25. Massachusetts, Senate, Committee of Federal Relations, Report, Senate No. 172 (N.p., 1857). (17 p.)


Report of a committee charged with studying the question of “whether colored citizens of Massachusetts, desirous of traveling in foreign countries, can obtain the customary passports.” Apparently, the Federal State Department’s practice of issuing passports to free men and women of color ended in 1849. Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s decision in regard to Dred Scott “virtually denationalized the colored citizens of Massachusetts.” Consequently, the committee recommends passage of an act by the Massachusetts General Court [legislature] allowing the State’s Secretary of State to issue passports to citizen of the Commonwealth who applies.