Most people, North, South, East and West, abhored the idea of black equality back then. There were the abolitionist pockets in New England, I suppose they can stand up and say "not us!", but even then, not all of them could be excluded.
The Revised Code of Indiana stated in 1862 that Negroes and mulattos are not allowed to come into the state ; forbade the consummation of legal contracts with Negroes and mulattos ; imposed a $500 fine on anyone who employed a black person; forbade interracial marriage; and forbade blacks from testifying in court against white persons.
Illinois, the land of Lincoln, added almost identical restrictions in 1848, as did Oregon in 1857. Senator Lyman Trimball of Illinois, a close confidant of Lincoln, stated that "our people want nothing to do with the Negro", and was a strong supporter of Illinois black codes. Most Northern states in the 1860s did not permit immigration by blacks or, if they did, required them to post a $1,000 bond that would be confiscated if they behaved improperly. Prohibitions against testifying against whites, voting, etc., were common parts of Northern black codes. Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin were not much friendlier. As a result, the black populations of the northwestern states never exceeded 1 percent.
Northern newspapers were often just as racist as the Northern black codes were. The Philadelphia Daily News editorialized on November 22, 1860, that the African is naturally the inferior race. The Daily Chicago Times wrote on December 7, 1860, that nothing but evil has come from the idea of Abolition and urged everyone to return any escaped slave to his master where he belongs. On January 22, 1861, the New York Times announced that slavery would indeed be a very tolerable system if only slaves were allowed to legally marry, be taught to read, and to invest their savings. Just a few examples.
Northern blacks also became the frequent targets of mob violence. Whites looted, tore down, and burned black homes, churches, schools, and meeting halls. They stoned, beat, and sometimes murdered blacks. Philadelphia was the site of the worst and most frequent mob violence. City officials there generally refused to protect African Americans from white mobs and blamed blacks for inciting the violence with their "uppity" behavior. (PBS)
Alexis de Tocqueville, from his book 'Democracy in America': "The prejudice of race", he wrote, "appears to be stronger in the states that have abolished slavery than in those where it still exists."
The resistance of Northerners to arming blacks was well documented before and after it was done. In fact, it infuriated many Notherners and cost Lincoln a significant part of the military vote in the 1864 election. Not all were against it, just as all Southerners weren't against arming blacks in the war.
Most Americans, North and South, abhored the idea of black equality back then. An unfortunate, but true, aspect of America's history.
Yes, and someone posted the other day Lincoln's public stand as early as 1837 against that type law.
Walt
Can you show that in the contemporary record? Lincoln won in a landslide. He carried every state but two.
Walt
There was also an incident in Pennslyvania where southern slave catchers were beaten when they tried to capture escaped slaves. And there was an incident in Boston where a company of Marines had to escort an escaped slave to keep the people from freeing him.
Blacks could vote in at least 4 northern states.
What it came down to was that northerners would accept blacks if it helped preserve the Union, most southerners would fight to keep them from having equal rights.
Walt