The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-05-23
PRESIDENT GRANTS message recon-
mending protection to immigrants is as

/ - s-s-.4-------
"ln my message to Congress at the
beginning OF the present session, allu-
sion was made to the hardships and
privations inflicted on poor immigrants
ON ship board and upon arrival on our
shores, and suggestion was made favor
ing national legislation for the purpose
of effccting radical cure of the evil
A promise was made that O special
message on the subject would be pre-
sented during the present session should
information be received which would
warrant 1t. now transmit to the two
houses of Congress all that has been
officially received since that time bear
ing on the subject, and recommending
that such legislation be had as will Sc.
cure, first, such room and accommotla-
ton on shipboard as is necessary for
health and comfort, and such privacy
as will not compel emigrants to be I'M
willing witnesses to SO much vice and
misery and second, Legislation to pro-
tect them on their arrival at our sea-
ports from knaves who are ever ready
to dispOil them of the little they are
able to bring with them. Such lcgig-
latlon will DO in the interest of human
ity, and seems to be fully iustifiable.-
An immigrant is not citizen of anv
State or territory on his arrival. but
comes here to become citizen Of the
great Republic, free to change his resi-
dence at will, to enjoy the blessing of
protecting Government where ali arc
equal before the law, and to add to the
national wealth by his industry.
On his arrival he does not know
States or corporations, but confides
implicitly in the protecting arm of the
great free country Of which he has
heard SO much before leaving his ma
tive land. 1t is source Of serious
disappointment and Encouragement to
those who start with means insufiicient
TO support them comfortably until
they can choose a residence and begin
for comfortable support.
to lind themselves subject to i'll treat
ment and every discomfort on their
passage here, and at the end of their
journey are seized on by professed |
friends claiming legal right to take
charge Of them for their projection.
and who do not leave them until ali
heir resources are exhausted, when
they are abandoned in strange land
by strangers, without en-
ploymcnt, aud ignorant of the means
If securing it.
Under the present system this is the
ate of thousands annually. The ex-I
'osures on shipboard and treatment on
andlng driving thousands to lives Of
ice and shame who with proper hu-
name treatment might become useful
nd respectable members of society.
% not advise national legislation in af.
airs that should be regulated bv {
tates but see no subject more national {
its character than the provision for {
10 safety and welfare Of thousands /
tho leave foreign lands to become cit a
ems of this Republic. When their 4
'sidence is chosen they may look to v
re laws Of their locality for protection G
nd guidance. The mass of immi- il
rants arriving ON our shores, coming. r
they do, on vessels under foreign v
lgs, makes treaties with nations fur
slling these Immigrants necessary il
Y their complete protection. For al
ore than two years efforts have been IN
AIDE on our part to secure such trea. Il
=, and there is now reasonable
onnd to hope for success.
q. S. GRANT. &C