Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-14

DENIAL OF PASSPORTS TO CoLoRED MEN,
1t seems to be the mission of modern Democ-
racy to glorily our faults and meannesses and
make them conspicuous before the world as
traits of national character. Caleb Gushing
says that the judges of the Supreme Court
only meaut by the bred Scott decision that
men tainted with African blood could not so
tar be regarded as citizens as to be allowed to
sue in the United States courts, but the ma
tionai administration chooses to interpret it as
taking from colored men all the rights of citi-
zens and of men. They would withdraw from
coloTed men all legal protection and leave
them to become helpless prey. DR.. L. S.
Rock, a eoored man of Boston, citizen of
Massachusetts "to all intents and purposes
whatever" and regarded and treated as such
by our laws, lately made application through
Senator Wilson to the State Department. for
passport to go abroad He is a gentleman
of culture, well known as a popular lecturer.
and wishes to travel in Europe for his health.
and cannot travel safely or comfortably with
out passport from some recognized govern
ment. Secretary Cass refuses the request. and
says in his reply to Mr.. Wilson
ga passport being a certificate of citizen.
ship, has never since the foundation of the
government been granted to persons of color.
NO change In this respect has taken place in
consequence of the decision of the bred scott
case"
Neither of these statements istrue. Pass
ports lave heretofore been granted to colored
persons, and there has been decided changa
in this respect in consequence Of the bred
Scott decision. 1t is most extraordinary that
the Secretary of State should have made sueh
positive statements right in the face of the
facts. Rev. Peter Williams, a colored preach
er, in New Jersey, received a passport in 1895
from the Secretary of State, in which he is
called "a citizen of the United States" Rob.
ert Purvis and wife OF Phila ielphia, both col
ored, received passports in 1884. Secretary
Marcy gave passport to Mr.. Remond of Sa
lem, well known colol ed man, in 1884, and
we presume there have been many other in
stances. Our foreign consuls have given
passports to coored men, and Mr.. Dallas.
minister to England, gave one to Mr.. Putnam
OF Salem, a colored man, during the Pierce
administration. So well understood was it
that this was the custom of our consuls
abroad, that the Buchanan administration has
found It necessary to notify them that thew
must discontinue the practice. Andgyet M.
Cass can say that there has been no change
in this respect on account of the bred Scott
decision.
Aside from the meanness of this refusal TO
extend protection to our colored citizens
abroad, the refusal of passports is a direct in.
suit to the States recognizing them as citi
zeus. DR.. Rock is citizen OF Massachusetts
and Massachusetts, has the right to demand
that be shall receive all the privileges award.
ed to any other citizen. What ught has the
general government to make iuvidious and un.
just distinctions between the citizens of Mas.
sachuselts : 1t South Carolina denies to her
colored residents the right of citizenship. the
general government is not called upon to
confer upon them any right not granted in the
State Of their residence. Where does the pen.
eral government lind the right to compel
Massachusetts to adopt the social theories of
South Carolina Massachusetts says to the
general government, DR.. Rock is citizen
Of this State-we demand for him the pro.
lection granted to all citizens-that should
be decisive Whoever is recognized bv anv
stale as citizen has rights that the eener
al government is bound to respect and in
Questioning or denying them, the general
government attacks directly the equality and
sovereignty OF the States. This is a plain
case, 1t strikes u.s. springfield Republican.
STILL THEY Go. -Another party of Ir'sh
mostly females, some dozen or fifteen In mum.
Der, left this city on Thursday morning. Our