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

inmates of foreign prisons and the corrupted and
IMPOVERISHED hordes Of foreign capitals. ! am
willing that this country should continue 70 be the
asylum of the oppressed OF every land, that out OF
it's abundance the yirtuous needy should be fed as
heretofore that in its institutions they should find
protection for person and property. But, Mr..
President, the time has come when the door Of adj
mission should be closed forever against all settled
and egalized paupers, and all persons convicted or
suspected Of crime, who shall be sent hither through
the agency Of their respective governments. If
stop be not speedily put to this kind ofmmigration,
the fountains Of public morality win be corrupted
and the public safety compromised. Can II be
otherwise, when those who are brought here are
the vicious, the turbulent conspirtors against or
der, pick pockets thieves, burglars, and murder
ers2 These people are the stuff OF which mobs
are made; they are the class which invade the pu-
,ity of the balotbox, and interfere with the cleo
tive franchise.
In the great cities of the republic, in New York,
Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, St. Louis and New
Orleans the evils which have grown out Of the
admission of these classes Of immigrants have be-
come gigantic--frightful Not only have the ir-
resolute and timd become alarmed at the magni-
tude of the mischief which threatens the public
peace and endangers the public morals, but firm
minded and far-sighted statesmen have likewise
seen and appreciated the imminence Of the danger,
and the necessity Of prompt and energetic meas
ureb 10 arrest IL. luc mdyOT vi VIZ City VI 1NCW
York refers to the subject in late message to the
aldermen and members to the common council,
and has, also, addressed communication on the
same subject to the President Of the United States,
Tho following isan extract from his message:
at has long been the practice Of many govern.
ments on the continent Of Europe, to get rid of con-
victs and paupers, by sending them TO TINS country
and most generally to this port. The increase OF
crime here be traced to this cause rather than TO
defect in the criminal laws their administration
An examination Of the criminal and pauper records,
shows conclusively that it is but small proportion
of these unrtunates who natives Of this country
One of the very heaviest burdens bear is the sup
port of these people, when considering the d.
rect cost but, when estimating inc eSii influences
who come within the range of their deprayed minds,
1t becomes matter exceedingly serious and demand
ing immediate and complete eradication. know Of
the power to protect this city against the landing Of
30 vile IN addition to our population. The health as
well as the life and property Of the people for whom
you legisate, requires some action at your hands
am confident the general government will listen to
any representations from you relating TO IT. ana inter-
pose its national authority in our behalf On the "a
Instant made this grievance the subject OF an oincai
communication to the President of the United States
BY the extract from the message, which have
Just now read, but very few OF the dangers and
mischiefs to which the country exposed from this
class of immigrants have been adverted to- But
it exhibits enough to lead to inquiry; and an in-
curry into the poor and criminal statistics OF the
country is well calculated to startle the equanimity
and alarm the apprehensions OF every Christian
and patriot in the land. But before ! proceed to
call the attention of the Senate and country to the
startling facts which these statistics exhibit de-
sire to advert briefly to another mischief not wholly,
but nevertheless to extent, the result OF ad.
hitting into the country the idle and turbulent
dsngsro a T presence her rer
Mr.. President, TO the practice now prevalent in
the larger cities of organizing volunteer companies
and battalions composed wholly of foreigners, bear
ing foreign names, wearing foreign uniforms, and
parading under foreign colors. In New York,
Boston, and elsewhere, you hear of German va
gers French Chasseurs, Irish Greens, Swiss Guards
&c. and am informed that in the first named
city there is brigade composed entirely of Irish
men, and called the Irish brigade. Now, SIR this
is all wrong, and would be tolerated by no other
government on the face Of the earth
When, by the liberal character of our nstitu.
tons, and the blessings and advantages which our
laws confer, the subjects ofour governments were
invited to our shores, 1t was never intended they
should enter into separate organizations, civil or
military, or cultivate an esprit de corps amongst
themselves calculated to leave them foreigners
in feeling and in habits, though dwelling in our
midst and owing allegiance to our laws. Natural |
lied foreigners should ren)unce all allegiance to
their former governments, both in substance and |
in form, and identify themselves with the country
Of their adoption in the most unreserved manner |
Let them If they please, unite with our volunteer
and militia organizations for the purpose Of acquir
ing knowledge of the use of arms but let them |
beware Of forming separate organizations, by which
jealousy may be excited, and doubts of their at |
tachment to their adopted country and its people, |
created Such organizations Of naturalized cit |
zens, differed by foreigners in strange Dress and
mastering under strange flags, will never be tole-
rltr1 hv tho mi "a IF tba Anna a.
own banner-the glorious stars and stripes--borne
over their own and their fathers heads, both by
land and sea- on many bloody day, is, with them,
a holy emblem--holy as the Ark Of the Covenant
10 the lsraelites of old, and associated with memo
ries that consecrate IL in every American heart |
No heraldc blazonry, no matter how ancient no
matter who may have borne II, or over what fields
of deathless renown 1t may have oated in triumph,
can ever be compared in our eyes, with the sim
pie "stars and stripesn To raise another is to
destroy the idea of unity which Il represents, to
intimate doubt Of It's perpetuty, and manifest a
preference that Is repusvo TO every feeling Of our
hearts.
Foreigners, therefore, who have renowned their
allegiance to kings, and made themselves sharers
with US in the heritage of liberty and all its con-
commitant advantages and blessings, should cast
behind them the insignia Of tyranny and rally with
their native brethren In hearty accord, under the
banner Of freedom-the starry flag Of the Repub-
lie. III they be Americans In heart, ii will cost
them nothing to organize, and, II need be, TO fight
and die beneath It's folds This flag has waved
over the heads Of heroes and, though II was ridi.
culed but few years since, as piece of striped
bunting" II now floats In every sea, in proud equal
ity with the tr-color Of France and the ST. George
of England; its shadow afording protection to
those who have right TO claim It, in every quar-
ter Of the globe. Why, then, should naturalized
citizens apparently repudiste it, by raising anotherY
And why, above all, organize separately, when
duty and sound policy alike urge them to make
their fellowship with us perfect by unity Of action
In every possible case II they have brought with
them feelings of attachment to their native land,
let them cherish them in their hearts, for such
feelings are amiable and exist in every generous
bosom. No one win find fault with them for in
dulgng In memories which carry them back to the
homes Of their childhood; and no one win COM
plain even II they should confess, that there are
things and places dear 10 their hearts, in the land
they have left. All we ask of them is, that having
been received as brethren, they should conduct
themselves as such, and not as rivals or enemies.