CHAPTER II

SLAVERY IN ILLINOIS

French adventurers from Canada the first whites in Illinois--Followed by colonists from Louisiana--Slaves sent from Santo Domingo by John Law's Company of the Indies--Thomas Jefferson takes steps to exclude slavery from the Northwest Territory--The Anti-Slavery Ordinance of 1787--The territorial legislature authorizes the holding of "indentured servants" for a limited time--Attempts to repeal the Ordinance defeated in Congress by John Randolph of Roanoke--State constitution in 1818 prohibits slavery--the pro-slavery men attempt to change the constitution--Bitter contest in 1824 results in their defeat--Slavery continues, nevertheless, under judicial decisions--Trumbull wages war against it in the courts--His final victory in the Jarrot case, in 1845 23