The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-22

IMmIGRATIoS.-From some unaccountable cause
the amount of foreign immigration has experienced
within the present month a sudden and unexpected
decrease. The total number of passengers arrived
at this port for the month'o May is set down at
~ 259, which is increase of 5000 that of
the same month for lS+9. The number of immi-
grants arrived from the commencement of the pres-
ent month up 10 the 5th instant Ia only S04 not
than third the amount stated for the half
month beginning on the lst and ending the 5th
Of May last, which was 81 ,l29.-N. Y. Con. & Eng.
We are surprised that the Enquirer should
speak of this decrease of emigration as unac-
countable. The only thing surprising about it
is, that il has not occurred before.
What turns the stream of emigration towards
the United States Men are slow TO forsake
their country, the graves of their forefathers,
and the temples of their accustomed worship, TO
minge with strange people and learn new
tongue. The great attracting power is the SUI
peror reward Cor labor which our country
affords, and which il is the spirit Of our nstitu-
tons to sustain, as the only enduring basis for
that general equality Of condition which they
presuppose, and which is vital 10 their preser-
walton.
Emigrants flock to our shores to find employ
ment and remuneration. Though large num-
bers Of them make their way at once through
the interior TO the western States, and occupy
the public lands, still a large portion are com
PEELED 10 wait in the cities Of the seaboard 10
accumulate, by the savings of their daily toll
the amount requisite 10 enable them TO defray
the expenses Of their further progress, and To
enable them 10 procure the stock and imple-
ments, without which land is valueless. When
employment is ready and abundant, when labor
is well rewarded, they come freely. When
the market for labor is sluggish, and its rewards
decline, they postpone their departure from their
old homes to a more promising season. When
forges and mills are closing on every side, and
the operatives employed in them are turned out
TO seek such new employment as they can find,
is il strange that emigrants should be deferred
from coming TO compete with theml That the
depressed condition Of manufacturing industry
must operate TO arrest emigration, is a conclusion
to be avoided only by supposing that those on
the point Of embarking for this country take no
pains 10 llOfn lutiurtlNtS ~ W INC prospect
that awaits them.
But independent Of the public vehicles Of in
telligence, the correspondence between our i'm
migrant population and their relatives remain
ing in Europe is sufficient TO give a wide
diffusion TO information Of so interesting char
acter. II is known, moreover, that large num-
bers of the emigrants are actually brought over
by funds furnished to defray the expenses Of
their transportation by friends in this country
The necessity Of this is obvious, when we re-
feet that labor is so poorly remunerated in those
countries from which emigration takes place on
the largest scale, as to barely suffice for subsist
ence, and render the accumulation Of even the
sum necessary to transport the workman across
the ocean an absolute impossibility. He can
not get the means Of escape, and must de-
pend for their possession upon the exertions
Of those who have already emancipated them