The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-28
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
BRITISH EMIGRATION.


From the Philadelphia Ledger.
BRITISH EMIGRATION
A BILL introduced by Lord Stanly is now before the
British Parliament, which promises to affect seriously
the emigration of British Subjects by diverting the
tide of the poorer classes the British Ausral Asain
Colonies, and leaving only those in better crcunl-
stances to seek the United States. Though the ope
ration of acts of Congress- which allow to ships
bringing passengers only two persons to every five
tons of measurement the passage of family contain
ing six PERSONS from the British Isles to New York,
would cost S2l, l05 while through the operation
of the British laws which allow about four persons to
five TONS the passage Of the same family to Quebec
Halifax would cost only f6, or $50. This great differ
ence in expense most of the British emigrans
who seek our country to take passage for Canada and
Nova Scotia, and seek the nited States overland and
preference for the latter prevails among the poor
er classes most of the emigration to the Northern
lonies is really designed for "the States" The Bri-
fish Government DESTROYS of encouraging emgra-
ton to their Austra Asian Colonies because they
clearly fOresee the Importance of those extensive
gions, and also comprehend the uncertainty of the
tenure by which they hold the American colonies.
To accomplish this object, Lord StanIys bill proposes
regulations upon passenger ships to the Northern CO.
onies, which will raise the price to level with that
to New York, and upon passenger ships to the Aus
trail Asian colonies which will reduce the price below
the present price to Quebec or Halifax. The effect is
obvious. If family of six persons can reach any
Austral Asian port for $50, while they must pay
$lO5 reach any port of North America, they will
select the former from necessity if unable pay the
larger sum, which is the of nine.tenths of the
British emigrant population. Hence the poor emil
grant has the alternative of starving at home, seek
ing plenty in the mild climate and fertile soil of New
Holland New Zealand, Van Dieman's Land, and
other islands in the region while those who can
pay for passage to the United States will seek
own shores.
This bill will be eminenty useful to Britain In
tho he,,r o1o,,ioc 1ohc 10 md
They contain no hospitals and almshouses, because no
people starving for want OF employment, and in
curing disease from want. Any family with good
habits who starving in an English manufacturing
town. because labor is not only overstocked but rob-
bed by taxation to support rapacous arisocracy at
home and furnish the means OF punderlng conquest
abroad can, in any Austral Asian colony find en-
poyment and bread Immediately, and competence or
wealth in few years. If then the starving British
population can be transported to those colonies they
will not only relieve labor at home, at least from
competition, but will raise great empire of both
producers and for the British workshops.
New Holland already produces fine wool in large and
increasing quantities and it extends from lat 10
to 40 deg South no small portion of the Northern
coasts must be suitable to the cultivation of cotton.
But this bill will be equally useful to the United
States restraining species OF emigration which Hills
our hospitals almshouses and prisons, in a degree
sufficient TO counterbaance all the advantages which
we derive from the increase of aborers. Our excel
lent institutions render country asylum for the
oppressed of all nations; and feryently WISH not
only that country was large enough to relieve all
mankind but that example in political institutions
could be adopted by every nation But while thus
wishing well to ALL and DESTROYS of avoiding nvidous
distinctions in any case, cannot be blind to the
fact, that receive too many European paupers
for our own comfort. We use not the term palpe'
in the reproachfu Specification in which it is some
times cruelty uttered. Heaven forbid that should
regard misfortune as crime, with any other sent
ment than compassion. We leave that to aristocracy
of which it has been characteristic in all ages. Bu
if our almshouses hospitals and prisons are filled with
Door Europeans while thousands are begging in the
streets of all cities and large towns need nc
other evidence to prove that in some parts of oul
country at least labor is overstocked and that these
poor children of misfortune do not much improve
their condition by seeking our shores. Who, then
with one spark Of philanthropy, would not wish tt
see them seek another shore, where they more
wanted, and consequently where they will be better
fed, clothed and shetered'
We shall be told that our great county Is wanting
inhabitants. We admit it. The great Western re
gions the home for future millions of hardy, ntelli
gent wealthy freemen, need laborers beneath whose
sturdy arms the gigantic forests will disappear
the rich fruits of agriculture spring up for the har
vest. But such to be found in the poor English
f artisan who lifted or held plough, Oh
the poor Irish peasant with his wife and little ones
perishng in rags and hunger These not the
population for the West, and could not reach it il
they were. How shall family of English or Irish
pauperS, landing at one OF our SeapOrtS In deSttu
tion the sad result of their expressions at home fine
their way to the far West They might find employ
ment when there, but nobody here or there will pay
them for going. Accordingly, they crowd the alleys
of our cities, work when they can, and seek ou
almshouses when they can starve no longer; while
not few seek bread through degradation, for crime
is the creature of want and finally reach our prisons
We want inhabitants, but from those classes who are
able in some degree, to help themselves Al ADM
that our best emigrants are from Germany ant
Switzerland. Why? Because instead of crowdnt
into the seapors and large towns, to work when they
can and beg when they cannot work, they seattle
over the interior and cultivate the soil. And why
should German or Swiss do this more than an En-
glishman or Irishman2 Merely because he brings
capital He brings money to buy land, and even tools
and stock to cultivate it. We have more than once
seen Swiss and German families step from the shif
to the wharf with their wagons and horses, and agri
cultural furniture, and bags of silver coin, and com
mence their Western travel without hours delay
And of those who remain in the cities the principal
| portion are mechanics traders, who begin theiI
American career with capital Were the majority o.
English and Irish emigrants thus provided, they would
pursue the same course and be quite as useful Bu
they are not and whoever would obtain the proof
will find it in the great preponderance oil Brl
fish subjects, especially Irish, In our hospitals
aims houses, and prisons Whether these facts
prove that British rule is more oppressive thal
German Swiss, or in Ireland than IN Eng
land, we leave for the present. Our main object i
to proJe that emgrants with capital are better thar
those without it, and that receive most OF the Tor
mer from Continental Europe, and most of the latter