The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-01
Protection to Emigrapts.

Hon. II Cnan1Ier, the CHAIRMAN Of the
Committee of Commerce, introduced o
resolution, which was unanimously adopt
ed by the Senate, directing the Secretary
of the Treasury to cause chemical an
alysis to be made Of the atmosphere
which emigrants are compelled to breathe
between decks; also to report upon the
supernatural square feet of space which
they are permitted to occupy, and to in
vestigato their treatment on board ship
generally, and to report what legislation
is necessary to secure the better protec-
tion to emigrants in transitu.
Much attention has been paid to the
two hundred and fifty thousand Indians
that roam in the western w:lds, while
but little notice is taken Of the gross in
justice and impositions endured by the
three hundred thousand emigrants that
annually laid on our shores. These peo.
pie are ignorant of our customs and laws,
and very generally unable to speak the
English language, and even in more
helpless condition than the sturdy Indians
used to privations, and able to retreat in-
to the interior.
No pen can describe The horrors of the
middle passage on an overcrowded ship
Let our readers imagine, if they can, six
hundred human beings confined in the
lower or second deck, where daylight is
vainly trying to struggle through aper-
lures about ten inches in circumference,
and six feet apart, closed up with glass
plates several inches thick.
The six hundred bodies lie contiguous
in berths six feet long by twenty-five
inches wide, and in two tiers. There are
four berths fastened to each side of the
ship, about two feet from the floor, and
four berths above them, about thirty
inches above the lower berths, and there
remains about two feet of space above.
A four or FIVE foot passage divides the
row of side berths from those in the GEN.
tire, where we find eight borths again. On
the other side Of the ship is similar pas
sage and eight berths. Thus we have
Mirtg.two bodies in space Of six feet
long by the width of the ship-say forty
to forty.fve feet. In other words, a
bedroom II by II contains thirty-two
human beings at night, and in bad wealth
er for perhaps twenty-four or forty. eight
| hours.
The bill submitted by the Treasury
Department for the adoption Of Congress,
provided that these thirty-two adult per-
sons mo cognizaEce being taken Of child
ren under two years, and all children un'
dertwelve years counting only as halfpas.
sengers) should have at their disposal a
space equal to room of 22x22 feet and
this provision was denounced on the floor
of the House by Messrs. Wood, Cox, Pot
ter, and other Democratic representatives
as a space of unreasonable extrayagance
But this is only tho beginning of the
emigrant's misery. AS nine. .tenths o
them are on the high seas for the frs
time, almost tho entire number becom,
sca.sck, and IN unintermittent retchin!
and upheaving b. perhaps fifty persons a
the same time is taxing place, until tn
slime upon the floor is an inch deep. Th
: poison which is thus inhaled has the mos
serious consequences upon the health o
the victims. Some die on BOARD ship
others 60 to the hospital on landing, Will
number are affected in health 70
months and years.
Nor does our emigrant population sui
fer alone from physical disease. The dc
; moraization consequent upon this over
crowdng of heterogeneous mass of peo
pie Of both sexes aud of all ages, IS fear
ful. The exhibition of sexual brutait
J is so fearful that it cannot be character
: lied in language. Profanity and singin
of LEVIED songs are always in order. Blu
l. where is the ships police The wei
paid higher officers remain away, Will
three or four superanuated sailors at lo'
: wages assist in cleaning up and keepin
= order, in case 1t should como to blow
We have before US volume written BY
: Catholic priest who three years ago visi
ed the United States, and who in mo
: eloquent terms beseeches Catholic Chri
J tiaus to speud their last dollar for bert
II in the second cabin in preference to risl
e ing the loss of health, and the contamin;
u tion of the morals Of the family in tn
d cess.pool of misery and reckless profan
ty
After landing, the emigrant is con
PEELED to iud his way, in overcrowde
aud filthy emigrant cars over our vic
y continent as best he may, and in as lor
or short time as it suits the railwa
}, monopolies to convey him.
ID No officer with authority to give Il
y emigrant protection, aid or advice,
IL stationed anywhere upon this long rout
y No act is upon the statue books that Al
J thorizes the Government to give him su
u cor, or to shield him from olt-practic,
: imposition. Yet when measure was b
fore Congress to correct these Grim
II against civilization, all the Democra
trusting to the ignorance Of their iorei!
supporters, aided by few Republican
O. sent the bill TO the committee OF I
!; D. whole, to sleep the sleep that knows
~ y, waking.
~ However, We have every reason to c
is pect that the next Congress will reconsi
y or the whole subject, aud We presur
iiS that, in obedience to the Senate's resol
~ tion, the Treasury Department will ina
ie gurate thorough Investigation.
SALARIEs.-The New York World So
that the increased salary of tho Presid,
We will not permit him to lay up an amou
worth as much as an Engllsh Prime Mi
ale ister's pension. As to the Judge of /
Tor Supreme Court, the man with a fam
plo to support who goes upon the bench ev
ed now can make little or no proyisi
against disaster.