Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-05-01
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.

The special committee, to whom was refer
red the subject of the decision of the Su-
preme Court in the Dred Scott case. reported
in the House Saturday, through Mr.. Wells
of Chcopee, the following preamble and bill
Whereas, The right of every sovereign
and Independent State to determine, by its
own laws, the state and condition of every
person within its limits, and TO prescribe the
terms and principles upon which persons shall
become and continue members or citizens
thereof, belongs to each Of the several States,
except only so far as the right is limited by
tho constitetia., of tho United Statos
Whereas, In this respect the only power
granted to the United States is to estab-
lish uniform rule of naturalization, and
the only restrictions upon the right of the
States are those relating to persons charged
with crime, and held to service or labor in
one State under the laws thereof, escaping
into another; and all powers not delegated
to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to
the States respectively;
"And, whereas doubts have been recently
caused to arise in regard to the condition of
portion of the inhabitants of this Common
wealth, and their rights Of citizenship under
the Constitution and laws of the State and
W..
end that doubts may be removed that the
rights and privileges heretofore recognized in
this Commonwealth may be affirmed and es-
tablished and that the condition of the in
habtants of the Commonwealth and their re-
lation to the State may bo clearly defined and
declared -
'Be Il enacted, de-:
"SEcrroN /. All persons mentioned in this
SpctiOp and not avcaptad nro and ahaI1 h,
deemed to be citizens of this Commonwealth,
owing allegiance to, and entitled to receive the
protection of the State, as members thereof,
until they shall have voluntarily withdrawn
from the limits of the State into another State.
aud become incorporated members thereof--to
wit
"First- Every person born within this Com
monwealth.
Second. Persons born without the limits of
the Commonwealth, children of parents who
are citizens temporarily absent therefrom
"1hird. All other persons being in. or com
ing into, and locating within the Common
wealth, with intent to remain and reside per-
manently as citizens except aliens. paupers,
fugitves from justice, and fugitives from sery-
ice.
''SEc. 2 Slavery is forbidden and cannot ex-
st within this Commonwealth under the Con-
sttution and laws thereof
'SEc. 3. Amy person, having been held to
service as a slave in any other State or coun-
try, and not having escaped from any other
State of the United States in which he was
held to service or labor under the laws
thereof coming into this Commonwealth, or
now being therein, shall forthwith be and be-
come free
Mr.. Littlehold of Foxboro', on leave, in
troduced the following preamble and resolu-
tions
"WHEREAs, by the late decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States in the case
of Dred Scott VS.. Emerson, it is in substance
affirmed that slavery is national. and that
slaves may be held in transitu OF tenn ,orarily
in any of the States or Territories OF this
Union, and
"Wheroas That decision is contrary to the
construction that has uniformity been placed
upon the Constitution of the United States by
Congress, and by slave.holding Statos in
which like cases have been tried, and
Whereas, the aforesaid decision is entirely
subyersive Of the independence of the sover-
eighty of the several States, therefore
"Resolved, That the State of Massachusetts
reafiirms her decision that no person shall be
held in invountarily seryitude within her ju-
rlsulcuoh' except IN case oi CONVICTION ior
crime
"Res0lged, That when any person held as
slave in any other State, SHALL with the con
sent of the person or persons so holding him
or her, come within the limits of Massachu-
setts, the person so held is, by the Constitu-
ton and laws of this Commonwealth free
and all the officers, Courts and authorities Of
the Commonwealth shall protect such person
in his or her freedom and rights, in the same
manner, and to the same extent, that they are
now required to defend the rights and nmr-
mites Of all citizens Of the State