Free Negroes and Mulattoes
In 1788, Massachusetts passed a law regulating the residence in the state of certain people of color. It was never enforced. In 1822 members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives formed a committee to debate whether limiting immigration and residency of people of color should be enforced.
The committee was chaired by Theodore Lyman, Jr., and the Speaker of the House was Josiah Quincy. The report, dated January 16, 1822, includes a history of slavery and the immigration of Africans to Massachusetts. Not only did the report find that these people of color did not pose problems to society, but greatly benefited the state.
Slavery, and the Admission of New States. House No. 44
The joint special committee, to whom were referred the petition of Spencer Vining, and 272 others, of Abington, and many other petitions of the same tenor, relating to the power and duty of Congress to abolish slavery …
Intermarriage. In The House Of Representatives, March 6th, 1840. No. 46
The joint special committee to whom were referred the petition of James P. Boyce and 242 other legal voters of Lynn, and many other petitions similar in tenor…
Correspondence with Virginia in the Case of George Lattimer. House No. 9
..all correspondence between ‘the Governor, or authorities of the State of Virginia,’ and the Executive Department of this Commonwealth, touching the case of George Lattimer…
Recovery of Citizens of Massachusetts Unlawfully Imprisoned in Southern States. House No. 35
..all ‘the papers now on file in the Executive Department, written since the year 1834, touching on the recovery of citizens of Massachusetts unlawfully imprisoned in any of the southern States.”
Fugitive Slaves in Massachusetts. House No. 41
A petition signed by more than 65,000 citizens of the state of Massachusetts referred to the legislature of Massachusetts asked three things: (1) that a law should be passed, forbidding all persons who hold office under the government of Massachusetts from aiding in or abetting the arrest or detention of any person who may be claimed as a fugitive from slavery; (2) that a law should be passed forbidding the use of the jails or other public property of the state, for the detention of any such person before described; (3) that such amendments to the Constitution of the United States be proposed by the legislature of Massachusetts to the other states of the Union, as may have the effect of forever separating the people of Massachusetts from all connection with slavery.
Imprisonment of Colored Seamen. House No. 48
… the petition of J. Ingersoll Bowditch and others, merchants of Boston; also the report and resolutions of the State of Georgia, transmitted by His Excellency the Governor; also orders an order of the House of the 11th inst.; and lastly, the Message of His Excellency the Governor , communicating copies of papers in the executive department since 1834, —all of which orders and papers have reference to the imprisonment of colored seamen, citizens of Massachusetts, in the southern ports of the United States.
Petition of William C. Nell to Erect a Statue of Crispus Attucks. House No. 100
The Committee on the Militia, to whom was referred the petition of William C. Nell and others, for the appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars, to erect a monument of Crispus Attucks.
Equal Rights in Railroad Accommodations
Massachusetts Legislature. Senate Reports, 1842.
No. 63. Equal Rights in Railroad Accommodations. 13 p.
External Links:
Report on the petition of S. P. Sanford and others, concerning distinctions of color (1839)
Report on the deliverance of citizens liable to be sold as slaves (1839)
Report on the powers and duties of Congress upon the subject of slavery and the slave trade (1838)
…the petition of Asa Stoughton and others, of the town of Gill, and many other petitions, of the same tenor, asking the Legislature to declare that Congress has the power, and ought to abolish Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States, and the Slave Trade between the several States of the Union..
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