The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-05
.Tore(gm Correspondents

believe that the business has been carried in this
port honestly in any other nay, more so.
But do not think that subject in which the United
States deeply and lastngy interested ought to
be left in the hands Of honest and faith
full, who from the very nature of the thing have but
transient interest in it. From the moment a man
leaves his house and home to ado 1T America for his
permanent residence, his hopes and wishes and ex-
pectatons are identified with the country of his adop
ton. This is known and understood throughout.
His countrymen look upon him stranger-as one
who is on the point of severing all connection with
them; the Government which he quits, in order to
be free from the trammes which keep him in bond
age at home, naturally views him as sort of rebel
against its laws and Institutions, and there is
quently no one to advise counsel him. if it be not
the diplomatic or commercial agent of the country
which is the sole object of his vows.
This all so perfectly natural that it would be alb
surd find fault with the authorities here, with
the persons engaged in " forwarding" emigrans. They
have done ALL and perhaps great deal more, than
could have been expected of them. There is no
doubt that with the rules and regulations adopted for
instance ia this place, there is danger of the poor
emigrans starving their way to the United States;
but herein, imagine, does not yet consist any guar
antee of the emgrant's being used he might be, if
the authorities and agents of the United States
| to watch his welfare. Every government has a
double obligation to fulfil with regard to strangers
wishing to travel or reside within its territory to-
wards its own citizens subjects which consists In
protecting them against the aggressons of suspicious
or VIGOROUSLY untrustworthy characters, and the
other which consists in protecting the stranger in the
enjoyment of all the rights and privileges to which
they entitled by the laws of nations and OF human
ty. Is it for this reason that persons wishing to
visit foreign country are, in Europe, bound first to
obtain the pisa of the diplomatic agent or consul OF
that country which risa afterwards entities the holder
to all the protection extended by the authority of that
country towards its own subjects In the United
States passport required to travel from one place
to another, and that certainly is proof of their
greater freedom, and, may NATURALIZATION Such
passports FUSED to travel in the interior of the
try) cannot have any possible objec-since the gov
eminent is already bound to protect its citizens, and
since the stranger, once arrived in America is with
the exception of the right of suffrage, and few other
laws in reference to real estate, placed upon the same
footing as the citizen himself At home therefore, it
would be mpractcabc and useless to establish
the system of passports introduced in Europe
| IL
| and excite by its mnutia the dislike and mdigna-
ton of the people. But the matter is very different
when foreigner wishes to go to the United States,
and this not only to travel through the country but
in order to make it his permanent residence In this
the PISA of diplomatic agent or consul OF the
United States would be sort of acceptance of his
first preliminary declaration to become citizen. If
man of property applies to the consul or agent for
such acceptance, and there is nothing against his
character the pisa will be granted, and the trouble
caused to the stranger by this single step is not worth
mentioning If the stranger wishes for any particular
information, the consul agent is the very best per-
to give it to hi n, and the consul agent may in
this not only protect the person of the wealthy
| foreigner, but at least indirectly, become the
means of the investment of his property. | have
said to you in my former letter that nearly all
emgrants are heeced in every step they take
until they reach the port of their destination
| This | am sorry to say, is human nature
Whoever deals with them knows that the chance
of making money out of them will not return, and
thus every one makes at once the most of them 1t
is natural aso that every advises them to invest
their money in goods and other things with the value
of which they are unacquainted, while the interest
of the United States and in most also that OF
the emigrants consists in bringing to America as much
cash possible in order to make their investments
in real estate This, at least is the interest Of nine
tenths of the German emigrants, most of whom have
very considerable property, Notwithstanding their UNI
pretending and sometimes shabby external appear
ance. Had the consul the means of seeing and
versing with the emigrants, thousands and hundreds
| of thousands Of dollars light be saved to the emil
grants and through them to the United States, which
are thrown away in Europe or invested SO as to
yield no return. 1t of course the interest of the
governments of Europe to keep the emigration
much as possible within their own hands; but they
could not refuse what is established as an intena-
tional measure in every civilized country.
If person of suspicious character criminal flying
from Justice mere political offenders must of
course not be comprised in this category-or a man
condemned by the tribunals of his country is present.
ed by his Government as ga candidate for American
citizenship" the diplomatic agent or Consul of the
United States will bow, and observe that his country
must necessarily decline the honor.
By the adoption of this wise the United
States would soon to be looked upon C the
refuge of every vagabond and scoundrel in Chrsen-
dom" and the vicious criminal population of Europe
would he obliged select another place of rendezvous.
That the poor but honest and Industrious population
of Europe ought not to be refused is self evident,
if they have but the of paying their passage.
There is fear of any mans starving in the United
States who has the of his limbs, and is willing
use them His labor enrichcs the soil labor is mo-
ney as well time. The latter, IN fact is worth
nothing without the former.
The readiness with which the United States are
supposed receive the very oucast of the population
of Europe, does not raise the American character in