The native American., 1838-06-02
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
Wash;ngfon, ma

Washington, May 10, 1888.
The Secretary of State, to whom has been re-
fcrred the resolution Of the House Of Representa-
tves Of the 3Oth ultimo, requesting the President
to communicate to that body scopes of all cor
rcspondence and communications which have
passed between this and any foreign Government,
and the officers agents thereof relating to the in
production Of foreign paupers into the u. States;
and, s.also, what steps, if any, have been taken
to prevent the introduction Of such paupcrs into
the United Statcs;' has the honor to report to
the President the accompanying correspondence,
whicl contains all the information on the files oil
this Department relating TO the subject-matter Of
the resolution above referrcdto.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN FORSYTH.
The PREsrDENr Of the .. Sfases.
Erfracf from, letter Of lfr. Liuingsion to, NJ.
Fun Buren, dated
AUGUST l, 1881.
A letter from Mr.. Harrison, a copy Of which
is annexed, informs the Department that some
law Qocal, it must be presumed, in the Island Of
jamaica, oblges all foreign vessels, under heavy
penalty, TO carry from the island number Of
paupers in proportion to their tonnage; and that
this is daily enforced against the American ship
hVs
countenanced. B0tsyou will make the proper
representations, and procure order for the dis
continuance of the practice, and compensation to
those who have suffered by IT,
M. Harrison to 1fr. L;uing ngston.- E.rfracfs. J
CoNsULATEoF oF THE UNITED STATES,
Kis2gston, Jamaica, Jane 80, 1881.
SIR: i do myself the honor to inform you that
| was called upon yesterday by most OF the mas
ters and supercargoes of American vessels now
in this port, who complained Of a law which
obliges alIforeign vessels under one hundred tons
to take a pauper Tor such other person that it
may be desirable to get rid of on board and carry
him or them off the island; and those above that
size, one for every ry~hundred tons burden, at the
rate Of $40 each, under penalty OF glOO cur
rency, or $500.
Il appears, when pauper wishes to leave the
island it is only necessary to select the vessel he
is desirous to 90 in; he then accompanies the
officer charged with the execution OF the law IN
question to the consgnec, to whom the $40 is
rendered for tho man. passage, and, if refused,
the fine is then inflicted. You are aware that
many Of OR vessels trading to this island are
80 very SMALL that masters and crew live to-
gether in the cabin, and, If they are not all re-
lated, are the sons of ncighbors and friends. II
must therefore be very disagrecabe TO have a
stranger forced among them, and whom, Tor
aught they know, very dangerous character;
whereby not only the safety OF vessel and pro-
perty may be endangered but their lives also.
IS u So II
From the circumstance Of the States of the
Union having laws which prohibit the landing
Of pGupers, &c., masters who have been com
PEELED to receive such persons on board thei
vessels at this place, haze entered them on fh'
shipping ARTICLES as sedDscn. / have rcproachet
some who have done it and are about 10 do i
again; but they plead necessity, saying If they
reported them as passengers itwould give then
difficulty, and to avoid which they are compellct
70 use deception.
have no means, while remain unauthorzct
"a act in an official character, to ascertain the
number OF persons who have been thus clandes
t;nely introduced into the United States, but /
am informed that there are now about one han
dred in the hospital Of Kingston alone, and a.
there are scarcely any other foreigners trading Z
The colony but Americans, the greater part Q
these people will find their way to the Unltes
States III the manner already described to you
Ii is true that English vessels are also bound Z
take away these unfortunate persons; but as thel
were compelled TO leave England Tor want o
improper conduct, it is not likely they wil
volunteer to return, and am therefore not wrons
in saying they win 60 to the United States
The injustice Of compelling our vessels 70 tax
persons Of this class on board is SO apparent tina