The native American., 1837-12-02
From The NelD York Star.
FRAUDS ON EMIGRANTS.


We have repeatedly taken occasion to speak
of the injustice of obtruding upon this country
foreign paupers from European workhouses and
prisons. These, in most instances, are the blame
less dupes Of those who prey upon them as a
source of profit in the transbipment. The white
victims hudded together in ships in brutal, un-
feeling manner, sometimes almost without food
or any comforts, present, especially on occasions
SO tragic as those which made our coast at Rock
away last winter grave yard, the spectacle Of
new species of traffic in human flesh of the
most horrid aspect. Yet the poor creatures, thus
forced or ured out in our frightful winter, come
to us under the garb of humanity and philan-
thropy, which, torn off, exhibits the sordid mo-
tives beneath.
Alderman shiel, in the Liverpool Council,
spoke Of the vile impositions practised on emf
grants. He said that the system pursued by
parties chartering vessels in that town, for the
conveyance Of the poor people to the other side
of the Atlantic, whether to our own colonies, or
to the United States of America, was one fraught
with evil to an extent scarcely to be credited, if
it were not capable Of the purest proof.
Mr.. Shiel then described species of persons
whom we think may be denominated "decoy
ducks
ssIn the first place, in the distant parts of the
country, Ireland and Scotland, numerous agents,
of class very little removed from the lowest
order, were employed to make the most hatter-
ing statements to poor people, inducing them to
come to Liverpool, under the idea that they
would get passages at very low rate and when
they arrived at their ultimate destination, scarce
Iy any exertion would be necessary in order to
get employment and good wages. by these flat
tering representations, poor people were induced
to come to Liverpool, and another set OF agents,
of the same Sort managed to meet them on their
arrival. Many Of these poor people were very
ignorant, and totally unacquainted with the usa-
ges Of society, and care was taken to have them
met by people who, like himself, (Mr. Shell
spoke fine broad Irish accent A laugh.) The
poor people were gratifed to hear voice like
those to which they had been accustomed, and
their confidence was gained They were then
taken to lodging houses, at which they incurred
great expenses, and then to an agent connected
with a vessel, which they were told was to sail
in three or four days. They paid their money,
and got written notes for passages in vessel
which was not actually to sail for month, or
perhaps in one which was not on the berth at
all, or even in preparation. Then, of course,
they were obliged to wait for the vessel, subject
to heavy expenses; and people who came with
sufficient to pay their expenses to the other side
of the Atlantic, and some little remaining to
meet their wants until they got employment
were, in this port, reduced to want and misery;
many Of them actually becoming paupers on the
parish. The evils of the system did not rest
here In many instances, the parties were taken
on board vessels very improperly fitted up, and
very insufficiently provided; and when they got
fo the other side of the Atlantic instead OF being
landed at the places promised, they were often
landed at other places at considerable distance.
The statements he made were partly within his
own knowledge, partly derived from the govern
ment agent in this town."
After alludng to the Amboy affairs which
city, by-the-by, was described in our papers, he
said, as nearly joining to New York, he went
on thus:
..To show the extent to which this sort of
imposition was practsed, a gentleman in the room
told him that he had overheard one of these
agents in conversation with some persons who
were going to emgrate to Quebec. The agent
told them that there was no vessel to sail for Que
bee as soon as one for St. Johns, and, said he,
81 have a vessel which will sail almost immed-
ately to st. Johns, New Brunswick, and as for
the matter Of the distance between the two pla-
ces, you may breakfast in one and dine in the
other but he took care not to mention the time
that would intervene between breakfast and
dinner.'
The parliamentary act Of 1884 TO protect emf
grants proved useless, as it was interpreted not
to include foreign ships. Hence no responsible
tiles in the persons who shipped these people.
The number who emigrated from Liverpool in
the three months ending June 80, was 2O,5ll.
There were seven different government agents
at Limerick, Belfast, &C.. but the number Of
emigrants from Liverpool surpassed all the rest
put together, The complaints for redress out OF
the above 10000 alone amounted to 1888, OF
which 1000 were beyond the reach of the law
as it stood, and only 749 obtained redress. When
they thought of the number Of poor ignorant
persons unable to get redress, who were thus
made victims to the wickedness and cupidity OF
others, he was sure the council would do all they
could to remedy the evil
He proposed to appoints committee to inves-