Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-14
From the National Gazette.

The snnearance and habits of most OF the
Germ, m and Swiss 2easan'ry and mechaRi's
who emierate TO this country, form striking
contrast with those Of our own operatives and
country. ,oDula,ion. They exem2hfy the gen
er,l suueriority Of our condition and ,ns'iiu'
lions. though in manner which afhiels 'he
heart of philanthropy, as il anima'es strength
,ns American patriotism. He who has not
travelled in Europe and vii xs.-eiI-
there. can Obtain some idea Of them from what
he NAV observe in such as we have mentioned
above, whom he sees landed on our whar'es or
iourneying in the steam boats.
A few days ago we remark, d, during an ex-
cursion Of thirty miles, some families, to be
noted as specimens, whose skins, coun'enanccs,
dress. fare and customs indicated q, least Us
much severity OF toll, insufhciency and coarse
ness OF nouiishment AFFECTION OF spirit ard
tone, and inveterate apathy OF Indulgence, as
sonld be found IN any slave>hovel in any Of our
slave>boIding STATES. That r,cklts>ness aten>
dan, ON early Iuvariable and squalid poverty,
which neglects the simples, comforts within
Immediate reae in a new situation, and meets
every Inconvenience and suffering as OF course
and usage was disgastingiy visible in the pro-
ceedines Of .hp wretched creatures TO whom we
nar,irularly refer. II is not too mueb 10 as>
ser, thai, in the points Of Intelligence and viva
civ. means and modes Ut subsistence, and gem
crai physical situation and aspect, the great
majority &c the negroes in the y. States are
considerably above them; and INDEED abov.
the mass Of the common laborcrs in many parts
Of the European continent and several oil Great
Britain and Ireland Take the whole body Of
the ma i've whites Of our Union, aud no compar-
ison c an be Instituted.
This persuasion is confirmed BY the descrip-
lions Of all the cand d travellers, and especially
BY the mos. recent statements. Mr. Jacob, In
the very able Report to the British government
which we have heretofore quoted, draws tru-
" drplorable picture of the "misersble hlthiness
aud apparent poverty OF the peasants dwelling
aud oil their clothing" and OF the nature OF their
food in the states Of Nor,hers Continental Eu>
rope, and even various provinces of the king
dom Of the Netherlands. He says
'.In Prussia. in Denmark, in Russia, and the other
parts of the continent which obviously the poorest
as well rs in Ireland the increase ofinhabitant living
chiefly ON potatoes has been much greater than the
increase of capital to afford them employing mt that
when Nm unavoursbe for their chief sutenaDce
occurs the extent of want and suffering is enlarged
in a most alarming degree-in degree felt with a
most oppressive weight during he period between the
uselessness cfthe old and rpening of the new crop"
The better order Of things, as he represents
IL, in Great Britain, is actual evidence Of the
positive good in our own country.
ssit is moi" he adds, 'to such state that we are
called upon to look in Great Britain; labourers
no, compelled to subsist the lowest kind of food
Even the most INDECENT. those who are supported by
the local poor rates their dwellings, such
placed in poor houses work houses hospitals; and
Their receptaces for Indulgence, not, like those in
similar circumstances IN poorer countries, compelled
TO live exclusively potatoes Ill of them fed
with corn of description, and IN the south of the
.L-ll AL ,haak aAD,a
absolute wan, Of or whose feelings forbid them to ap
Div for parochal aid, may sometimes suffer more than
than those who receive but this class comprises
y small proportion of the inh b'ants of Great Britain
has been chiefly extended"
The improvement in constitution. manners,
spirit and maintenance which the emig' ants
experience after residence among Us, Of few
wears, bears testimony not les, impressive to
The natural, social and political advantages