Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
He Advocates National Legislation for
Protection to Immigrants TO
the United States.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Presi-
dent to-day sent the following message
to the Senate and House of Representa-
tives: In my message to Congress at
the beginning of the present session al
lusion was made to the hardships and
privations inflicted on poor enigTants
on ship-board and upon arrival ON our
shores, and a suggestion was made
favoring national legislation for the pur-
pose of effecting a radical cure of the
evil. Premise was made that a special
message on this subject would be pre-
sented during the present session should
information be received which would
warrant it. / now transmit TO the two
Houses of Congress all that has been Of
ficially received since that time bearing
on the subject, and recommend such
legislation be had as will secure, first,
such room and accommodations ON ship
board as is necessary for health and COM
fort, and such privacy as will not COM
pei emigrants to be unwilling witnesses
to so much vice and misery; and second,
legislation to protect them on their ar
rival at our seaports from knaves who
are ever ready to despOil them of the
little they are able to bring with them.
Such legislation would be in the
interest of humanity, and seems to
be fully iustifiable. An emigrant is not
citizen of any State or Territory on
his arrival, but comes here to become a
citizen of the great Republic, free to
change his residence at will, to enjoy
the blessings of protecting govern
ment 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 corporations, but
confides implicitly 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 serious
disappointment and encouragement
to those who start with means insuffi-
cient to support them comfortably
until they can choose residence
and begin some employment for
comfortable support to find themselves
subjected to ill-reatment and every dis
comfort on their passage here, and at
the end of their Journey seized on by
professed 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
thew are abandoned in strange land
and 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 ex-
posures on ship-board and treatment on
landing driving thousands to lives of
vice and shame, who, with proper hui
name treatment, might become useful
and respectable members of society. /
do not advise national legislation in af-
fairs that should be regulated by the
States; but see no subject more ma
tionaI in its character than a prOvi-
sion for the safety and welfare of the
thousands who leave foreign lands to
become citizens of this republic.
When their residence is chosen,
they may then look to the laws
of their locality for protection and guild
anee. The mass Ofimmigrants arriving
on our shores, coming as they do on
vessels sailing under foreign flags, makes
treaties with nations furnishing these
necessary for their complete
For more than two years
efforts have been made on our part to
secure such treaties, and there is now
ground to hope for success.
TSignedl L. S. GRANT.