The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-20
AHnrAI or FonrIesrns IN THE Q. S. SINCE 1900

From 1S4U to 1851 l ,T65, ,2l7 1865
During the year 1851 35l, $50
During the year 1852 372, ,725
During the year 1853 36s, ,643
During the year 1854 427 823
During the year 1855 200,e87
Total l,72l, ,638
Average per annum - 344 327
Yet it was then believed and have not heard the
correctness of the opinion doubted by any, for an alien
to learn what he had learned amiss, to become suf
GENTLY acquainted with our constitution and laws
the character and genius Of our Institutions to under
stand and lve the great principle of self government
required hve years. took the position, when first
had the honor of calling the attention Of the senate to
the subject that the masses who came to this country
now ere Eot SO well qualified to become citizenc in
years as the masses who mmgrated to this
country in 1902 fve The correctness of this
position hye not yet seen seriously conroverted and
think when shall have offered the testimony pro-
pose to offer on this OCCASION if doubts exist they will
be removed. When you look to their number and
cnafacter tler habits, principles and purposes, you
VIII not only see the propriety of this bill but the wis
dom Of the Father Of his Country when he said
opinion with respect to immigration is that ex-
cept useful mechanics and some particular descriptions
OF men and professions there need Of encourage
ment policy or advantage fits taking place
IN body mean the settling of them in body) may
be questioned; for by doing they retain the Ian
guage habits and principles, good bad which they
bring with them; whereas by ntermixture with our
people they or their descendants getassimiIated to
customs, measures and laws, in word, soon become
our people,
In lSU2 the foreigners who came to this country did
not settle III bodies they did intermx with our peo
pie, and thereby soon became Americanised Now, it
is known that the very vndicated of foreigners set
ting IN bodies retaining their mother tongue habits
and principles (at least the bad) which they brought
with them, obtains to very great and dangerous ex-
tent ~ te Forth western portions of this country IT,
then certain attainment of Amercansm was necessa-
ryand proper in 1902 and it required five years under
the then circumstances to obtain it, and it requires
years to acquire the knowledge of our
institutions, what reason, ask, be given, why
tWenty-one years should not be required?
NJ VILLAIN Vans Murray, of Maryland, in 1895,
declared:
"He was quite Indifferent if not fifty immigrants
came to this country in years time. It would be un
just to hinder them but mpolitic to encourage them
He was afraid that coming from quarter of the world
SO full of disorder and corruption, they might contain
mate the purity and simplicity of the American char
acter' ...- .r 'ss
These were the views and sentiments of statesmen
Of 1885 1fsueh, Mr. President, were the sentiments
and opinions ofthe trainers the constitution and their
immediate successors in the public trust, with i'm
migration of about five thousand per annum, what
would be the language of those now, when have
such an immigration | have shown by the papers
just reda large portion of whom are the most vicious
and Objectionable characters imposed by tyrann
cal and wicked governments upona just and good one?
will not detain the senate to read all the views ex-
pressed by general Washington the subject but will
content myself by reading short extract from ora
ton delivered at the request of congress, December
~ It99 by general Lee, of Virginia. the death of
Washington In this extract general Lee presents in
afgure ofspeech the well known sentiments of Wash
lngton, while living:
'Methinks L see his august image and hear fallirg
from his venerable lips the deep-sinking words
Cease, of America, lamenting our separatonl Go
on and confirm by your wisdom the fruits of our Joint
councils, joint efforts and common dangers! Rever-
ence religion, diuse knowledge throughout your land
patronlse the arts and sciences Let liberty and order
be inseparable companions Control party spirit, the
bane of free governments. Observe good faith and
cultivate peace with all nations Shut up the avenue
to foreign influence; contract rather than extend nation
al conneXion; rely yourself only Be Americans in
thought, word and deed. Thus will you give immor-
taty TO that mon which the constant object of
my terrestrial abors thus will you preserve undsturb
ed to the latest postety the felicity of people to
most DEAR and thus will you supply f my happiness
is aught to you the only vacancy the round of pure
bliss high Heaven bestows."
will not mar the beauty, wisdom and force of this
extractby comments ofmy although they giveri
to extended thought will quote one other authority
of q later date. John Randolph, in 1916, said:
You'd they wish to have their elections decided on
that floor by rabble? Whatwas the ruin ofold Rome?
Why theropening their gates and letting in the rabble
Of the whole world to be their Legislators If (sad he
you wish 80 preserve among your ellowcitzens that
lutior if you wish to keep alive among them the spirit
of 76 youmust endeavor to stop this flood of immgr-
on Yop must teach the people of Europe if they do
come here all they must hope to receive protection
But they must have share in the government From
such men temporary party may receive precarious
aid but the country cannot be safe the people hap
py where they are introduced into government med
die in pubic concerns in any great degree
This is favorable time to make stand against this
evil, mmi igration) and if not this session. he hoped
that in the next there would be revsal of the naura
sation laws
Such was the language Of a distinguished states
man whep the immigration eleven thousand four
hundred Per annum- proceed now to show the evils
now existing from immigration.
i shall make but few comments, preferrng to rely
upon the facts and testimony which shall Offer First
we shall see that crime is greatly augmented by foreign
immigration. According to the census of 1850 the
number of criminals convicted in the wear lS49 was
26679, Of which 1888 were natives and 69l were
foreigners BY the of information it ap-
pears that the money contributed for the support of
paupers iii the United States was 50 954 s06 and the
paulers supported the year. in whole or in part
s72 of whom 66 434 were natives and 6S 53S
were of foreign birth. will not give the details, but
present the general aggregate results, only remarkng
that since that time the number is greatly augmented
Aaron Clark, mayor of the city of New York in
communication to the common council of that city
dated June 5, 1887, uses the following language:
"Our streets filled with the wandering crowds of
these passengers, clustering IN city, unacqua;nted
With our climate, without money, without employ
ment. without friends, not speaking our language and
without any dependence for food oriment or freside
certain Of nothing but Of hardship and grave and to
be viewed of course with very ardent sympathy by
those native citizens whose immediate ancestors were
the savours of the country its greatest peril Be
sides, many Of them to hold opinions in harmo
ny with the true spirit Of our government They drive
uur native worhnIeu iutu exile
To this communication committee of the common
council made the following respone:
1t is just It'll in accordance with the best feelings
OF the huIaan heart to commsserate the suferngs of
humanity, however degraded but in the opinion of
your committee the city paramount duty to it.
self and the country of which it the general empori
um She is bound by wise and efficient laws to pre-
vent the als and workhouses of Europe from pouring
out shores their feons prohibit her from in
Producing here those whom she bound BY every con
sideraton of justice to support; to prohibit her from
disgorgng people population with principles
calculated to lower the tone of morals and dsorganse
the frame Of our republican institutions" s.
'The almsh house is full, containing at this moment
3054 of which three fourth are foreigners In fact
our public charities are principally for the benefit of
those foreigners for of the 209 persons admitted into
the hospital at Bellevue 9a2 were aliens The expense
of the alshouse establishment and its dependencies
last year amounted to 500, ,506 g.
Dir. List, consul Of the United States at Leipsic,
q