Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-31

are seldom found connected with these associa-
tons as members. Engaged in subduing the will
derness of the far West, or pursuing their ayoca-
tons in the cities and towns, they have neither
time nor disposition TO unite with them But, TOO
If the testimony the subject is 70 be
believed, they are composed Of the idle and disso-
Lutte, Of those who fond of the excitement OF mill
tary shows, have no fixed purpose in view,
while the number of the substantial men Of busi-
ness, whose thrift would be q guarantee for the
of order, Is comparatively small.
Under these circumstances, 1t Is time that steps
were taken TO correct the evil.
am aware, Mr.. President, that ii is not fully
within the constitutional competency of Congress
or of the General Government to provide what
might be- regarded rs an adequate remedy for the
mischiefs but too likely to grow out of these or
CARNATIONS. The President of the United States
has but modified control over the volunteers and
other militia of the several States. To the States
therefore, and the Governors of the States, 1t be-
longs to remedy the presently existing evil But
Congress, also, has duty to perform in reference
to this subject, by providing, as far as possible,
against the admission into the country OF those
dangerous and desperate men who come here from
foreign warehouses and prisons by the compulso-
ry agency of the Governments to which they be-
long. If an adequate security against the future
transportation of this class of men into the coun-
try cannot be provided by negotiation, it should
be done by legislation. Congress has the power to
make such regulations as will effectually close the
door against the admission of this class Of immi-
grants and it will be recreant to Of its high
est duties If it should fail to exercise 1t. Not only
is the corruption of the public morals to be appre-
hended from the admission of these men, but the
public peace and security are likewise endangered
by it, Private property health, life, morals, repu-
tation, everything dear to communities and indi-
viduals is endangered by receiving this class Of
men.
The evil is not new one, 1t is true but 1t Is
frightlfully on the increase. number OF years
ago, during the period, I am informed, that Cen
eral Samuel Smith was mayor of tho city of Balti-
more, ship load of Hessian convicts, two hun
dred and sixty in number, were brought into port
with manacles and letters still remaining on their
hands and feet. General Smith, having discovered
the character of the passengers, detained the YES
sci at Fort McHenry until he could communicate
with the Secretary of State at Washington, on
the subject, which he did. By the latter, however,
he was informed that there was no remedy--there
being no law to prevent their landing; and so the
citizens of Baltimore were obliged to look on and
see two hundred and sixty convicts landed in their
midst, and turned loose upon society. So desper-
ate, too, was the character Of these men, accord
ing to my informant, that they had to be brought
over in chains, and were actually landed with their
handouts and letters upon them.
Lately ESQ lately that they have probably not yet
arrived) the Sandman government, as have al
ready stated sent over, in national vessel, 1.-THE
Degennes, man-ofwar,) thirty or forty convicts,
men Of desperate fortunes and lives; old convicts,
who will here become schoolmasters Of vice and
learned professors of crime, Is it not time, Mr.
President, in view of such facts these, that the
most vigorous measures should be adopted to pre-
| vent the country from becoming a mere penal
| colony of the governments of Europes Hating
/ our institutions, and jealous of the unexampled
progress of the nation in wealth, power and great
ness yet afraid to asssil openly, does not their
conduct in this respect, almost look as II 1t were
the result of determination on their part to
rupt Ill. fountains Of our prosperity by sapping
the morals of our peoplef For far less offence
than that which is continually being committed
against us by the governments Of continental Eu-
rope war would be justi6able But to this ex-
tremity we need not proceed There are other
remedial means less costly, and more effectual if
not to punish the offending governments at least
to prevent the recurrence OF the offence and to
these we must have resort If we would stay the
food Of pauperism and crime flowing in upon us
from the Old World.
And who, Mr.. President, permit me TO ask, will
resist the attempt or be offended at its success
Will the honest foreigner--who comes, bona fde,
to escape oppression at home and enjoy liberty
hcre-obect because we refuse to permit the
asylum which he has sought as home for himself
and his children to become the refuge of thieves,
and murderers, or the thriftless inmates of Euro
pesn work-housesf Our advantage, and the ad-
vantage of our children, will be his advantage, and
the advantage of his children, from generation to
generation. Him, therefore, we cannot offend BY
pursuing the course which the national safety de-
mands. Who, then, win complaint 1t easy to
answer. Those whom we shall offend-the I'M
feeling, but calculating despots who send hither,
by compusion, the wretched and miserable inmates
of their alms-houses and hospitals, reduced to pow
erty and want and afflicted by disease In conse-
quence Of the burdens and hardships occasioned
by unjust wars, waged for conquest, or to crafty
pride. They viii complain, (but not openly be-
cause, instead of fifty shillings paid per head for
paupers to this country, treble that
sum will be required TO maintain them at home.
Another class may also object to the measures
which we may take for our own security mean
the convicts and felons who win be left to expiate
their crimes In their solitude of native prisons in
stead Of pursuing career OF prosperous villany
here, because their rulers will not dare to turn
them loose at home, though willing TO do II here
l now beg leave, briefly, to call attention to the
state OF pauperism and crime In the United States,
as disclosed by the census, prison discipline so
cieties, and other similar associations. And first
/ refer TO pauperism as 1t existed in 1880
The foreign population OF the United states, IN
1885, as compared TO the native, was nearly as one
to ten there being 81 947 ,274 natives, and 2,244
COZ foreigners. The whole number of paupers
supported, wholly partially, in the last mentioned
year, was l84,7e2; and of this number, es, 63s
were Of foreign birth, leaving but Sc 434 natives
In 1850 the number ofpaupers supported in the
poor-houses Of Massachusetts,, and who received
partial support out Of doors, was 1871 and Of
this number $3.50 were native, and e,247 foreign
ers. In New York the whole number was SO, 1855;
and Of this 1925 were natives, and 40,5s0 for
eigners. In Pennsylvania the whole number was
IL 1851 and Of this 5,s9s were natives, and $685.
foreigners. In Rhode Island, the whole number
was 1880; and Of this l,ll5 were native, and
l ,445 foreigners.
l shall pursue these statistics of paupcrism no
further, being compelled to turn to a calendar Of
crime absolutely sickening in Its details And
shall first call attention TO the number Of criminals
who were convicted by the courts Of several States
in 1850.
In Connecticut, the whole number Of convictions
was $50; and Of these, $40 were natives, and 305
foreigners
In Illinois, the whole number convicted was sle
and of these, l27 were natives, and $50 foreigners