|
on slavery |
Approx 1790: At age 17 WHH joined an abolitionist
organization. Many years later he would use this
membership as proof that he was not pro-slavery. But
see 1833 and 1840. (Cleaves, p7, 253)
1798-1800: WHH inherited about a dozen slaves and took seven
of them with him when he moved to
Indiana, which was “free soil:” no new slaves allowed (although
a few slaves were listed in the Census
there as late as 1830). His slaves then became indentured
servants under conditions that were virtually
undistinguishable from slavery. (Clarin,
p1. Also Green, p434-5. Also Cleaves. p250)
1802: Governor WHH of Indiana called a convention which asked
Congress, among other things, to
repeal for 10 years the ban on slavery. (Green,
p104)
1803: Governor WHH and Indiana’s judges adopted a Virginia
law (the territory couldn’t create new
laws, just borrow existing ones) that allowed virtual slavery
to exist: a master bringing in a slave could
force them to sign up as an “indentured servant” with a term
running for, say ninety years. (Goebel,
p76-78) WHH took advantage of this but after
the indenture law was repealed - with his signature -
his servants – and he had White as well as Black – were generally
freed after about a decade of service.
In one case he purchased a runaway slave from the owner
who
had recaptured him. The slave served as Harrison’s
indentured servant for twelve years, and later
lived on one of Harrison’s farms. (Green, p434-5.
Also Cleaves. p250)
1804: Two Blacks named George and Peggy were arrested
in Indiana by a man who claimed they were
runaway slaves. Governor WHH prevented them from being
taken out of state. A long muddle
followed in which the Blacks were freed and rearrested
– WHH and some friends paid their bail.
Before a third attempt could be made to take them out of
state George signed up as an indentured
servant of WHH for a term of eleven years. Peggy was
not bothered after that. (Dunn, p312-3)
1805: First Assembly in Indiana passed an act, which
Governor WHH signed, allowing slaveowners to
convert (illegal) slaves to indentured servants. Negroes
under fifteen could be kept in service until 35.
Women until 32. Offspring of such stayed in service
until 30 (male) or 28 (female). (Webster, p211)
1810: Indiana indenture law was repealed. WHH signed this law as well. (Webster, p227)
1818: As a congressman from Ohio WHH responded
to a New York congressman: "Mr. Harrison said
that... (the people of Ohio) would never come to this
House...for permission so to alter their constitution as to
admit the introduction of slavery, the object of the gentleman's
abhorrence, as, said Mr. H.; it is of mine." (Annals of
Congress. 1818. p. 310.)
1819: WHH wanted for a female Kentucky slave he could convert
to an indentured servant. “I want one
more than ever as Priscilla’s former master has much to my satisfaction
come on for her and repaid her the money
I gave him… The woman should be of such a character as
will promise fidelity in the performance of her
engagements. I will agree that she shall be free at from
6 to 8 years in proportion to the price she may cost.”
(Cleaves. p250)
1819: As a congressman from Ohio WHH claimed to
be against slavery, but consistently voted
against bills that would have kept slavery from spreading.
(Goebel, p223)
1820: “We cannot emancipate the slaves of the other
states without their consent, but by producing a convulsion
which would undo us all…We must wait the slow but certain progress
of those good principles which are
everywhere gaining ground, and which assuredly will ultimately
prevail.” (Cleaves. p254)
1820-1: In the Ohio Senate WHH voted for a bill which allowed
petty thieves (of any race) to be sold
into a term of service if they were unable to pay their fines.
(Goebel, p356)
1833: "I am accused of being friendly to slavery.
From my earliest youth to the present moment, I have been the
ardent friend of Human Liberty. At the age of eighteen,
I became a member of an Abolition Society established
at Richmond, Virginia; the object of which was to ameliorate
the condition of slaves and procure their freedom by
every legal means... I have been the means of liberating
many slaves, but never placed one in bondage... I was
the first person to introduce into congress the proposition
that all the country above (North of) Missouri... should
never have slavery admitted into it.” (Todd,
p133-5.) But see 1840.
1833: “The discussion of emancipation in the non-slaveholding
States is equally injurious to the slaves and their
masters and… has no sanction in the principles of the constitution.”
(Cleaves. p284)
1833: WHH declared he was in favor of emancipation only if
the slaves were sent back to Africa. (Goebel,
p318)
1835: “Am I wrong, fellow-citizens, in applying the terms
weak, presumptuous and unconstitutional, to the
measures of the emancipators? Some of the
emancipators propose immediate abolition. What is the proposition
then, as it regards the states and parts of states (where
Blacks are in the majority) but the alternatives of
amalgamation with the blacks, or an exchange of situations with
them? Is there any man of common sense who
does not believe that the emancipated blacks, being a majority,
will not insist upon a full participation of
political rights with the whites; and when possessed of these,
they will not contend for a full share of social rights
also?" (Todd, p137)
1836: Presidential candidate WHH declared that
Congress had no power to eliminate slavery in the
states or the District of Columbia. (Goebel, p 318)
1840: Presidential candidate WHH swore he had never been an
abolitionist and that the organization he
had joined at age 17 was simply a “humane society.” (Goebel,
p358)
previous president next president
Return
to home
page