chapter 5 Paragraph on elections - There were then 4 organized counties [ in Indiana ] . In Knox & Harrison , the western counties , Mr Randolph received 314 votes & Mr. Jennings 66 votes ; JOHN JOHNSON received 81 votes in Knox . At that time the big issue was --who was for slavery & who was not . The Ordinance of 1787 excluded slavery from the whole Northwest territory . The elections were for a DELEGATE to Congress on 5-22-1809 . Some canidates ran - pro-slavery and some ran as anti - slavery . The Quakers were instrumental in abolishing slavery . They were against it & were very much a part of the ' underground railroad ' for many years .