Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-22


thrown in upon the Roman republic and
empire in the course of eight or ten CEN
turtles. They were, no doubt, greatly ex-
aegerated by the panic fear of the inhabl-
tants and the PRIDE of the Roman hstori-
ans would lead them to magnify the power
before which their own legions had so OIL
ten quailed. But when we consider the
difficulty of subsisting large number of
persons in march through aa unfriendly
country-and this at a time when much of
The now cultivated portion of Europe was
covered with forest and swamp am dis
posed to think that the hosts which for
succession OF centuries oyerran the Roman
empire did not in the aggregate exceed IN
numbers the immigration that has taken
place to the Uuited States since l7S0' In
other words, am inclined to believe tha:
within the last sixty years the Old World
has poured in upon The United States a
number ofpersons as great-with their nat
ural increase-as Asia sent INTO Europe In
these armed migrations of barbarous races.
Here, of course, the parallel ends. The
races taat. Invaded Europe came to lay
waste and to subugate the hosts that cross
the Atlantic are peaceful immigrants. The
former burst upon the Roman empire, and
by oa-repeated strokes beat il to the
ground, The immigrants to America from
all countries come to cast in their lot with
the native citizens, and to share with us
thus great inheritance of civil and religious
liberty. The former were ferocious barba-
rians, half clad IN skins, speaking strange
tongues, worshipping strange gods with
bloody rites the latter are the children OF
the countries from which the first Europe
an settlers Of this continent proceeded, and
belong, with us, to the great common fam
lily of-Christendom. The former destroyed
the culture of the ancient world, and it was
only after a thousand years, that better
civilization grew up from its ruins. The
millions who have established themselves
in America within sixty years, are, from
the moment of their arrival, gradually alb
sorbed into The mass of the population, con-
forming to the laws, moulding themselves
to the manners Of the country, and contrib
Rtiag their share to its prosperity and
strength. applause
SUPPORT OF FoRglGN PAUPERS. -
Fam not Indiferentto the increase of the
public burdens; bat the time has been when
felt little proud of the vast sums paid in
the United States for the relief of poor
Femigrants from Europe. II is an annual
sum, / have no doubt, equal to the inter-
est on the foreign debt of the States which
haze repudlated then obligations. When
was in London, few years ago. received
letter from one of the interior. counties OF
England. telling me at:they had in their
House of Correction an American seaman
(or person who pretended to beg who
from their account, seemed 10 be both pat.
per. and rogue. They were DESTROYS of be-
ing rid of him, and kindly offered to place
him at nay disposal. Applause. Although
he did not bid fair to be very valuable
acquisition, | wrote back that he might be
sent to London, where, if he was sailor
he could be shipped by the American Con
sui to the United States. ventured to
add the suggestion, that If her Majesty's
Minister at Washington were applied to IN
similar way by the overseers of the poor
and wardens of the prisons in the United
States, he would be pretty busily occupied.
But really felt pleased, at time when my
own little State of Massachusetts was as
ssting from ten to twelve thousand desti-
tute British subjects annually, to be able to
relieve the British Empire of the only a.
merican pauper quartered upon it. Great
laughter and applause.
Ladies and gentlemen, my humble tale
is told. Its first incident is Columbus, beg
ging bread for has child at the gate of a
convent. IT'S last finds you the stewards
Of this immense abundance, the almoners
of this more than imperial charity, provi-
ding employment and food for starving ma
tons, and home for fugitive races.