ation ▁or ▁am end ment ▁of ▁the ▁state ▁constitution ▁from ▁ever ▁perm itting ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁sla very ▁or ▁invol unt ary ▁serv itude ▁into ▁the ▁state . ▁As ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁state ▁constitution ' s ▁most ▁important ▁prov isions , ▁this ▁section ▁allowed ▁constitution al ▁am end ments ▁for ▁any ▁reason ▁other ▁than ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁sla very ▁or ▁invol unt ary ▁serv itude . ▁The ▁anti - s la very ▁clause ▁in ▁Article ▁VIII ▁stated : ▁" But , ▁as ▁the ▁holding ▁any ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁human ▁Cre ation ▁in ▁sla very , ▁or ▁invol unt ary ▁serv itude , ▁can ▁only ▁origin ate ▁in ▁us ur p ation ▁and ▁ty ran ny , ▁no ▁alter ation ▁of ▁this ▁constitution ▁shall ▁ever ▁take ▁place ▁so ▁as ▁to ▁introduce ▁sla very ▁or ▁invol unt ary ▁serv itude ▁in ▁this ▁State , ▁otherwise ▁than ▁for ▁the ▁pun ishment ▁of ▁cr imes , ▁where of ▁the ▁party ▁shall ▁have ▁been ▁d uly ▁conv icted ." ▁Indiana ' s ▁ 1 8 5 1 ▁constitution ▁contains ▁similar ▁content , ▁but ▁clar ified ▁the ▁legal ▁status ▁of ▁slaves ▁and ▁indent ured ▁servants ▁when ▁they ▁came ▁into ▁the ▁state . ▁ ▁Article ▁IX ▁out lined ▁plans ▁for ▁public ▁education . ▁Its ▁central ▁item , ▁which ▁was ▁new ▁to ▁American ▁constitution s , ▁included ▁a ▁clause ▁that ▁established ▁" As ▁soon ▁as ▁circumstances ▁will ▁permit " ▁a ▁" general ▁system ▁of ▁education , ▁asc ending ▁in ▁regular ▁grad ation , ▁from ▁town ship ▁schools ▁to ▁a ▁state ▁university