from Emancipator Free American. Dec. 1, 1842. p. 128
Meeting of colored citizens in Boston held at the infant school on Thurs. Eve Oct. 7.
To consider the imprisonment of colored seamen in foreign ports, and to take measures for petitioning Congress and the state legislature in their behalf Benjamin Weeden was called to the chair and Charles A. Battiste, appointed secretary.
The following resolutions were presented by Victor A Barker and after being ably discussed, were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, that the legislative enactment of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, prohibiting all free colored citizens of the United States entering those several states under penalty of imprisonment, are manifestly unconstitutional; insomuch as the constitution declares that the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all the rights and immunities of citizens of the several states.
Resolved, that Congress possesses the power to invalidate any state legislative enactment which tend to restrain the liberties of any portion of the citizens of the United States.
Resolved, that the voice of the Massachusetts legislature should be heard in the Congress of our nation. Demonstrating against the unjust and unconstitutional deprivation of her citizens, by Louisiana.
Resolved, therefore, that we, the colored citizens of Boston, memorialize congress, and our legislature, at their next sessions, for the action in this case; especially that on some fitting occasion the point may be carried by this state before the supreme court of the United States, in order that such laws may be pronounced unconstitutional before that tribunal.
A committee was appointed to prepare and circulate petitions and also to correspond with our friends in several states to awaken an interest in behalf of their own seaman.
Committee as follows, V12., William C. Nell, Victor W. Barker, Robert Wood, Benjamin Weeden, John Thompson, Charles A. Battiste, Eli Cesar.
Benjamin Weeden, chairman
Charles A. Battiste, secretary
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