Militia Law in Massachusetts, discrimination

January 20, 1860

At a recent session of the Legislature there was an attempt to remove the word ‘white’ from the militia law. The Governor, (Banks), vetoed the measure. The House refused to override the veto. The word ‘white’ was then restored to the measure, and the bill passed with a vote of 170 to 1. The editor comments: “The colored citizens of Massachusetts are, therefore, still to be ostracized, in this particular, on account of their complexion.”