Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-05-21
PROJECTION TO IMMIGRANTS.
Special Message of the pre.lden. to Congress.

The President has sent the follow
ing message TO the Senate and House
of Representatives:
In my message to Congress at the
beginning of the present session al
fusion was made to the hardshirs
and privations Inflicted on poor i'm
migrants on shipboard and upon ar.
rival on our shores. and a suggestion
was made favoring national legisla-
ton for the purpose of effecting a
radical cure of the evil. Promise
was made that q special message on
the subject would be presented du-
ring the present session, should in
formation be received which would
warrant it. lnow transmit to the
TWO houses of Congress all that has
been officially received since that
time bearing on the subject, and re.
commend that such legislation be had
as will secure, first, such room and
accommodation on shipboard as is
necessary for health and comfort,
such privacy as will not compel i'm
igrants to be unwilling witnesses to
so much vice and misery and, Sec
ond, Legislation to protect them on
their arrival at our seaports from
knaves who are ever ready to despoil
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 justifiable. An
immigrant is not citizen of any
state or territory on his arrival, but
comes here to become citizen of the
great Republic, free to change his
residence at will, to enjoy the bless
ings of protecting government,
where all are equal before the law,
and to add to the national wealth by
his industry. On his arrival he does
not know the states or confedera
tons, but confdes implicitly on the
protecting arm of the great and free
country of which he had heard so
much before leaving his native land.
1t is source of serious disappoint.
ment and Encouragement to those
who start with means insufficient to
support them comfortably until they
can choose residence and begin en-
ployment for comfortable support,
to find themselves subject to i'll
treatment and every discomfort on
their passage hither, and at the end
of their journey seized upon by pro-
fessed friends claiming the legal
right to take charge of them for their
protection, who do not leave them
until all their resources are exhaust
ed, when they are abandoned in
strange land, without employment,
and ignorant of the means of secur-
ing it. Under the present system
this is the fate of thousands annual-
ly. The exposure on shipboard and
treatment on landing driving thou
sands TO vice and shame, who with
proper humane treatment might be-
come useful and respectable men,
bers of society.
| do not advise national legislation
in affairs that should be regulated by
states, but l see no subject more ma
tional in its character than provi-
sions for the safety and welfare of
the thousands who leave foreign
lands to become citizens of this Re-
public. When their residence is Sc
lected, they may look to the laws of
their locality for protection and
guidance The mass of immigrants
arriving on our shores, coming as
they do on vessels under foreign
flags, makes treaties with nations
furnishing these immigrants ncces-
sary for their complete protection
For more than two years efforts have
been made on our part to secure
such treaties, and there is now rea-
sonable ground to hope for success.
(Signed) u. S. GRANT