Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-05-20
THE HAnDsHIrs OF EMIGRANTs.

A Message from President Grant-
1Nore Room and Better Acconmoda-
lions on .Ship6oard Recommended. :
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 be-
ginning of the present session, allusion
was made to the hardshlps and priva-
tons inflicted on poor emigrants on ship
board and upon their arrival on our
shores, and a suggestion was made fa-
voring national legislation for the pur-
pose of effecting radical cure of the
evil. Promise was made that special
message on the subject would be present
ed during the present session, should In
formation be received which would war
rant it. | now transmit to the two
Houses of Congress all that has been
officially received since that time bear
ing upon the subject, and recommend that
such legislation be had as will secure,
first, such room and accommodation on
shipboard as is necessary for health
and comfort, and such privacy as will
not compel emigrants to-be unwilling
witnesses to so much vice and misery
and second, legislation to protect them
upon their arrival at our seaports from
the knaves who are ever ready to de-
spoil them of the little they are able to
bring with them. Such legislation will
be in the interest of humanity, and
seems to be fully jnstifable. The i'm
migrant is not the citizen of any state
or territory upon his arrival, but comes
here to become citizen of a great Re-
public, free to change his residence at
will, to enjoy the blessings of protect
ing government where all are equal be-
fore the law, and to add to the national
wealth by his industry. On his arrival
he does not know state or corporations,
but confdes implicitly in the protecting
arm of the great free country Of which
he has heard so much before leaving his
native land. 1t is source of serious
disappointment and Encouragement to
those who start with means insufficient
to support them comfortably until they
can choose a residence and begin en-
ployment for comfortable support, to
! find themselves subject to i'll treatment
and every discomfort on their passage
here, and on their journeys end here to
be seized upon by protested friends
claiming 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
strange land, surrounded by strangers,
without employment and ignorant OF
the means of securing it under the pres
ent system. This is the fate of thous-
ands annually, the exposures on ship
board and the treatment on landing, drlv-
ing thousands to lives of vice and shame
who, with proper and humane treatment
might become useful and respectable
members of society | do not advise
national legislation in affairs that should
be regulated by the state, but see nc
subject more national in its character
than the provision for the safety
and welfare of the thousands who leave
foreign lands to become citizens of this
Republic. When their residence is cho
sen they may then look to the laws O.
their locality for protection and guild
ance. The mass of immigrants arriving
on our shores, coming as they do on YES
sells under foreign flags, makes treaties
with the nations furnishing these immi
grants necessary for their complete pro
forts have been made on our part to Sc
cure such treaties, and there is now rea
sonable ground to hope for success.
(Signed) I. S GRANT.