The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-05
IMMIGRATION 10 TIE UNITED sTATEs.-ITs
CHARACTER AND EXTENT.


IMMIGRATION TO TIE UNITED sTATEs.-ITs
CHARACTER AND EXTENT.
History OF Immigration TO the United States derived
from official sources and prepared with entire mparaly
BY William }. Bromwell Of the State Department will
shortly appear from the press OF RedRed Of New York
Its somewhat strange that subject much discussed
has been investigated and presented with thor
oughness and accuracy becoming It's Importance and the
only for this negligence the part of satis-
which US is the and confusion
with which IN former years the official records Of mmgra
ton have been kept thus rendering the task of compiling
and simplifying them one OF almost insurmountable dif-
Guilty Fortunately under the present administration, very
great improvements in this respect have been introduced
which, II adhered to hereafter viii insure ullness and
accuracy in the returns Of immigration not surpassed by
any other government ..tH aa"aa s ."#
One instance may be mentioned to show the embarrass-
ments experienced By Mr. Bromwe in preparing bis work
The first official annual report immigration existing
n the archives OF the Treasury Department consists merely
Of literal copies of passenger manies containing
thousand names to each Of which affixed the
spending age SEX occupation and country Of BIRTH thus
presenting in detail and without simplifcaton than
fifty thousand items forming book Of about three hun
of that report given embracing every fact of interest
occupying only four pages. mA
In preparing this work be was obliged to visit also all
the principal custom-houses in the United States to obtain
missing records and supply Deficiencies discovered in
those of the State Department. but his success, think
amply usfes the labor which has employed all the lei
time of the fifteen successive months he has devoted
to it. s.u...". sea. 10y. a .se #a aa. * 7s#
In considering the statistics which in this work so
lucidly and compacy arranged within the compass of
volume of, about two hundred pages variety Of
interesting pecuaons will DO suggested the mind
of the philosopc student Of countrys history lie
will notice the relative proportion Of the various ngred
ens which, from foreign sources have entered into the
composition and affected the character Of populations
since the foundation of this government He will observe
that Ireland has considerably exceeded any other nation
Germany follows next Great Britain, exclusive of Ire
land, next and, at long interval France next The
whole estimated number of these foreign accessions 1t will
appear has been much exaggerated as it but slightly ex
ceeds four millions and half
Most of these emigrants 1t turns out aborers-he
very class needed in young and undeEeloped country
like ours the usefulness of which is aesed by the vas
extension Of our public works, railroads aqueducts
canals docks steamships and other monuments of nation
al pre-eminence.
1t will also be remarked that from their vocation they
of nature to be easily moulded and mbued with thu
republican and liberal opinions which surround them k,
au atmosphere their arrival They speculaty,
enthusiasts mad with social extrayaeanoes engendeed
in the closet but preeminently Woodworking practica
men, fitted become good citizens and to assmiate witt
4 ,a# e 49,,
therefore, precisely the people who should be welcomed
and encouraged and whom the hand of prescription
and intolerance should be the last to touch
II will be found that respect of age much the greater
part period auspcious themselves ant
usviz: between twenty and twenty-five. They ther
able-bodied willing work. and free from the disabilities
Of extreme youth old age. The Old World had paid
the expense of their rearing and the associations of their
native home have not become fixed and ndelibe but
that they readily attach themselves the Institutions
habits and opinions of the land Of their adoption ~
Such of the obvious reflections suggested
by this omenous subject which plays larger part
in shaping the destiny Of mankind than before The
rash anaticism of the kuownohng may distort the facts
of these accessions 10 our population into
dire significance but that the patriotic obsery.
or will watch with pleasure which has con-
rbuted, and will hereafter contribute much deyel.
op the resources and augment the strength aud glory
the republic.