The native American., 1838-08-11

pdupeIS lTOHl ITeal DTlldln ana Ullti Pid.eSs ~"
certaining, as nearly as possible, to what coun,
tries such persons were SENT where landed; ana
what provision if any, was made for their future
support. In answer to this resolution, the cor
respondence and documents contained III the ap-
Uendil to this report. and marked A, were sub
mitted to the Senate.
On the 10Th of March last, the House of Rep
resenatives of the United States adopted reso-
luton directing the Secretary of State of the Uni
ted States to report to them statement OF the num-
Der OF emigranls from foreign countries who have
arrived in the United States, annually, during the
last ten years; the places at which they arrived:
the countries from which they came; the expense
of their transportation hther; by whom defraved;
and their circumstances and condition generally:
with such other information relating TO the intro
duction into the United States of foreign paupcrs,
by the authority of foreign governments, as he
might possess. In answer to this resolution, the
Secretary of State reported among other things,
that there was correspondence in the State De-
partment on the subject Of the introduction into
the United States OF foreign paupers; but that this
correspondence was with foreign government,
and could not be communicated without the d-
rection of the President of the United States;
whereupon, the House adopted resolution re-
questing the President OF the United States to
pondence and communications which have passed
between this and any foreign government, and the
officers agents thereof relating to the introduce
ton of foreign paupers into the United States; in
answer to which, the House received the cores
pondence contained in the appe,,dic to this re-
port, in document marked b. The committee
have been furnished with letters from Mr. Sv-
monds, keeper Of the House of Industry at South
Boston, and another from Mr.. Pollard, late city
marshal of Boston, Massachusetts. which are con-
tained in said appendir, and Marked G.
The committee apprehend that few Americans,
if any, will doubt the propriety of interposing le-
gislative restrictions upon the deportation from
Europe of foreign paupers and convicts to the
United States. The well-known philanthropy of
the American citizens, and the liberalitv with
which the suffering poor and afflicted in the Uni
ted States are supplied with all the necessaries of
life, and the freedom with which the hand of
friendship and even charity has been extended to
the sojourner among us from all quarters of the
GLOBE have been abused to purposes not to be COM
mended. Notwithstanding the friendly relations
which exist between the Government of the Uni
ted States and that of Great Britain, and the re-
ciprocal professions of desire to maintain equal
and exact justice towards each other, the commit
tee have observed with regret that system of e-
gslation has been adopted in that country, which
has for its object the deportation of their immense
pauper population to America, and the tendency
OF which IS to cast them upon the United States,
regardless alike Of the effect upon the paupers
themselves, and the interests and expectations of
this Government. This policy has prevailed to
an extent highly prejudical to the tranquility and
interests of our citizens, and threatens with vio-
lence all our peaceful relations. Anxious to pro-
vide a remedy for present and accommodating evils,
and to secure, ii practicable, the observance of
good faith on the part of foreign governments to
the United States, the committee recommend
the passage of bill. which they respectfully ask
leave, herewith, to introduce, to prevent the de-
portaon of paupers and convicts from foreign
countries into the United States.
But the deportation of foreign paupers into this
country is not the only ject of complaint BY the
memorialists: the ndscriminate Introduction ofI
all classes Of foreigners. from all countries, into
the United States, and the celebrity with which
they are converted into American citizens, with
out regard to the character or qualifications which
they possess to sustain the important relations of
such citizen. is complained of as y present evil,
and from which consequences more preiudicia
to the social condition of our citizens and the per-
manency OF our institutions are apprehended than
vet have been exhibited. At an early period of
our history, and before the adoption of the Fed
eral Constitution the power of comforting upon
foreigners, who emgraed to the Jnited States.
the exercise of political rights, was deemed bv
many of questionable proprietv: yet underthe old
Confederation, it was granted to and exercised bv
the several States. The want of uniformity in
the exercise of that power became so manifest and
prejudicial that, upon the adoption Of the Federal
Constitution, the exclusive right of exercising the
power was vested in Congress-; and on the 26lh of
March, 1870, Congress passed law establishing
a uniform rule of naturalization; and from that
time hitherto the power has been exercised in
conformity with the provisions ofthe Federal con-
stitution. In the brief period of fce years from
the time of landing in the United States, for
eigner, from what country soevcr he may have
come, and whatever his character may have been
previous to his arrival, under our present natural
izaton laws, may become citizen, and entitled
to most of the privileges and immunies of ma
tive-born citizens, by process peculiarly Ameri-
can. As soon as they have passed the ordeal of
naturalization, they eligible to places ofhonor,
confidence, power, and profit, in manner and to
an extent at present unknown in any other civili-
zed country. While the memoriasts claim for |
all who sojourn with us, or become domicied
here, the protection of our laws and The hosnitalitv