The native American., 1838-07-28

paupers from Great Britain and other places; as
certaining, rs nearly as possible, TO what conh,
tries such persons were sent where landed; anu
what provision, if any, was made Tor their iuiofe
support In answer to this resolution, ihe cor
respondence and documents contained IN the do-
pe,i,iir to this report, and marked A, were sub
mittcd to the Senate.
On the 10Th of March last, the House of Rep
rcsentatiyes 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 cmigrants 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 delrayed;
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 a correspondence in the State De-
partment on the subject Of the introduction n'o
the United States of foreign paupers but that this
correspondence was with foreign government,
and could not he communicated without the d-
recton of the President of the United States
whereupon, the House adopted resolution re-
uuesting the President Of the United States TO
communicate to the House copies OF all cores
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 appcndir TO this re-
port in document marked B. The committee
have been furnished with letters from Mr.. Sy
monds, keeper ofthe House Of Industry at South
Boston, and another from Mr.. Pollard, late city
locp i.l,
taincd in said appendix, and Marked G.
The committee apprehcnd that few Amcrca ans,
if any, will doubt the propriety Of intcrposing le-
gslative restrictions upon the deportation from
Europe of foreign paupers and convcts to the
United States. The well-known philanthropy of
the American citizens, and the libcraty with
which the suffering poor and afflicted in the Uni
ted States are supplied with all the ncccssares of
life, and the freedom with which the hand Of
friendship and oven charity has been extended Ia
the sojourner among lis from all quarters of the
globe, have been abused topurposcs 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-
cprocal professions Of desire TO maintain equal
and exact justice towards each other. the commit
tee have observed with regret that system OF le-
gislation 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 prcjudical to the tranquility and
interests of our citizens, and threatens with vio-
lence all our peaceful relations. Anxious to pro-
vide remedy for present and accumnlating evils,
and to secure, if 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-
porta'ion of paupers and convicts from foreign
countries into the United States.
But the deportation Of foreign paupers into this
country is not the only subject of complaint by the
memoralists: the indiscrmnate Introduction of|
all classes of foreigners, from all countries, into
the United States, and the celerity with which
they are converted into American citizens, with
out regard to the character qualifications which |
they possess 10 sustain the important relations Of
such citizen, is complained of as a present evil
and from which consequences more prcjudicial
to the social condition of citizens and the per-
manency of our institutions apprchcndcd than
yet have been exhibited. AT an early period Of
our history, and before the adoption of the Fed
era Constitution, the power of comforting upon
iolCiSHCios WIO W tiC OIltcu pldlcS,
the exercise of political rights, was deemed by
many Of questionable propriety; yet, undcrlhc old
Confederation, it was granted to and exercised by
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 26th of
March. 1900, Congress passed law establishing
a uniform rule Of naturalization; and from that
time hitherto the power has been exercised in
conformity with the provisions the Federal con-
stitution. In the brief period of fce years from
the time of landing in the United States, a for
eigner, from what country soever 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 immuiities of ma
tiveborn citizens, by process peculiarly Ameri-
can. AS soon as they have passed the ordeal of
naturalization, they arc eligible places ofhonor,
confidence power, and profit, in "A manner and to
an extent at present unknown in any other civili-
zed country. While the memoralists claim for
all who soloum with us, or become domiced
here, the protection Of laws and the hospitality