The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-20

government BY which they we're pardoned Ten on
twelve such cases have come to my knowledge, and
know where four board one vessel were sent
from house of correction in the dukedom of Bruins
wick These know of my own personal knowledge,
having seen = endorsement on the passports, that the
persons were convicts, transported by guard from
station to station to the frontier when they taken
by an agent of the ship from the police officer to the
vessel In which they are embarked. The instances
which came tony knowledge occurred within the last
three years. large number of Germans arriving here
soon after became chargeabe for their support the
city or to their bondsmen Such instances we have
very frequently; they call for aid Immediately
There also very numerous instances of foreign pau
pers, sometimes from the poor-houses in other in
stances supported by the communes, being shipped
to this port This importation of paupers has ncreas
ed very much during the last year. they here
to save the expense of supporting them in Europe by
public authorities at the public expense
Samuel Cohen sworn, and gave the following
answers to interrogatories propounded to him.
'1t is practice in Germany for the government to
give passports to criminals and paupers directing that
they shall proceed direct to America, and forbidding
their remaining In Germany During the last season
witness saw person who had just arrived this city
from Germany, who had criminals passport such
has been mentioned; and the said person after
wards arrested for crime and committed in this city
Mayor Wood, Of New York, in January 1855, ad-
dressed message to the common council on the sub
jeci. The following is an extract from it: y.r s.
can examination Of the criminal and pauper re-
cords shows conclusivey that it is but small pro-
portion of these unfortunates who are natives of this
country One of the heaviest burdens bear is the
support of this people, when considering the d
rect cost but when estimating the evil influences upon
society and the communicating effect upon all who
within the range of their depraved minds it becomes
matter exceedingly serious and demanding immedi,
ate and complete eradication know of subject Of
more importance. Certainly have the power to pro-
tect this city against the landing of vile addition
to population The health well the lives and
property Of the people for whom you legsate requires
some action at your hands am confident the general
government will listen to any representations from
you relating to it, and nterpose its national authority
our behalf. On the End instant made this griev-
ance the subject of official communication to the
president of the United States
Thus 1t appears from the communication of mayor
Wood (and there is higher authority on the subect
that the city of New York with its ample power
totally unable to protect itself against this CRYING evil
without the aid OF the federal government Hence that
distinguished officer appealed to the presidect of the
United States for aid yet the president has deem
ed necessary to make communication to congress
on the subject. Should congress be Indifferent to call
properly made, SO just and emnently due to the
commercial metropolis of the country? 1t is for
gress to answer the question by its action this
bill
proceed with other proof coming down to a later
day. A. Sehultze, writing from Ieipsc on the 4th of
june 1855, says:
It cannot be denied that for some time the govern
ments of States and also the authorities of several
communities have deemed it convenient to free them
selves from their paupers by shipping them to the u
States. 1t is also notorious that criminals, after hav
ing suffered punishment have in the same manner been
transported to the United States with the view to free
the community Of them forever"
From the same place George Schneider general agent
for the German migration, writes June 9, 1856
It cannot be denied that European governments and
pncpaties have been in the practice of freeing them
selves from their paupers and even their less
guilty criminals, by sending them to America, and
paying the cost OF their voyage to the seapor and the
passage from there to America without making prov-
sion tor the wants of the unhappy class of people
enable them to commence honest trade -
'Ihe circulars issued by the immigration agents in
the interior of Germany, caution immigrants who are
detormed crippled or MANNED DC, against taking
passage to New York and advise them to 90 by way
OF Baltimore, New Orleans or Quebec where the laws
prohibiting the landing of immigrants of the above
classes do not apply 81
Il am, sir, with nigh respect your ob't servant,
'W. HUNTER, assistant secretary
"To the mayor of New Orleans
Simpson ?. Huff of the city of New York, attorney
at-law being duly sworn, says: ~@-a #
The law requires previous residence of five years
in the United States and in the State ofone wear and
the have to these facts but have been
satisfied in my mind that they know nothing about
it. The books show that in a number of instances the
witness has testified for fifty sixty or one hun
dred applicants. have seen instances when the wit
would ask him his name in his native language. l
have seen witnesses hanging about the court, who
satisfied, there for the purpose of being wit
nesses for persons applying for natu1nlisaton of
them have told me they were paid for being witnesses;
of them not citizens; and in one instance
remember after man had been witness for number
ofapplicants, he was himself naturaiised'
Thus you see, Mr. President, the character of these
noble foreigners for whose rights the sympathy of the
of the country has been much excited and in whose
behalf such eloquent appeals have been made to the
American heart; rather do you not see the frauds
committed in the state courts and the necessity of the
repeal OF the law conferng state courts the power
to naturalist foreigners and to confne it to federal
courts? But proceed to give additional proof
George Henry Poulson, agent, residing in the city of
New 9ork, answered.
a have frequently been present, as an Interpreter
during the process Of naturasaton that the instances
of persons applying to be naturalsed who are wholly
Ignorant OF the English language are frequent and
though they understand the terms of the oath when
translated to them In words, yet they frequently
unable to comprehend the meaning of said oath; and
there are hundreds of Germans who have been ad
mltted citizens who do not understand the Eng
hsh language, or the meaning of the oaths to which
they have been sworn; and to the principles of the
constitution OF the United States, they have no knowl
edge comprehension of them Many of them are
aged persons without any education, and who
trased at the solicitation of Others and without any
desire of their of their own merely to become the tools
OF pollucal parties have been present and been ask
ed to interpret the oaths, and my Interpretation has
been received withoutmy having been sworn X
1t is general practice to advertise in German pa
per in this city that all Germans wishing to be natur
ased should apply to the German committee at Tam
many hall where they will receive their naturalization
gratis. well informed that it is the practice pre-
vous to elections for persons employed for that pur
pose by Iammany hall, to call on the Germans and to
persuade them to be naturalised and have learned
in their general conversation that it is often the
that the certificates of naturalization kept by said
committee until the day of election, when they are
handed to the parties to be presented to them at the
polls, they being accompanied thereto by of
the said committee
What mockery! @s@
Do you want further prooftha five years residence
is totally insufficient to justify in conferring the
rights OF citizenship? you want further proof that
our institutions in danger when political parties
can find such tools among foreign population to
corrupt the ballot-box deorase our people, and con-
troll as they often do the election ofour public officers
If you wish such further proof, here it is:
Winthrop Atwell, Of the city of New York, editor,
being duly sworn, answered.: 3
The Ignorance Of the applicants, and their ignor
snce OF our institutions In hfthe they did not
understand the nature of their application. When
heard them examined the day previous to the last eec
ton, before the court of common pleas in this city,
of the npDlicants then naturaiisad without