The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-17
Presidents Message.


The President sent the following message
to the Senate and the House of Representa-
hves on Tuesday:
In my message to Congress at the beginning
OF the present session, an allusion was made TO
the hardshlps and privations inflicted on the
| poor emigrants on shipboard, and upon their
arrival on our Shores and suggestion was
made tavoring national legislation for the
purpose of effecting a radical cure of the evil.
A promise was made that special message on
| the subject would be presented during the pres
/ ent session should information be recejyed
which would warrant it.
now transmit to the two Houses of Com
gress all that has been officially received since
that time, bearing on the subject, and recon-
mend that such Legislation be had as will se-
cure,
First, Such room and accommodation on
ship board as is necessary for the health and
comfort, and such privacy as will not compeI
emigrants to be UNIV illing witnesses of so much
vice and misery, and,
Second, Legislation to protect them on their
arrival at our seaPorts from the knaves who
are ever ready to despoil them of the little thev
are able to bring with them.
Such legislation will be in the interest of
| humanity and seems to be fully iustifable
An emigrant is not a citizens of any State or
LGIIlIOIy OA dLIlFSkl3 DuG comes here to he
come a citizen of the great Republic free to
change his residence at will; to enjoy the bles-
sing of protection from the Government where
all are equals before the law, and to add TO the
national industry. On his arrival he does not
know States or corporations, but confides i'm
phOity IN the protecting arm of the great free
country of which he has heard so much before
leaving his native land. 1t is a source of dis
appointment and discOuragement to those who
afu RI mo ~, -
comfortably until they can choose a residence
and begin employment for comfortable sun
port to find themselves subject to Ill treat
ment, and every discomfort on their passage
here and at the end of their iourney seized on
by prOtessed friends, claiming a 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, with
out employment and ignorant of the means of
securing it.
Under the present system this is the fate of
thousands annually. The exposures on ship
board and tho treatment on landing is driving
thousands to lives Of vice and shame, who, with
proper and human treatment might be-
come good, useful and respectable members of
society. do not advise National legislation
in affairs that should be governed by States
but see no subject more national In in its
character than the provision for the safety and
welfare Of thousands who leave foreign lands
to become citizens of this Republic. When
this residence is chosen, they then look to the
laws of their locality for protection and guild
ance. The emigrants arriving on our shores,
coming as they do, on vessels under foreign
flags, makes treaties with nations furnishing
these emigrants 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 Z. S. GRANT.