The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-22

lar agents abroad. Every other country does the
same thing without the thousandth part OF the
inducement which we have a nation.
Suppose the law required that the emigrants should
present themselves at the Consus office for the visa
of their passports that the captains of the vessels
carrying emigrants, should have permit from the
Consul, stating the number of emigrants, their age
condition, &C., and that this permit should be refused
In all cases in which persons of suspicious character
or known to be malefactors board the said
se would not the United States be better protected
against certain population of Europe than by the
tax OF two or three dollars head which, if the emf
grants vicious compensation for their impor
taton, and if honest, but poor, too great impost
on those who have already made so many sacrifices
in giving up their homes and exposing themselves to
the dangers of long and tedious voyage. Such a
supervision on the part of the American commercial
agents abroad would also enable them to give due
preference to all vessels sailing under the American
hag-a preference which they much need, consider
ing that vessel of 500 tons burden belonging here
may be sailed from $500 to $4,000 year cheaper
than one of the same size, sailing under American
colors, and manned by American seamen.
A small fee, not exceeding twelve and a half or
twenty five cents at the utmost, per head, and which
would not influence the price of the passage, might be
allowed the Consul for the trouble inseparable from
the discharge of his duty, and compensation for
the loss of time, &C.; but it would the United
States annually thousands of dollars, and prove sig
nal advantage to the emgranls themselves. They
now entirely deprived of the of obtaining the
necessary information for the proper investment of
their capital persuaded by interested persons to
load themselves with merchandise and farming uten-
sils Of which cheaper and better in the Uni
ted States while the cash expended for those useless
articles would often suffice to purchase them
tate.
repeat it, the United States have a solemn duty to
perform in regulating the emigration of Europeans to
their shores-a duty which is alike mperious with
gard those who born in the country and those
who wish to become citizens. They owe their own
citizens protection and to the honest foreigner who
wishes to live among protection Off person and
property from the moment he has renowned his own
country. When the emgrant has arrived in the Uni
ted States it is too late to his surveillance
be is then already there for better for worse and
whatever be the in which he arrives the laws of
humanity forbid that he should be sent back to the
place he came from. The United States have then,
no further alternative-and obliged to feed the
pauper rather than incur the expense of sending him
home All that can be done with, and for him, must
be done abroad and it is thither consequently that
the Administration must turn its eyes,
have thus but walked over the ground without
entering into deta lis; and will write you fully
the subject in my next. The principal political
news here comes from the United States; the news
paper polemics of England and France being at this
moment entirely destitute of interest.
Louis Philppe's policy in Spain has met with Sc
rious rebuff in the forms of etiquette adopted by the
Rcgent-hs oriental policy is equally unfortunate,
though the news from Algiers is somewhat con-
selling.
In Germany the tariff league has been increased by
the Of the municipalities of Brunswick and
Lippc. 1t is supposed that when the railroad from
Bremen to Hanover will be finished, the latter king
dom and the free Hanseatc city will also join the
Vereins, by which means the German league of Gus
toms will become commercial power, capable of
treating with maritime nations terms Of reciprO-
city.
From Russia there is nothing new except that the
Emperor is much ncensed against the Court of the
Tuilleries the latter is against him. and that they
both make mouths at each other without having the
courage to come to blows.
France, Germany and Italy are building railroads
and canals. The warlike spirit having subsidized, the
material interests have again full sway, and there is
no doubt that in very short time Europe will be
nothing but huge workshop.
AS as Parliament meets, will write you about
Sir Robert am tired of chronicling the speeches
of the French Deputies. They lead you into laby-
rinth from which even Yankee politician would find
it difficult to extricate himself. In Spain matters
preparing for another crisis