Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-15
Protection for Emigrants.
Message from President Grant.

WASHINGTON May 14.-The president to-day
sent the following message TO the senate and
house or representatives:
In my message TO congress at the beginning of
the present session, allusion was made to the
hardshipS and privationS inflicted upon poor
emigrants on shipboard and upon arrival on
our shores, and suggestion was made favOrng
national legislation for the purpose of effecting
radical cure of the evil. Promise was made
that special message on the subject would be
presented during the present session, should in
formation be received which would warrant it.
| now transmit to the two houses Of congress all
that has been officially received since that time
bearing upon the subject, and recommend that
such legislation be had as will secure-irst
such room and accommodation on Shipboard as
il 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 protect them upon
their arrival at our sea ports from the
knaveS whO.are ever ready to deSpOl them ofthe
little they are able to bring with them. Such
legislation will be in the interest of humanity
and seems to be fully iuStitiable. An immigrant
is not the citizen of any state or territory upon
his arrival, but comes here TO become citizen
of great republic, free TO change his residence
at will, ENJOY the blessings Of a protecting gov
eminent, where all are equal before the law, and
to add to the national wealth by his industry
On his arrival he does not know states or cor
poIAIiOUSt DuI COn1ueS ImDHCltY IN the
protecting arm of the great free coun-
try of which he has heard SO much be-
fore leaving his native land. 1t is source of
serious disappointment to those who start wit h
means insufficient 10 support them comfortably
until they can choose residence and begin en-
plOyment for a comfortable support, TO find
themselves subjected to i'll treatment and every
discomfort on their passage here, and at the end
of their journey seized upon by protested friends
claiming the legal right to take charge of them
for their protection, who do not leave them
until all their resources are exhausted
when they are abandoned in a strange land
surrounded by strangers, without employment,
and ignorant of the means of Securin. it under
the present system. This is the fate of thou
sands annually. The exposures on shipboard
and the treatment on landing drive thousands 10
lives of vice and shame who with proper hu.
name treatment might become useful and re
spectacle members of society
| do not advise national legislation in affairs
that should he regulated by the states, but see
no subject more national in its character thau
provision for the safety and welfare of the thou
sands who leave foreign lands to be-
come citizens of this republic. When theil
residence is chosen, they may then look
to the laws of their locality for pro
lection and guidance. The mass of i'm
migrants arriving upon our shores, coming as
they do on vessels under foreign flags, makes
treaties with the nations furnishing these immi-
grants necessary for their complete protection
For more than two years efforts have been made
on our part to secure such treaties, and there is
now reasonable ground to hope for success.
(SIgned) U. S. GRANT.