Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-30
John Mitchell ON Foreign Convicts and
Paupers.

Ia.
John Mitchell is an Irishman and the editor
of the Southern Citizen, a democratic paper.
He is intelligent and obseryant, and of
course friendly to the increase of the foreign
population Of our country-but he sees and
exposes the evils-ef indiscriminate mmigra-
ton. He truly says
OF the enigrants to America very large
number are real paupers and criminals, which
falls out in several ways.
First there are Emigration Societies, hav.
ing funds provided for carrying to America
the very sweepings of work houses and
poor houses. Some Of these are in con-
nection with the governments Of the
several countries, and it signifies little whether
the poor wretches SO expatriased are landed
in Canada or in New York. If in Canada,
most of them find their way southwark.
These have neither means, nor spirit, nor hope.
They have lived on public aims, left their
homes at the bidding Of their "betters," and
emigrated In .torma pauperis @These are true
paupers-either born paupers or having the
heart and soul within; ground down to a pau
per, heart and soul by bitter oppression and
privation-not fit TO be citizens Of any coun-
try.
And for crimnals-we know that cargoes
OF Italians and Germans are sometimes sent
over, with an intimaton that they are poiti-
cal offenders? Who know they are politi-
cal offenders? Their governments at any rate
are DESTROYS to be rid of them, and know that
to gain them footing upon these shores they
must at least call them political offenders, but
they may be torcats three times convicted for
the worst human crimes If so, they will not
tn msclves let out the secret The wonder
full organization Of the police establishments
in European countries is little understood here
Every rufian, burglar, cut-throat in Paris or
in Naples, is well known to the police. The
police can call meeting of them at any
time, or meeting Of certain selected ones
not selected for their virtues-can make
them an offer once for all, that if they would
save themselves from the galeys or gallows,
they should have free passage to land of
liberty, as BARRoNARI or RED REPUBLICANS.
But there is one more direct, constant and
copious flow Of criminals into this country
from the English penal colonies. Bermuda
lies nearly opposite to Charleston about roo
miles off. Here are always confined upwards
Of 900 of the choicest n,iscreants in all crea.
tion-accomplished London house breakers,
bank robbers, forgers, garroters. Their num-
bers are kept up by new importations from
England; but as the terms of their sentences
respectively expire, what is done with them?
the laws of that colony prohibit them from
being set free @ithin ,he Islands. The very
last thing the government would think Of, is
for to bring them back to England
Now Bermuda has a constant traffic with the
coast cities Of America 1t has no wheat or
other grain, no beef and no mutton, save what
it imports from America Therefore its waters
are always full Of small American vessels. In
these the criminals are regularly shipped as
they become entitled TO their freedom, some
times as many as four or five in the same YES
sci. Their passage is paid by the English
government and they carry their virtues and
accomplishments to give strength and glory to
the great Reptile. That this was practice
few years ago, is a matter Of fact, which we
assert, prcsuming it so still. And although
the transaction is q secret one, no doubt re-
searches amongst the owners Of coasting ves-
sells in Philadelphia and Baltimore, would
brig to light the fact, if not its whole amount
And it is singular that the largest traffic Of
Bermuda is, Tor was with the city of Balti-
more. Undoubtedly the fish clubs are large
ly recruited from thence. These are the very
men to make good Rough Skins and Blood
Tubs.
On the other side of the continent, San Fran
cisco has been receiving picked emigration
from the Australian penal colonies-alumni
who have graduated in the greatest UNIVERSE
ties Of rascality on earth.
| PROFESSIONALLY the citizens Of America are
! injured by these importations of criminals and
paupers and the adopted citizens even more
than the natives because their characters suf
fer. 1t cannot surely be desirable for them
that the same door which is open to them and
their children, should admit on the same foot
ing and on the same terms, the off-scourings
of French galleys, the refuse of Irish poor
houses and the ofIal Of English gaols. They
do not need to import scoundrelism, lnziness
and ignorance, along with them, inasmuch as
they will find plenty Of all that here.
1t has become the direct and deep interest of
both native and adopted, Especially the latter
to procure such q change in the naturalization
law as will prevent the very loose and irregu-
lar admission OF all applicants, and in all kinds
of courts Of record And further we submit
that 1t is not enough TO prevent criminals and
paupers from being citizens-they ought not
to be allowed to land. Such cargoes could not
be run in any seaport of Europe, and il there
is not strong enough police force to keep
them out, that force ought TO be increased, and
portion Of it charged with that express duty
and the force ought-to especially be strong all
along the St Lawrence and the Lake Shore.
Also, fit be fact, as we have charged, that
paupcrs are sent hither, through Canada or
otherwise, by Emigration Societies-and that
criminals are sent hither from Bermuda by the
British Government ITSELF we presume II is
matter calling for the remonstrance and in