Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-06-01
Protection for Iln migrants.


The House of Representatives at Wash
ington very worthily inaugurated the pleas
ant month of May, by passing law for the
better protection of immigrants from foreign
countries to the United States. The entire
press ofthe Union printed in other languages
than our own, is enthusiastic in appauding
this mnch needed but long delayed enact
ment. The German Press is particularly
warm in acknowledging the boon, and it
speaks for millions of hard-working orderly
and valuable citizens already here, and
countless hosts, no doubt, who are vet to
come. To the American Government and
people, the matter is of high importance.
Our foreign immigration this year. has been
phenomenal. During the month ending
April Both, there arrived at this port, New
York, alone, 20,47S immigrants in % steam
ships and Is sailing vessels. Ofthesc, 10000
coming from Liverpool were chiefly Irish,
and 1000 from Bremen and Hamburg were
Germans and Scandinavians The amount
added to the resources of the Union by this
immense convoy ofsturdy humanity, may be
estimated at between Is and 20 millions of
dollars. But wonderful as this accession to
us of life and substance. in one month"; may
seem, the symptoms in Europe denote that
it is but the first, and perhaps the least con-
siderable contribution of the twelvcmonth to
be dated from the LIST day of April War,
turmoil, confusion, threatening everywhere
on the old Continent, are frightening the
peaceful, thrifty population away. The
cessations of our troubles, and the opening
of new and splendid domains, on this side of
the Atlantic, TO settlement and rcmunerative
labor offer irresistible inducements to those
fugitives, and they are coming. in swarms,
by every available opportunity With the
national sentiment that has become consoli-
dated and universal in us since the war. and
the mighty force of expansion that we feel
this tribute of human life to the Republic is
most welcome. But shortsighted over-haste,
to call it by its mildest name, has recently
very seriously endangered the continuance
of the tide. The revelations made by pas
sengers on the over-crowded steamers Eng
land and Virginia. and the outbreak of the
cholera among them, occasioned, beyond
peradventure, more by close packing and
foul air. than by any other cause whatever,
have been published and commented upon
far and wide, both in print and written let
ter. all over this Union and in Europe, to
the great detriment, propably, of the trans
Atlantic passenger trade. The humanitary
considerations why these abuses on ship
board should cease, are apparent to every
one, and need no repetition. Feeling, reas-
on, even decency and public safety revolt
against them The business considerations.
as will be seen, are no less weghty. How
much the owners of the two Liverpool
steamers that recently brought respectively
l,200 and 100 pestlence smitten victims
to our shores, have made by the venture,
would not be a flattering total to set before
others disposed to follow their example. The
rebuke has been so severe that much good
may come of it, but where such suffering
can be averted, and human life be spared, we
are decidedly unwilling to await these
mournful lessons. We should. one and all
of us, see to it, that such experiments are
not repeated. 1t is in this spirit that we hail
with satisfaction, the pending new law fOr
the protection of our fresh armies of labor
ers, consumers, producers taxpayers. pio-
neers, and future friends and felow-citizens
coming from beyond the seas.
To review its contents rapidly, in brief, il
| provides for proper agents and superntend-
ents to inspect and control the entire bust
ness it separates the sexes where they art
not families properly travelling together
! forbids the known importation of a maletac-
tor; prescribes strict sanitary treatment OF
the vessel and its inmates arranges meth.
ods by which the exact capacity of the YES
ses and any changes therein shall be meas
ured by duly appointed officers establishes
u. S. Emigrant offices at New York, Bostor
| Inladelpnla, Baltimore, new orleans, Cnl
cago, and San Francisco, with Superinten
dent and Inspector to each, clothed with full
authority and finally, allots the space, etc
to be accorded to every passenger, compu
ting in the aggregate. The contravention o
these rules is made punishable with heavy
fines and terms of Imprisonment.
Thus, at length, has one important stel
been taken to rid the great passenger tratli
on the Atlantic ocean, of horrors that hav'
hitherto been ascribed to the Cooie packe
and the slave ship. Let it become the Law
of the land and let it be maintained by tn
appreciation and influence of every citizen
Our good name as nation, our intiueuc
and commerce abroad, our prosperity am
health mt home, are all to be benefited b,
such an enactment, which is as practical a
it is humane. The period of our nationa
life, the season of the year, and the impend
ing fear, however vague, of cholera, impera
lively forbid delay. Congress will have n
,, brighter page on the records of its presen
session, than the passage of "A stringent AM
= effective law for the aid of the poor immi
grant, and the encouragement of a reviva
in American hands, of the great Atlanti
shipping nterest.-MercdaHle Journal
,
,. The Mexican Drama.