The Anti-Slavery Separation in Indiana and the "Henry Clay Incident" in 1842

34BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THE ANTI-SLAVERY SEPARATION IN INDIANA AND THE "HENRY CLAY INCIDENT" IN 1842. BY HARLOW LINDLEY. For five or six years prior to 1840, the legislatures of the Northwestern States had busied themselves in passing resolutions condemning the abolition movement and increasing the severity of the Black Laws. All such movements, however, had only served to increase the zeal and determination of the Abolitionists . In addition to the state and local anti-slavery societies, an Abolition party movement had begun to form by 1840 in the new " Liberty Party." A confused state of affairs soon followed, and the slavery agitation increased. The " Protectionist " said that the means employed by the pro-slavery party to put down abolitionists were " slander, persecution, legislative bulls, ecclesiastical anathemas, tar and feathers, rotten eggs, bowie knives, fire and murder." 1 There were various shades of pro-slavery sentiment throughout Indiana, as well as various degrees of anti-slavery views. Some favored one thing, some another, and some were not sure about anything. The shifting order of events broke into church organizations . Even as conscientious a body as the Indiana Yearly Meeting did not escape the consequences. It suffered a separation in its ranks while in the midst of the important work it was doing. In bringing up the causes leading to the separation, it will be necessary to go back a few years in the history of the Yearly Meeting. The Yearly Meeting had opposed the colonization scheme in 1839. However, this was not the first expression on the subject. In an epistle in 1836 the meeting advised the members against the " unrighteous work of expatriation." The same epistle called attention to the work being done by those not belonging to the Society, and urged Friends not to " cast any discouragements in the way of such as are faithfully laboring to 1 The Protectionist, February 16, 1841. THE ANTI-SLAVERY SEPARATION IN INDIANA. 35 promote universal emancipation." The next year Friends were again urged on in the following language : " We do not wish any to engage in active measures on any other ground than a sense of duty, and in accordance with our well-known principles, yet we would encourage all to a close examination as to what is required at their hands, and how they may employ the talents committed to them for noble purposes in the advancement of the blessed work of emancipation, by meekly, yet boldly, either publicly or privately, pleading the cause of the oppressed." The anti-slavery Friends claimed that these and similar expressions gave them permission and encouraged them to join abolition societies if they saw fit to do so. At any rate, many of them did join, and soon became quite active in the promotion and work of these societies. By 1840, however, there had grown up in the Yearly Meeting an opposition to the part Friends were taking in the abolition societies. This, no doubt, had come about as a result of the general agitation of the slavery question, and the extreme opposition and protest brought to bear throughout the state, against the abolitionists and their work. At any rate, Friends were advised not to join other anti-slavery societies. This aroused quite a feeling on the part of the more radical members who had become so actively engaged in the anti-slavery cause. Finally, Friends were advised not to allow anti-slavery meetings to be held in their meeting houses. In the Minutes of 1840 we find the following : " Information having reached this meeting that some of our meeting-houses have been opened for the purpose of holding anti-slavery meetings and delivering lectures, we feel concerned to advise against such a practice, as being contrary to the general usage of society, and of hurtful tendency to our members." In this same report of the meeting" for sufferings is to be found another passage to which anti-slavery Friends pointed as being a proof that the leaders of the Yearly Meeting were being influenced by politicians. It ran thus : " We desire that all may faithfully maintain this Christian testimony, and cherish a lively interest both for the oppressed and the oppressors...