Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-10
More about Foreign Paupers and Crimi.
mails. ss.a

Ii
Mayor Wood and the clerk Of tho Board o.
Infrmary Of Cincinnati, in relation to the
transportation Of foreign panpers and crimi
nails to the West. The Cincinnati board cal
upon Mayor Wood to aid them in putting ;
stop to this neiarious practice by all the power
he can exert Mayor Wood replies that he
feels it only to DO his duty to protect New
York.
We are not surprised at this complaint from
the West. The foreign vote in all the Western
States is so powerful as to threaten their insti
tntions. .ase1f
We give the letters in full, and commend
them to the perusal Of our readers:
MORE ABOUT FOREIGN pAUpERs. .aa
Office City Infrmary, Cincinnati, Oct. 23, 1858.
Hon. FERNANDO WooD, Mayor Of New York:
Dear Sir; Having heard and read frequent re-
ports OF the vigor you exercise in regard to the
importatons Of foreign paupers into your city, by
the aid and sanction Of foreign govern ments, we
would respectfully call your attention to f,cts which
have been made manifest to us for some ii me back
in relation to the transhipmentsof foreign paupers
to the West, by aid of the emigration societies,
however, we know nothing certain having only
the words OF the paupers arriving here But this
much is certain, that we have almost weekly arri-
walls Of patches of from three to twelve patipers
who are sent here from your city, and are landed
amongst US without money or friends, many of
whom are sick when landed, whose expenses to
this place are paid by the emigration societies of
your city, or by the city authorities themselves.
These, If not sent back, would soon become pub
lie charge Upon US Many are in sickly condition
and cannot be sent back others Iinger dong for a
while until they become fastened upon us, and FINALLY,
become public charge for life. We ask YOU is
this right il-weil knowing from the estimate we
have formed Of your character, that your response
will be emphatically, no! We therefore call upon
you to aid US in putting stop to this nefarious
practice by all the power you bring to your aid
as soon as possible. We are informed that by your
laws you compel each aud every foreigner arriving
at your porto pay two dollars towards fund.- from
which to pay the expenses Of any foreigners
who may hereafter become charge on your poor
fund. This fund, from the great number Of emil
grants arriving at your port, must necessarily be-
very large, and ought to be sufficient to keep them.
without sending them away to be maintained at the
expense Of our and other cities, who have no such
fund. We have come to the determination TO send
all back, as fast they come, hereafter; and a.
matter of justice to us, wo call upon you TO use
your authority to stay the evil or If you have no
power in the premises, at least to exposethe mat
ter, so that We may know where the blame rests
and apply the proper remedy.
Respectfully yours,
-. HoRNUNG, Jr,
Clerk Board City Infrmary.
BY order Of ADAM HoHUSo,
VIZ. CRossxAS,
Gro. A. PrrER,
Directors City In6rmary.
MAroR's 0rrIcF, NKw YoRx,
November 3, 1855
DEAN SrR: Your letter Of Ne Esd instant re-
ara cfpp mad obf -
criminals and paupers from this city to the West
by the authorities and emigrant societies of New
York, would have been replied TO sooner, bat
for pressing public duties / have now the plea
sure to advise that such lie not the fact and that
i am confident no such violation Of the common
principles Of justice and courtesy has ever taken
place In this city. You are quite right In sup
posing that my own feelings and views would be
hostile TO practices OF this character, upon the
part Of the authorities and others here The
stand taken by me with reference TO the shin
ment to our port Of these unfortunates BY the To-
cal authorities Of European governments, would
preclude mo from countenancing the preparation
Of the same wrong upon the people OF your city
IL would be impossible for me 70 do that which
1 have 20 often denounced in others. But II is
very certain there have been no such trans.ship-
ments. Tho emigrant paupers and criminals 10
whom you alludo IA having been forwarded TO
Cincinnati were no doubt sent thither direct from
the prisons OF their own country. This has been
the practice for several years. The stringcncy Of
my own course In Directing to the reception and
incorporation Of this outcsst population into our
own community, has no doubt had-the effect TO in
crease this practice In supposed avoidance OF the
grounds upon which We refuse 70 receive them
am happy 10 advise, however, that Il has had no
such tendency. feel Il incumbent upon me not
only TO protect New York, but the whole country,
from so great an evil, so far as have the power,
and reject and return forthwith every such person
known 10 me, whether intended to be domiciled
In this city or sent. 10 The West. My policy and
practice have been to return them forthwith, II
possible, by the vessel that brought them.
The Hamburg ship Deutschland, from Hamburg,
which arrived at this port on the 18th September
brought -four criminals sent out by the order and at
the expense Of the authorities Gustrow Duchy Of
Mccklenburg, direct from the prison at that place.
These persons were provided with through tickets
| from New York 20 Milwaukee. These tickets were
purchased from the agents in Hamburg. All the
principal forwarding lines here have agencies In
the leading European cites for the sale Of through
tickets into the interior Of this country Thus you
win see that, although the foreign omgrants allud
ed 70 by you, may properly represent themselves
as from this city, they have merely passed through
Il en- route from some wofk-house or poor-house In
other lands, and instead Of being sent by our own
authorities have been forwarded even to your very
doors by the inhumsn and inhospitsble governors
and ovorseers Of their own country.
I fully appreciate the sentiments expressed in
| your letter ON this subject In my Judgment the
evil Is becoming Of sufficient magnitude 70 call for
the action Of the general govemment--our whole
country Ia more or less Interested. Its effect
upon society and taxation IL no longer Insignificant
and must soon attract tho thoughtful concern Of
the statesman and patriot.
| Very respectfully and truly,
FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor.
To Messrs. Adam Hornung, William Crossmnn,
George A, Peter, Directors City Infrmsry, Gin
cinnstL
| II. Long a Brother, Of New York, are 10 pub
| f..k Ia t., L.. o.tt.f.d d H., u,aa.