The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-02
Mr' webster on Foreign Immigratfon
and the Public Lands,

In his first speech at Buffalo, Mr.. Webster spoke
of the foreign population in this country, and of
the disposition of the public domain. As MANY of
our readers have censured the Crescent for its ad
vocacy of the free distribution of the public lands,
we are glad to be backed up by such high authority:
But, gents, continued Mr.. Webster. there are
other things about this State of yours You are
here at the bottom of Lake Erie You look out on
the far expanse OF the West. Who came here of
whom are You composed. You are already pso.
Pile OF fifty thousand, larger population than that
OF any New England city. except Boston, and yet
you are but of yesterday. What is your popua-
ton great many of them are my counrymen,
and see them with pleasure; but these are not ALL
there are also Irish and Germans suppose, on the
WHOLE and IN the main, they are safe ciiizsns at
any rate they are well informed, and thew cons,i
tue a large portion of your population. That leads
US to consider generally what is the particular 90.
sltion OF our country, and of your city as one of
the great outlets to the West in regard TO This for.
elgn immigration. The emigration to this country
~ enormons-lt comes from Ireland, GERMANY
Switzerland, etc. remember it used to be smile,
when any thing of sudden or energetic nature
took place, to say that it "broke out like an Irish
| rebellion" Forty thousand strong does not begin
to compare with the emigration to the United States
Emigration comes here with a perfect rush from
every part Of Ireland from Liverpool and the Shan
non, from Dublin and from Cork, emigrants come
from the northern ports, from Belfast and here thew
are Into the Interior they come, and will continue
TO come It Is in the order Of things, and there is
no possibility of revoking it. Gentlemen, it is not
three centuries and half since Columbus discov.
cred America, and he came here by AUTHORITY of
the Spanish Government. He gathered up some
gold, and went back with great name. 1t is
much shorter time since the Irish discovered Amer.
lea, and they come IN much greater numbers but
they don't come here with the idea of carving
back name, but mean to live here ior ever. They
come to remain among US, and TO be of us, and 10
take their chance among us. Let them come
There are also Germans Your city, l am told,
has very large number of thrifty, industrious
German people. Let them also come IL his Ma
Jesty Of Austria, and the Austrian Government,
Will allow them to come, let them come (Greal
applause All we desire, whosOever come is, that
ihey Will Amerlcanize themselves; that, forgetting
the things that are behind, they will Look forward
-and If they look as far as Iowa and Minnesota.
| they will not look rod too far I know that many
from Europe come here, who have been brought
upto different pursuits, to different forms of appi-
cation, and even to different systems of aericul-
ture; but, as general thing, believe it Is true
that when they are removed from the temptations
OF The cities of the Atlantic coast and wien thew
get into the regions where trees are 10 be f.lled
and land cleared, they prove themselves worthy
and respectable citizens and, perhaps, gentlemen,
you Will excuse me If, without too long a speech,
say little relative TO our American system on this
sunect OF foFelgn emigration. In the d. claration
OF Independence, declared as you all know on the
4th ol July, lIib solemn and formal cOmplaint is
made against the British King, tha, he sought 10
prevent emigration from Europe TO the colonies,
by refusing his assent to reasonable laws of natu.
raliZation. by reason of which, it was stated the
country did not fill up, and the public lands were
not purchased. 1t is worthy the attention of anv
gentleman, who wishes to acquaint himself with
the early history of the country in this respect to
refer back to the naturalization laws passed in The
time OF Washington. Every one can see what was
the prevailing idea at that period. The idea of en-.
couragng emigration from Europe was universal.
and 1t was desired that those who should wish TO
become naturalixed, should become acquainted
with our system ofgOvernment before thew ytted-
that they should have an interest in the countrv.
that they might not be led away by every design.
| ing demagogue. At that day nobody foresaw such
| developments and such enlightenment in the com.
merce OF the country as we now see and, there
fore, at all periods of Washngton's administration,
| they were looking to see how they should pay the
| debt of the revolution. Whatever we NAV think
of it DOw their great resource to pay their debts
was their public domain. They had Obtained
before the Constitution was formed, a grant of the
| Northwest Territory, which was known to be
populated by Irish exiles, capable of furnishing
| great products, by agricultural labor The Con.
gress of that day looked TO this. They had no idea
how sudden would be the great increase of our
commerce, or how plentiful would be the revenue
from that source and, therefore, their whole re.
source was to see how far they could encourage
iofeign emigration, (Which, it was expected would
Dllhg capital into the cOunry,) with the idea of
such conformity with our American system, and
american institutions, as would render emigra-