Dennis Pennington
Encyclopedia
Dennis Pennington was an early legislator in Indiana
and the Indiana Territory
, speaker
of the first Indiana State Senate, speaker of the territorial
legislature, a member of the Whig Party
serving over 37 years in public office, and one of the founders of Indiana. He was also a stonemason
and member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana
. His major political contributions were his strong opposition of slavery
and his support of squatter's rights, and he was responsible for the construction of Indiana's first state capitol building
.
, Virginia
just before American Independence on May 18, 1776 to Edward Pennington. He had four brothers and one sister. The Pennington family owned several slaves while they lived in Virginia, but freed them all when they left the state. One of the slaves, "Aunt Fannie", refused to be left behind. She stayed with Pennington's for the rest of her life as a free household servant, she later died as one of the several freed slaves living in Corydon
.
In the fall of 1773 the Penningtons moved to the frontier in Kentucky
. They became friends of Henry Clay
shortly after he moved to the territory. In 1799 Pennington supported Clay in his attempt to make Kentucky a "Free State
". While Pennington lived in Kentucky, he farmed land east of Louisville
and married his wife Elizabeth (English). In 1784 he crossed the Ohio River
at Clarksville, Indiana
and entered the Northwest Territory
for the first time. There Pennington purchased land from George Rogers Clark
near present day Lanesville, Indiana
. He moved his family there and built a homestead to farm the land starting in 1802. He moved again in 1815 to what is now Central Barren, Indiana
, four miles north of Corydon.Gresham p. 19
and Thomas Worthington
. His contact with these men and their success with the anti-slavery movement in Ohio
influenced Pennington decided to enter the anti-slavery movement in the Indiana Territory
. He first met the pro-slavery governor
of the Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison
, on a trip to Vincennes
in 1801. Initially Pennington supported Harrison's policies, but over time he was slowly roused to opposition. Pennington's first fray in the political world was his support for squatter's rights, much to the chagrin of George Rogers Clark, who was still a major landholder at the time in 1807.
On December 28, 1802, Harrison attempted to have the anti-slavery clause of the Northwest Territory's charter dropped. Then in 1803 he introduced measures to allow indenturing within the territory, and finally in 1807 Harrison was nearly able to have slavery outright legalized by the appointed territorial legislature It was then that Pennington entered politic in open opposition of Harrison and the pro-slavery government. Pennington went further in his speech at the Springville
meeting and outright condemned slavery and the government that had legalized it. At the same meeting in Springfield the attendees drafted and adopted a resolution that condemned slavery in the territory and resolved to put an end to the "despised institution".
In 1809 Congress reorganized the government of the Indiana Territory
by making the legislature bicameral. They created a lower house in the legislature to be filled by popular election. The lower house was then to nominate a pool of men from whom the Governor could appoint to the upper house. This led to a major reduction in the governor's power. Pennington was elected as the representative of Harrison County
in the first election. Many of his anti-slavery cohorts were also elected in the first election giving them an overwhelming majority. Pennington quickly took the lead in the legislature and became speaker. He introduced and helped pass laws to repeal the slavery and indenturing laws implemented by Harrison.
In 1809 Pennington was awarded the contract from the Territorial Legislature to build a courthouse for Harrison County. The building later became Indiana's first State Capitol. Construction cost about $1,500. After the territory was reorganized, and the outbreak of the War of 1812
Pennington wrote the resolution to relocate the capital.
Resolved: That the capitol be removed from Vincennes, because it is dangerous to continue longer here on account of threatened depredations of the Indians, who may destroy our valuable records."
Corydon was eventually selected, Pennington's hometown. By 1810 Pennington was the defacto leader of the territorial legislature. In 1813 Thomas Posey
succeeded Harrison, who was heading the invasion of Canada, as governor. Posey succeeded Harrison as the head of the pro-slavery party. Pennington's constant attack against the pro-slavery party never ended and according to some sources it was his unrelenting political assault that drove Posey from the capital. Posey claimed it was poor health and that he needed to be nearer to his physician.
In 1815 Pennington was the territory's census
enumerator. He used the position to carry his anti-slavery platform to every home in the territory. This laid the groundwork for the movement to prevent any chance of slavery entering the state's constitution that would be drawn up in the following year. Pennington is quoted as saying, "Let us be on our guard when our convention men are chosen that they be men opposed to slavery."
In 1816 Pennington was elected as a delegate to Indiana's first Constitutional Convention. As a slavery opponent, he was naturally in party with Jonathan Jennings
. He and the other anti-slavery delegates had long since wanted to make Indiana permanently a "Free State". Pennington had encouraged Jennings to run for Congress against Harrison's candidate, and once there he further encouraged him to use his position to speed the territory's path to statehood. The hope was that upon statehood, the constitutional convention could be stacked against slavery, and then the state could elect its own governor rather than have it appointed by the President. They hoped that this would allow the state to be rid of any more pro-slavery governors. At the constitutional convention they did just that, slavery was clearly banned in the new constitution and the Governor was banned from holding any federal position.
Dennis Pennington ran for a seat in the senate of the new government. He won the election and became the first speaker of the Indiana State Senate from 1816–1818. He was an outspoken critic of slavery and a Whig
during his tenure as a state representative. Pennington served in the Indiana State Senate from 1816–1820, 1825–1827, 1830–1833, and 1842–1845. Pennington also served in the Indiana House of Representatives
1822–1824, 1828–1830, and 1845–1846.
Ever the anti-slavery activist, in 1818, Pennington had three Kentuckians indicted for violating the state's "Man Stealing Act" when they forcibly took a black woman from a home in Harrison County and removed her to Kentucky. Governor Jennings requested that the Governor of Kentucky send the men to Indiana for trials; after several years of correspondence the governor of Kentucky refused on constitutional grounds. The incident caused governor Jennings to change his position on helping fugitive slaves escape and instead attempt to prevent them from entering the state.
In 1825, Pennington campaigned for the position of Lieutenant Governor
, but he was defeated. Later he was appointed to be the Sheriff of Harrison County
, and ran to election for a second term. During his election campaign his opponent claimed due to Pennington's infirmities of age he would be unable to fulfill the duties of the office. Pennington challenged him to a wrestling match so that younger man could prove his superiority; his opponent declined. Pennington won that election and served as sheriff for second term.
In the 1830s and 1840s Pennington was one of the most outspoken members of the General Assembly in opposition to the internal improvements
plan. He was among the nine men, which included James Whitcomb
, who voted against the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
. From the beginning, he railed against the majority; he claimed their plans, which would have no direct benefits for his constituency, would only bankrupt the state and would quickly become obsolete by the railroads. His predictions ended up being nearly correct. Every company started for internal improvements was bankrupt by 1840 and the state was only able to keep one canal out of all the projects and lost over ten million dollars, the equivalent of fifteen years of tax revenue, in the process. The final canal was taken by creditors in 1842, leaving the state with nothing for all the money it invested.
In his later years Pennington served for a decade on the Indiana University
Board of Trustees. By the 1840s he was the oldest man in the General Assembly and was affectionately called "Uncle Dennis" and "Father Pennington". He died in his Harrison County home on September 2, 1854, aged 78, and was buried in the Pennington Chapel Cemetery.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
, speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the first Indiana State Senate, speaker of the territorial
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
legislature, a member of the Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
serving over 37 years in public office, and one of the founders of Indiana. He was also a stonemason
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
and member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana
Grand Lodge of Indiana
The Grand Lodge of Indiana is one of two state wide organizations that oversee Masonic lodges in the state of Indiana. It was established on January 13, 1818.-Pre-1900:...
. His major political contributions were his strong opposition of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and his support of squatter's rights, and he was responsible for the construction of Indiana's first state capitol building
Corydon Historic District
The Corydon Historic District of Corydon, Indiana, United States, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also known as Indiana's First State Capital and as Historic Corydon...
.
Early life
Dennis Pennington was born in Cumberland CountyCumberland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,017 people, 3,528 households, and 2,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 4,085 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
just before American Independence on May 18, 1776 to Edward Pennington. He had four brothers and one sister. The Pennington family owned several slaves while they lived in Virginia, but freed them all when they left the state. One of the slaves, "Aunt Fannie", refused to be left behind. She stayed with Pennington's for the rest of her life as a free household servant, she later died as one of the several freed slaves living in Corydon
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
.
In the fall of 1773 the Penningtons moved to the frontier in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. They became friends of Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
shortly after he moved to the territory. In 1799 Pennington supported Clay in his attempt to make Kentucky a "Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
". While Pennington lived in Kentucky, he farmed land east of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and married his wife Elizabeth (English). In 1784 he crossed the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
at Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...
and entered the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
for the first time. There Pennington purchased land from George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
near present day Lanesville, Indiana
Lanesville, Indiana
Lanesville is a town in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States. The population was 564 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lanesville is located at . Its elevation is 699 feet above sea level....
. He moved his family there and built a homestead to farm the land starting in 1802. He moved again in 1815 to what is now Central Barren, Indiana
Central Barren, Indiana
Central Barren is an unincorporated community in Morgan Township, Harrison County, Indiana.-History:The Harrison County barrens were so named by the early settlers for the lack timber on them. They were large tracts of prairie like land, with only grass and small bushes...
, four miles north of Corydon.Gresham p. 19
Political career
In the late 1790s Pennington was met Governor Saint ClairArthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
and Thomas Worthington
Thomas Worthington
Thomas Worthington was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the sixth Governor of Ohio.Born in Charles Town, Virginia , Worthington moved to Ross County, Ohio in 1796. The home he eventually built just outside of Chillicothe was called Adena and happens to be the namesake of...
. His contact with these men and their success with the anti-slavery movement in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
influenced Pennington decided to enter the anti-slavery movement in the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
. He first met the pro-slavery governor
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
of the Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, on a trip to Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
in 1801. Initially Pennington supported Harrison's policies, but over time he was slowly roused to opposition. Pennington's first fray in the political world was his support for squatter's rights, much to the chagrin of George Rogers Clark, who was still a major landholder at the time in 1807.
On December 28, 1802, Harrison attempted to have the anti-slavery clause of the Northwest Territory's charter dropped. Then in 1803 he introduced measures to allow indenturing within the territory, and finally in 1807 Harrison was nearly able to have slavery outright legalized by the appointed territorial legislature It was then that Pennington entered politic in open opposition of Harrison and the pro-slavery government. Pennington went further in his speech at the Springville
Springville, Indiana
Springville was a small town that existed from 1798-1811 in Charlestown Township, Clark County, Indiana, United States. It was named for the springs in the area that provided a good fresh water supply. A Frenchman had established a trading post at the site in 1799, Indians called it Tullytown...
meeting and outright condemned slavery and the government that had legalized it. At the same meeting in Springfield the attendees drafted and adopted a resolution that condemned slavery in the territory and resolved to put an end to the "despised institution".
In 1809 Congress reorganized the government of the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
by making the legislature bicameral. They created a lower house in the legislature to be filled by popular election. The lower house was then to nominate a pool of men from whom the Governor could appoint to the upper house. This led to a major reduction in the governor's power. Pennington was elected as the representative of Harrison County
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
in the first election. Many of his anti-slavery cohorts were also elected in the first election giving them an overwhelming majority. Pennington quickly took the lead in the legislature and became speaker. He introduced and helped pass laws to repeal the slavery and indenturing laws implemented by Harrison.
In 1809 Pennington was awarded the contract from the Territorial Legislature to build a courthouse for Harrison County. The building later became Indiana's first State Capitol. Construction cost about $1,500. After the territory was reorganized, and the outbreak of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
Pennington wrote the resolution to relocate the capital.
Resolved: That the capitol be removed from Vincennes, because it is dangerous to continue longer here on account of threatened depredations of the Indians, who may destroy our valuable records."
Corydon was eventually selected, Pennington's hometown. By 1810 Pennington was the defacto leader of the territorial legislature. In 1813 Thomas Posey
Thomas Posey
Thomas Posey was an officer in the American Revolution, a general during peacetime, the third Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, Governor of the Indiana Territory, and a Louisiana Senator.-Family and background:...
succeeded Harrison, who was heading the invasion of Canada, as governor. Posey succeeded Harrison as the head of the pro-slavery party. Pennington's constant attack against the pro-slavery party never ended and according to some sources it was his unrelenting political assault that drove Posey from the capital. Posey claimed it was poor health and that he needed to be nearer to his physician.
In 1815 Pennington was the territory's census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
enumerator. He used the position to carry his anti-slavery platform to every home in the territory. This laid the groundwork for the movement to prevent any chance of slavery entering the state's constitution that would be drawn up in the following year. Pennington is quoted as saying, "Let us be on our guard when our convention men are chosen that they be men opposed to slavery."
Indiana statehood
Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings was the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman from Indiana. Born in Readington, New Jersey, he studied law with his brother before immigrating to Indiana in 1806 where he took part in land speculation...
. He and the other anti-slavery delegates had long since wanted to make Indiana permanently a "Free State". Pennington had encouraged Jennings to run for Congress against Harrison's candidate, and once there he further encouraged him to use his position to speed the territory's path to statehood. The hope was that upon statehood, the constitutional convention could be stacked against slavery, and then the state could elect its own governor rather than have it appointed by the President. They hoped that this would allow the state to be rid of any more pro-slavery governors. At the constitutional convention they did just that, slavery was clearly banned in the new constitution and the Governor was banned from holding any federal position.
Article 8, Section 1: But, as the holding any part of the human Creation in slavery, or involuntary servitude, can only originate in usurpation and tyranny, no alteration of this constitution shall ever take place so as to introduce slavery or involuntary servitude in this State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Dennis Pennington ran for a seat in the senate of the new government. He won the election and became the first speaker of the Indiana State Senate from 1816–1818. He was an outspoken critic of slavery and a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
during his tenure as a state representative. Pennington served in the Indiana State Senate from 1816–1820, 1825–1827, 1830–1833, and 1842–1845. Pennington also served in the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
1822–1824, 1828–1830, and 1845–1846.
Ever the anti-slavery activist, in 1818, Pennington had three Kentuckians indicted for violating the state's "Man Stealing Act" when they forcibly took a black woman from a home in Harrison County and removed her to Kentucky. Governor Jennings requested that the Governor of Kentucky send the men to Indiana for trials; after several years of correspondence the governor of Kentucky refused on constitutional grounds. The incident caused governor Jennings to change his position on helping fugitive slaves escape and instead attempt to prevent them from entering the state.
In 1825, Pennington campaigned for the position of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
, but he was defeated. Later he was appointed to be the Sheriff of Harrison County
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
, and ran to election for a second term. During his election campaign his opponent claimed due to Pennington's infirmities of age he would be unable to fulfill the duties of the office. Pennington challenged him to a wrestling match so that younger man could prove his superiority; his opponent declined. Pennington won that election and served as sheriff for second term.
In the 1830s and 1840s Pennington was one of the most outspoken members of the General Assembly in opposition to the internal improvements
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
plan. He was among the nine men, which included James Whitcomb
James Whitcomb
James Whitcomb was a Democratic United States Senator and the eighth Governor of Indiana. As governor during the Mexican-American War, he oversaw the formation and deployment of the state's levies...
, who voted against the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
The Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act was a bipartisan law passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Whig Governor Noah Noble in 1836 that greatly expanded the state's program of internal improvements. It added an additional $10 million to spending and funded several projects,...
. From the beginning, he railed against the majority; he claimed their plans, which would have no direct benefits for his constituency, would only bankrupt the state and would quickly become obsolete by the railroads. His predictions ended up being nearly correct. Every company started for internal improvements was bankrupt by 1840 and the state was only able to keep one canal out of all the projects and lost over ten million dollars, the equivalent of fifteen years of tax revenue, in the process. The final canal was taken by creditors in 1842, leaving the state with nothing for all the money it invested.
In his later years Pennington served for a decade on the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Board of Trustees. By the 1840s he was the oldest man in the General Assembly and was affectionately called "Uncle Dennis" and "Father Pennington". He died in his Harrison County home on September 2, 1854, aged 78, and was buried in the Pennington Chapel Cemetery.
See also
- Corydon Historic DistrictCorydon Historic DistrictThe Corydon Historic District of Corydon, Indiana, United States, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also known as Indiana's First State Capital and as Historic Corydon...
- History of slavery in IndianaHistory of slavery in IndianaSlavery in Indiana occurred between the time of French rule during late seventeenth century and 1826, with a few traces of slavery afterward. When the United States first took control of the region, slavery was tolerated as a necessity to keep peace with the Indians and the French...