Year: 1865




that our people are anxious TO rid them
selves. not only Of the thing itself, in al
its attributes. but Of every species ofthe
shameful barbarisrn. whether found IN
the North. or in the further South.
They know well the result of the cul-
minalion Of its power, and desire TO ex-
tirpate the last vistioe Of the inst!tu ion
forever No more compromise, or tri-
fling with il. for It's very life and exist
ence was Justly forfeited. and all the 10y
atty OF the land sanctions every effort
to dispose OF it finally and forever
This Thirteenth Article i but similar
species Of despotism, totally inadmts
sIhle in Democratic Government like
ours 1t wars upon the negro, not be
ctuse he is ignorant, hut because in tue
Southern States he has been slave, and
! because there is disposition even yet,
TO admire the role Of the askmaster. and
make permanent his Internal vocation.
Now. sir, what manliuess, Justice or
honor. is there in trampling upon the
negro? We are told that his race IS an
inferior one, and the argument Is, As p
consequence. that he should be subject
to lie domination Of the whites Sap
pose he does belong to an inferior race,
what right have you TO wrest from hlm
ms God given rights: Who delegated
the power to you, to put yoar foot upon
his neck, and to hold him ia the dirt for
ever.


Do You arrogate to yourselves the
right and power OF DENYING him title
10 property purchased by the fruits OF
his own idustrv and economvE " hat
kind of Democracy i that? Is it not
bereft Of every principle of justice, eve
~ sentiment of honor, and of every at
tribute of the civilization of the age
It certainly IS But, sir, it has been sig
geSted to me, by some members on this
side of the House that the ahrogatiou
of the statutory provisions making the
18th article effective, is all that Is re
quired at this time | cannot view the
matter in that light TAe Article is a
part of the Constitution. and mandatory
in its character, Section 6 says: The
General Assembly shall pass laws to car
rv ous the provisions Of this Article. "
When |, as a member Of this body, take
the oath to support this same Constitu-
ton, | necessarily obiigatc myself thus
solemnly, to assist in making all is pro
visions effective. Therefore, | propose
to rid the Constitution, Of the eXcres-
cence, if | may so call ii, At once, and
thus obviate the difficulty by removing
the wrong from the foundation.


The article prohibits negroes, or mu-
lattoes, from coming into, OF settling III
the State, after its adoption. and makes
all contracts with them void, besides i'm
posing a fine upon any person who shall
employ them, not exceeding five hun
dred dollars. On yesterday morning,
when on my way to this hall. | met at
the gate negro whom l knew several
years since, and who then resided in the
State of Ohio. He wore the uniform of
q Federal soldier. His coat sleeve dan
aled loosely at his side, because he had
lost an arm on tue sangulnary field OF
Olustec: he hobblel along on crutches,
because ne had lost leg in the same
bloody conflict That man had peri!iej
his life, and lost his arm and leg, in win
dicating the Government, and in main
tanning the honor Of its flag He bat
tied manfullv for the nationality Of the
country, and the perpetuity of these in
stitutions which now enables the gentle
man from Monroe TO stand in his place
on this doOr, and abuse this same negro
as being unfit to come into the State, or
hold property within its limits,


Behold the inoratitdde of the: thing, |
know there are vagahond negroes and





suppose that the repeal of this article
would make a pauper house of this State
for worthless negroes as does the gen
tlemau from Monroe, | would not urge
its adoption. But, sir, what candid man
supposcs that the abrogation of this ar
ticle will have any such effect? The
gentleman says it would be &n invitation
for all the lame. blind. deformed and
worthless negroes Of the South to come
into the State, and make their homes
among Us. Sir, it IS no such invitation
nor i it an invitation Of any kind to the
negro. 1t is nothing more than an act
OF Justice to him. One hundred and six
ty thousand negroes girjlcl on their ar
NOR, and foaght in the late war. 10 main
tain the honor and stability of Indiana
and the other States, against the organ
lied assaults OF secession and treason.
And yet IL IS proposed to forever eX
clude these soldiers or any number of
them. from the right of setting foot with
in TIE limits OF the State, or holding
property therein.


! appeal to every csndid man to bear
me witness if this Is not a wrong which
should be righted | appeal 10 every
member upon this floor if the repeal OF
this article is doing more than common
Justice demands OF us. | think not
The argument of the gentleman Just re
ferred to. Is totally untenable in all it,
aspects. The idea that its abroga;ion
will he followed as he describes. and tie
society OF the State contaminated by
revolving admixture OF the black ele
ment, partakes largely of the ridiculous
and absurd Why. sir, Indiana and II
linois are the only States which are ours
ed with the odinm Of retaining the black
laws, some of the provisions of which
are despotic enough TO have been orig
mated in the barbarism of the middle
ages. Ohio has no such laws. or con-
stitutional provisions as that now under
discussion, and yet we have not learned
that she is troubled more than indiana.
with negroes Her people are as well
educated, and refined, as those of any
other State, and they do not seem TO be