True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-01-18
Convict and Pauper Emigration.

kind Of apOthegm among us. So have we
been told over and over again, in stereo-
typed Fourth of July orations, hitherto a
common commodity in the trade Of patri-
otism. Political hucksters have so oftan
declared it in their demagoguing resolves
that it passes current on our political
Change. We hear it every day proclaimed
publican-like, at the street corners, and
whispered by the Hon, Daily Croaker,
in the ears of Schmidt and O'Flannagan,
who have just served out their five years
probation, or, it may be little less; and
are now, by force of law, American citi-
zens, "attached to the principles of the
Constitution of the United States"
And not only is it true to this extent ;
but We may go farther. The United
States has become an asylum, we speak
literally, an asylum for the infrm and in
yalids; tremendous alms-house for the
paupers, and a place of refuge for the con-
victs "of all nations and tongues" We
have good reason to believe that the ezo-
dus of the inhabitants of the old world,
and especially of Great Britain, and their
emigration thitherward, is not, in all cases
a voluntary movement Of their own sug-
gestion. With that country, whose poor
houses are frequent and filed to their ut
most capacity with her poor and helpless,
and whose poor rates are raised to a degree
causing loud murmurs among tax and rate
payers, it is a matter of policy, wise and
economical, upon her part, to encourage
the emigration Of such of her people
We have seen it somewhere stated, that
even government connives at the escape Of
criminals of certain classes, when assured
that their destination will be this great
bountiful and talismanic country of refuge
the air of which, once inhaled in the lungs
'purifes the foreign convict Of crime, an(
regenerates his former corrupt and incorri
gible morals.
In our Atlantic cities, whittier this EN-
igration tends, and from whence radiat
westward these free-oferings Of the oil
world, crime and beggary are rife, and g
hand in hand. Old age and infancy ther
join in the cry for aims, and male and ft
male practice diligently their old trades
larceny, robbery and burglary. Th
American aims house and house Of refug
have lost their identity, and have become
from internal appearances, exotic instit'
tions, transplanted among US, surely by 7
friendly hand. This evil of unlimited an
unrestricted emigration may not be prese
ted to all in its true and glaring colors.-
= We have, however, only to look abro'
. and inquire of our neighbors. in Il
S large cities Of our country, whore this va
e abond and pauper population accumulate
, we have daily and nightly exhibitions
= the evil which call imperiously for a rel
: edy, before the burden already saddle
| upon us becomes too great. The cure
within our reach, 50 far as the future ct
1 increase and aggravate the evil. Let Co
gress pass Immigration laws, proyidir
against the immigration of these classes
: foreigners. Measures to accomplish tn
, end may certainly be devised. And nc
t while the whole country is awakened to
: actual condition, and party animositi
have been laid aside by good citizens, Il
, better to guard and promote true Ame
D lean interests, we should heed the reno
strances of those who have for years be-
! protesting against this great evil. Noru
of national morality requires that tt
, country should be made such an asylu
D and place of refuge. We are willin
} that under the branches of the tree
: liberty which has taken root in this so
r foreigners outside of this category, shou
take shelter and enjoy the blessings
: american rule. But that philanthropl
$ which would make our government al
, people the nurses of the inmates of forei|
poor-houses and hospitals, and them, pc
+ sioners upon the bounty of this COVER
: ment, We repudiate.