Although the Northwest was anti-slavery, it was even more anti-black. For example, in 1804 blacks and mulattos in Ohio were required to obtain a certificate of freedom or leave the state. They had to register officially, and no one was allowed to employ a black unless his papers were in order. In 1807 potential Negro newcomers to Ohio were forbidden entrance unless they posted a bond of $500 guaranteeing their good behavior.
At first, when there were few blacks in Ohio, these laws were not strictly enforced, but by the mid-1820’s their numbers had much increased, particularly in Cincinnati, just across the river from Kentucky, and agitation for their eviction began, fed by the prejudices of a large number of Southern white migrants. In addition, Cincinnati businessmen feared that their trade with the South might suffer if free Ohio Negroes were able to harbor fugitive slaves. In 1829, blacks were given sixty days to post the bond required by the 1807 law or leave town. Before the time was up white mobs attacked a Negro district, killing and burning. Afterwards over 1,000 Negroes left Cincinnati for Canada and founded the town of Wilberforce, Ontario.
Still, in the next decade, blacks continued to come to Cincinnati, and much to the distress of the Irish workers, with whom they competed for jobs, they prospered. In 1841 after a series of small racial clashes, another major riot, described in this document, broke out. The following account from the Cincinnati Daily Gazette, September 6, 1841, was reprinted in Wendell P. Dabney’s Cincinnati’s Colored Citizens (1926), 49–54. See also Carter Woodson: “The Negroes of Cincinnati Prior to the Civil War,” Journal of Negro History, I (January 1916), 1–22.
This city has been in a most alarming condition for several days, and from about eight o’clock on Friday evening until about three o’clock yesterday morning, almost entirely at the mercy of a lawless mob, ranging in number from two to fifteen hundred.
On Tuesday evening last, a quarrel took place near the corner of Sixth Street and Broadway, between a party of Irishmen and some Negroes, in which blows were exchanged and other weapons, if not firearms, used. Some two or three of each party were wounded.
On Wednesday night the quarrel was renewed in some way, and some time after midnight a party of excited men, armed with clubs, etc., attacked a house occupied as a negro boarding house, on McAllister Street, demanding the surrender of a Negro who they said had fled into the house and was there secreted, and uttering the most violent threats against the house and the Negroes in general. Several of the adjoining houses were occupied by Negro families, including women and children. The violence increased and was resisted by those in or about the houses. An engagement took place, several were wounded on each side, and some say guns and pistols were discharged from the house. The interference of some gentlemen in the neighborhood succeeded in restoring quiet.…
On Friday, during the day, there was considerable excitement, threats of violence and lawless outbreaking were indicated in various ways, and came to the ears of the police and of the Negroes. Attacks were expected upon the Negro residences in McAllister, Sixth and New Streets. The Negroes armed themselves, and the knowledge of this increased the excitement. But we do not know that it produced any known measure of precaution on the part of the police to preserve the peace of the city.
Before eight o’clock in the evening, a mob, the principal organization of which, we understand, was arranged in Kentucky, openly assembled in Fifth Street Market, unmolested by the police or citizens. The number of this mob, as they deliberately marched from their rendezvous toward Broadway and Sixth Street, is variously estimated, but the number increased as they progressed. They were armed with clubs, stones, etc. Reaching the scene of operations, with shouts and blasphemous imprecations, they attacked a negro confectionery on Broadway, and demolished the doors and windows. This attracted an immense crowd. Savage yells were uttered to encourage the mob onward to the general attack upon the Negroes. About this time the Mayor came up and addressed the people, exhorting them to peace and obedience to law. The savage yell was instantly raised, “Down with him.” “Run him off,” was shouted, intermixed with horrid imprecations, and exhortations to the mob to move onward.
They advanced to the attack with stones, etc., and were repeatedly fired upon by the Negroes. The mob scattered, but immediately rallied again, and again were in like manner, repulsed. Men were wounded on both sides and carried off, and many reported dead. The Negroes rallied several times, advanced upon the crowd, and most unjustifiably fired down the street into it, causing a great rush in various directions. These things were repeated until past one o’clock, when a party procured an iron six-pounder from near the river, loaded it with boiler punchings, etc., and hauled it to the ground, against the exhorations of the Mayor and others. It was posted on Broadway, and pointed down Sixth Street. The yells continued, but there was a partial cessation of firing. Many of the Negroes had fled to the hills. The attack upon houses was recommenced with firing of guns on both sides, which continued during most of the night, and exaggerated rumors of the killed and wounded filled the streets. The cannon was discharged several times. About two o’clock a portion of the military, upon the call of the Mayor, proceeded to the scene of disorder and succeeded in keeping the mob at bay. In the morning, and throughout the day, several blocks, including the battle-ground, were surrounded by sentinels, and kept under martial law—keeping within the Negroes there, and adding to them such as were brought during the day, seized without particular charge, by parties who scoured the city, assuming the authority of the law.…
It was resolved to embody the male Negroes and march them to jail for security, under the protection of the military and civil authorities.
From two hundred and fifty to three hundred Negroes, including sound and maimed, were with some difficulty marched off to jail, surrounded by the military and officers; and a dense mass of men, women and boys, confounding all distinction between the orderly and disorderly, accompanied with deafening yells.
They were safely lodged, and still remained in prison, separated from their families. The crowd was in that way dispersed. Some then supposed that we should have a quiet night, but others, more observing, discovered that the lawless mob had determined on further violence, to be enacted immediately after nightfall. Citizens disposed to aid the authorities were invited to assemble, enroll themselves, and organize for action. The military were ordered out, firemen were out, clothed with authority as a police band. About eighty citizens enrolled themselves as assistants of the marshal, and acted during the night under his direction, in connection with Judge Torrence, who was selected by themselves. A portion of this force was mounted, and a troop of horse and several companies of volunteer infantry continued on duty till near midnight. Some were then discharged to sleep upon their arms; other remained on duty till morning, guarding the jail, etc. As was anticipated, the mob, efficiently organized, early commenced operations, dividing their force and making attacks at different points, thus distracting the attention of the police. The first successful onset was made upon the printing establishment of the “Philanthropist.” They succeeded in entering the establishment, breaking up the press, and running with it, amid savage yells, down through Main Street to the river, into which it was thrown.
The military appeared in the alley near the office, interrupting the mob for a short time. They escaped through by-ways, and, when the military retired, returned to their work of destruction in the office, which they completed. Several houses were broken open in different parts of the city, occupied by Negroes, and the windows, doors and furniture totally destroyed. From this work they were driven by the police, and finally dispersed from mere exhaustion.…