In 1853, a newly elected, twenty-six year old State representative stood to defend his “Negro Exclusion” bill against bitter attacks by anti-slavery legislators in his State. He made this a centerpiece of his campaign in 1852, railed against “Negro equality” and supported the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. The bill found support from the majority of the people of his State, had been passed through committee votes by crushing majorities, and had substantial support in the legislature. The State already denied blacks the right to vote or serve in the militia, and had voted by a two to one majority in 1848 that a law must be passed to exclude blacks from the State. This seemed to be the next logical step in the process.
A few days prior to the debate on the bill, some anti-slavery legislators attempted to repeal the “Black Codes” in the State. This failed by a vote of 58 to 7. This brash new representative argued that such a move would have led to a wave of interracial marriage and racial equality. When pressed on the importance of the exclusion law, he argued that blacks would ruin the State because they would become immoral and lawless paupers incapable of assimilation into white society.
He wrapped up his speech on the bill by blasting his seemingly less race conscious opponents:
“Nor can I understand how it is that men can become so fanatical in their notions as to forget that they are white. Forget the sympathy over the white man and have his bosom heaving with it for those persons of color. It has almost become an offense to be a white man. Unfortunate were these gentlemen in their birth that they could not have been ushered into existence with black skin and a wooly head….Unless this bill shall pass, you will hear it again next session and again until something shall be done to protect those people [in his district] from inundation of the colored population.”
The bill passed both houses of the legislature by comfortable majorities and was also supported by most of the people in the State. It remained on the books until 1863, two years into the War, and was enforced a few times against blacks attempting to migrate into the State.
The State? Illinois.
The representative? John A. “Black Jack” Logan, a vocal proponent of Reconstruction and the man responsible for the modern “Memorial Day” holiday.
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https://www.abbevilleinstitute.org/dirty-work-and-decoration-day/ 
