Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-05-10
Immigration

The most remarkable phenomenon of the pre-
sent age is the vast and steadily increasing flow
of population from the shores of Europe to those
of the United States Our people have been SO
long famliarised with the spectacle of foreign
immigration, that it does not impress them with
a due sense Of the Importance that belongs to the
subject Few among them have accustomed
themselves to reflect upon the extraordinary and
novel character of this modern exodus. In truth,
the pages of history, from llerodotps down to
Macasay, may be ransaoked in vain for para
lei TO the movement which it has fulleu 10 the lot
Of the present generation to witness. The MI
grations of the Goths, Vandals. Huns and Other
natio MS of Northern Europe and Central Asiadn
ring the early centuries of the christian era, were
warke and predatory ineurslons, occurring Mt
uncertain. irregular aud sometimes long inter.
walls There was no such thing Il steady and
regular tide of emigration rolling from the for
ests of Scandinavia or the steppes of Tsrtary
over the seats of Roman civilization; and perma-
nent settlements were seldom made. Such, also,
was the character of the Crusades, which for two
centuries precipitated the hosts of christian I'm
rope on the plains of Asia. But very die
is the aspect of the emigration movemeas ..#..
Europe 10 America. at the present dar Ia.
Mississippi does not pay the tribute of it, vafer-
to the ocean with more certainty and regularity.
than does Europe pour the turbid stream OF ~
convict and paurer population on the shores Of
the United States but with this difference, how
ever, that whilst the volume of the river knows
no increase from year to year, the living tide Of
European emigration is every day becoming
iJar nd 5aapa- Ibirt, hp uu,hp
of immigrants annually landed in this country did
not exceed ten thousand Since that period their
numbers have steadily and rapidly increased,
and j, is now computed that no less than fire
hundred thousand strangers took up their abode
among as during the past year. And these peo-
pie nre speedily clothed with the nationality of
the United States. endowed with all the priv
leges of native citizens and Invited to take an
active share in the government of this great and
free country Werepeat. that the history of the
world furn shes no such political and social phe-
nomenon as this
No people before us ever thus abiured their
own nationality, and expanded their arms to re-
ceivo the swarning millions of other climes. Is
it strange then. that the public mind of this
country should at last have been powerfully, nay
subject, and that great party should suddenly
have arisen, pledged to arrest the progress of for
eign influence in our government !, Is it not
rather matter for amazement that the vigilance of
our people should have slumbered so long, and
that now, for the first tlme they should be look
ing this vital question in the face No man in
his senses will have the hardihood to deny that
the future destinies of our Republic must be ma
terally influenced for veal or for woe by the an
nual incorporation with our people of at least a
haf-million, and, perhaps, in future years, of a
much larger number of foreigners. So potent ,
cause must necessarily produce important effect
of some kind. Wehold then that the question
how these foreigners shall be received, and wha
shall be their privileges among u.s. is one whic
at least deserves to be carefully studied b
American statesmen and thoroughly canvasse
before the American people. Bgoted partisan
and Aippant demagogues may denounce and d
ride the Know Nothing movement as polite
trick, but no intelligent and unprecedented ind
yidual can look calmly at the subject without a
kpovledging that a more important questi
never engaged the attention OF the American pc
pie, and that its consideration can no longer
properly and safely postponed.
We of Virginia are sometimes told that
warning against foreign influence. we are hghtil
a mere shallow. inasmuch as the foreign popui
ton Of this State amounts only to few thousan
and therefore forms too Insignificant an eleme
IN our political system to justify the smallest a
prehension on the part of our native citzens.
Such is the reasoning of Mr.. Wise and his par