Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-05-02
CoLoPED CITIZENSHIP.

In the Senate of Massachusetts,, last week, Hon
y. w. Albne, rs Chairman Of the Committee on
Federal Relations, to whom the subject ot co'pred
citizenship was referred, in connection WIN 'he
recent decision Of the U. 5. Supreme Court, mace
an elaborate report showing the utter tlislty oi
that decision ia respect to the facts OF our niiin-
nal history, and the usagcs Of the national govern
mcnt and Of the several States. IL establishes
the fact, that from the cnrlic,t period, Tree persons
of color have been admitted to 30 citizens OF the
United States-hnvc b.cu 80 designated in con
greesional debates and State resolves have
been addressed as such in proclamations is
eued by men high in Office and statinn-hnve
been so recognized by the laws of the United
States-have received passports as American cIti'
gems from the government until within n compare
lively recent period-and have been admitted to
equal political rights AMI privileges IN various
States in the Uuion. The testimony OF Messrs'
Lowndes, Niles and P~inckney, as being Southern
men, is adduced as of great weight IN TINS ques
ton. Gen jackson made the fullest ana most eN
plicit recognition of culored citizenship and snI
did Thomas Jefferson. 1t has been repeatedly
recognized by acts of Congress. Impressed col
ored ssameR have been repeatedly claimed by the
national government as citizens oi the Ohlied
States. Chancellor Ken: sayS-"CItizens, urder
cur constitutions and laws, mean free inhabitants
born within the United States. or naturali2ed, un'
der the laws OF Congress. II II slave, born IN the
United States. be ~nAnumitted. orutherwlSe lawful
" discharged from bondage, " If II black man he
tarH within the OUltel states, anu uOTn lItV' ic
becomes thencefot ward II citizen, but under such
disabili ties rs the laws Of the states respectively
may deem it expedient to prescribe tn free pet
sons of color This report highly satisfactory
as far as it goes-conclules as foilows;-
Whereas, the State Department of the United
States has of late refused passports to colored cit
izens of the United States, contrary TO the form
er established usages Of said department; aud
Whereas. the late decision of the supreme
court of the United States in the bred Scott case
ha, virtually dcnauonalized the colOred citizens OF
Massachusetts therefore
Your Committee respectfully recommend the
passage of the accompanying Act;-
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep.
resentatives. in the General Court assembled, and
bv the authority Of the same, as fOllOws
Sect. |. The Secretary of State is hereby nu.
thorized to issue to any citizen Of this Common
wealth who may apply for the same, a passport or
certificate under the seal of the Commonwealth
setting forth the age, and Il general description Ci
the person applying for the same, and that he is a
citizen Of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and such passport or certificate shall be granted to
any citizen whatever his color may he and may
be in any form which the Secretary of State may
think expedient.
Massachusetts can do no less than this--but
ought she not to do more ? OF what avail will
such passport or certificate be IN II foreign land I
This Common wealth u not an independent repun-
lie. and therefore has no power t. defend her cIti.
zens abroad, however cruelty outraged. What II
the United States Supreme Court had virtually
denatinnalized" the irhite citizens Of MasSachu-
sets, as it has done the coiored, would they he
content with a State passport? Would they ad-
here to such a Union, or sustain snch n govern
meat? Not unless they were ready to be slaves
And are they not solemnly bound to make com
mon cause with their ostracised colurcd fellow-citi-
zens, and to declare that they will not submit Il
such. a despotism for one moment?-2he LiGer
atOE-