Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-22

Rut II IA IN CONVICTIONS for capital offences that
the proporton Of for.-i9n and natiye-born becomes
startling 1t is true we have tound no extended
data from which to make the comp nn1
out of two hundred and twenty convictions W."
took place, in about eighteen months, In seven
States, viz:
New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Louisiana,
New Jersey, Massachusetts,, and Maryland-there
were 1879 foreigners TO 80 natives But our won
der at the magnitude Of the proportion Of foreign
ers TO natives vanishes, when we recolect that
hundreds and thousands of convicts from European
warehouses and prisons, annually landed on
our shores. Trained TO crime at home, and sent
hitber because Their presence endangers the peace
and security of society in their native country,
these men arrive here, in many instances, direct
from prison, and consequently destitute Of means
OF support To obtain It, they betake themselves
to their old courses; and not only do they commit
crimes themselves, but lead those with whom
they become acquainted on their voyage, and who
are equally needy, into their preparation.
To correctly appreciate these statistics, II must
be borne in mind that we have included in the ma
tive, the negro population.
If the comparison had lave been instituted be-
tween the native white population and the foreign,
which is also white thus representing the Ameri-
can and European nations, the relative proportion
Of crime among the two classes would have been
much greater and when we take into consiiera
ton the fact that only the white native and the i'm
migrant or European population are entitled 10, or
ever exercise the rights of citizenship-whch Is
the only just political view Of the question: for Il Is
the political power and influence Of foreigners
which VIC seek TO counteract or destroy--the COM
parson thus instituted between the two classes Of
white people would be more just and appropriate,
and would more correctly exhibit the evil and
danger attendant upon indiscriminate immigration
to the institutions, safety and welfare Of our COM
mon country.
The above calculations we have based upon the
census of 1880 In Massachusetts In 1881, there
we're confined In the various jails and houses Of
correction 1882 natives, and 2,6l6 foreigners;
in 1858, 2,ll7 natives, and 3,1f2 foreigners In
the e three years. the increase Of native prisoners
was 265. Of foreign, 527-thus showing the rela-
tive proportion OF increase TO be native to two
foreigners yet the native population Of the State
il six times az great as tho foreign. OF the num-
Der committed TO Jail in the State Of Rhode Island,
during the year 1853, 90 were natives and 216
foreigners. In the State of New York. during the
year 1851, there were convicted and sentenced
to the penitentiary 700 persons OF which 800
were of foreign birth, and 403 natives The ma
tive population Of the State was IL times as
great as the foreign, yet the number Of native
convicts was only l-3 times ms many as the for
egn. In the Louisiana penitentiary, during the
year 1853, there were 283 convicts, OF which loo
we're Of foreign birth, and ia natives. The ma
tive population is 2-S times as great as the for
oign yet the number Of native convicts Is only
IL time greater than tho foreign.
These statistics and calculations clearly prove
immigration 10 be the chief source Of crime In this
country. Besides those who are convicted of
crime after their arrival here, there are many Grim
inaIs transported here by the European govern
mcnts. Crime and pauperism are both eyils, in
imious to the character and standing either Of a
community or government, and for both Of them
we are mainly dependant upon immigration.