The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-30


twenty seven destitute llibusters, shipped by the
authorities of New York to Detroit, were promptly
sent back by the officers of the latter city, the
other day." The Baltimore Clipper, without con-
demning the action of the authorities of Detroit,
contrasts 1t with the practice which prevails in
respect to foreign paupers. 1t says with truth in
regard to tho latter that they sent to the United
States, not by twenties, but by thousands every
year, accompanied in many cases by convicted
criminals sentenced to transportation to this coun
try, and are tolerated by our authorities They
are spread through the land like locusts, begging
and stealing wherever they 60; and yet we hear
OF no prompt measure being taken to arrest and
send them back to their own countries. But, let
of our cities undertake to transfer its paupers
to another city, and they are Immediately re.
turned to the place from whence they came Why
should this discrimination existY Are the foreign
paupers more useful to the community than the
poor of QUO own country? This will not be main.
tanned. No, the motive is, to encourage foreign
emigration, even though the emigrants be of the
very worst class-the DRAWINGS of prisons and
poor hcuses-that they may be converted into
citizens, to be used by corrupt politicians at our
elections. ..
Detroit is now Democratic city, and she I'M
doubtedly would, whilst shipping destitute fill.
busters Indignantly back to New York, promptly
vote down any resolution to prohibit the pouring
She would take her share of these without MUIR
muir, and call them her "better citizens" Our
cities are overrun by foreign paupers, who are
dumped upon our wharves by the hundreds at a
time, and from thence transferred to our aims
houses in a few hours thereafter. We are made
the great lazaar house Of the world, and the se-
cure asylum for foreign criminals Foreign gov
ernments understand this thing and practice upon
1t. Their own poor houses are emptied and their
II - - Al
pers whilst our taxes are increased and our aims
houses filed by their discarded paupers. Will
this practice never be checked? Shall we never
have sufficient selfrespect to prevent the practice
Of this gross imposition, with all Is immoral and
corrupting tendenciesp Not, we fear, so long as
national affairs are controlled by party which re-
quires the assistance Of these foreign auxiaries to
keep IL In power IL seems strange 10 us, that
any person should be 80 fond Of power as to de-
sire to retain it, even at the degradation of their
country. But so il is We are very sensitive to
a wrong when perpetrated by an American au-
thorty, and very patient and forbearing when it is
practised by foreign government. If Kentucky
were to pass a law to send all paupers and crimi-
nals to other States, there would be general out
cry against the act and il would be resisted even
| TO the point Of civil war.
But foreign government may do the same
thing without exciting disgust and or complaint.
In fact, by our conduct We apparently admit our
| inferiority to Europeans, as we are willing to re-
ceive the very worst characters from Europe as
our equals, II not superiors President Van Buren,
touched with a momentary American feeling
caused an inquiry to be made as to the practice o.
foreign courts of sentencing criminals to be trans
ported to the United States; and, finding that the
fact could be established, he pursued the subject
no further, and the practice has ever since con
tinued. Mayor Wood, of New York, also, at one
time, assumed decided stand on the subject
but he soon caved in, as he wanted the foreign
vote to secure his reelection 10 Office And 81
we appear TO be destined 10 have the convicts ant
paupers of Europe poured in upon us, until Their
shall arise an American spirit among the people
that shall insist upon those classes of foreigner
being kept at home, and residence Of twenty
one years by all foreigners before being admitte
10 the rights Of citizenship.