
i've right TO legislate in regard to its abOli-
ton IN said State, il shall aim to convince
ell our fellow-citizens byaarguments adj
dressed to their UNDERSTANDINGS and con-
sciences, that slave-holding is a heinOus
sin In the sight OF God, and that the duty,
safety and best interests of all concerned
require its immediate abandonment with
out repatriation. The society will also en-
deavor in constitutional way TO influence
Congress TO put an end to the domestic
slave trade, and TO abolish slavery i'm all
those portions or our common country
the District of Columbia, and likewise TO
prevent the extension OF IL TO any State
that may hereafter be admitted to the Union.
THE society shall aim to elevate the
character and condition of the people OF
color by encouraging their intellectual,
moral and religious Improvement and by
removing public prejudice, but the society
viii never In any way countenance the OPP
pressed In indicating their rights by resort
ing TO physical force"
sEvENTY-THREE MEMBERS
The society started of with seventy-three
members. and nine others joined from time
TO time. The names of these Hoosier lead
ers in the abolition movement, many of
whose descendants are now living in JEFF
ferson county and other parts of the State,