(SiOtmll UttiuEraUa Hibtarg 3tl|ata, 5J«B ^atk BOUGHT WITH THE (NCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF HENRY W. SAGE 1891 Cornell University Library JV6451.S29 The immigration into the United States o 3 1924 021 134 279 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924021134279 Kszw*^*^ IMTOBfflO:?^ INTO THE UNITED STATES. T.he subject of the immigration of foreigners into the United States, has become qne of the gravest: questions of the, day. To show the importance of that. immigration, from, a, statistical and national-ecoriomi7 cal ipoinfof. view.; is >(vhat is intended by, this work. ; ,,,:,, Emigration is, as old, as mankind.. Thp first history of m'en is nothing but a narration , of events which befell individuals or whole nations whilst migrating. frpm; one country to another, pictured by single deeds of gallantry or depravity qf prominent men. In general, ernigration has.al\yays flowed from east to wes,t. , The ancient Qreeks estabhshed colonies in alrnpst every section of the; coast of, the: Mediterranean and Black seas. Among them only freemen,. but no slaves were permitted to emigrate. , Greek, arts and science, especiajlly pn the A-sia-tip shore, flourished , in the midst of baij'barians for centuries. Homer himself was horn in one of these colonies. The same was the case with the Phoenicians and Carthagdhians. The Romans conquered, but did not, cplonize in the same ,§ense. ,. The great mig.ratioos;of nations at the end of the. Roman empire, 376 after Christ, were nothingbut warlike expedi- tions, inpited by viptories of others, and the, imbecility, effeminacy, and, consequent weakness, of the westeri;i EHrppean^natipns. Of the rnedise- val age, the expedition^ of the, Normans, the Crusades, the.settle^ ments of the Teutonic and other orders in Prussia and .Livonia, were half, expeditions for adventures, half colonizations — a desire of actions, , which, especially after the discovery of the route around, the Cape of Good Hope to thp,East Ipdies, and, a few yeaVs, later, of America,, we meet with in southern Europe ;: however, the greater; part of! the; southerners returned to Europe, after having made a fortune, or haying otherwise been either successfijl or disappointed in their expectations, and therefore, it, wag more,', speculation than emigration. in our, sense. After the, Reformation, religious persecuti,o,ns drove a, good many pei;T sons from^ their homes. But emigration in the Aiperifian, sense was; unknown to, the. ancient and middle ages. The emigrants,to this, coun^r^ try came npt.&s conquerors^ fighting,, for their najtiye spyereign, pi;, to^ increase, by .their la{?.or,, his, finances apd revenyies, but for the purpose, of founding a new home, a new fatherland. They came to the land of their choice as freemen, with the expectation to die also as such. :,: ,. In, the .catalpgije; pf , " injuries and, usurpations" on which_ the, irnmqf- tal signers of , the 'Dedaratipn of .Independence tased their resplution to defy the: ,ppwer of .tl|e king , of .Great Britain, thp ;fp]lo^ing stands,, conspicuous.:,.'.. .; ,,; i ■ ' ,, ■■ ■.■",■ ; .. v'.- - . ■• ■■• - -, ■ . ■■ "He lias endeavored to prevent ,the. population pf. these States; for- that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of fore jgn ere,; ._i;e- , fiising to, pass pthet;?, to encpurage their migration hit,her, a^d . raising, , the conditions of iie.W; appropi-iations pf lands." : i :;> ;;. These, amongst others, were enumerated as evidences of a direct object on the part of the British king to establish, "an absolute tyranny over these States." The founders of our repubh'c, therefore,' favored immigration, and to that end denounced the obstructions to naturaliza- tion, and the refusal to "encourage migration hither" by George the Third, as acts of tyranny. The illustrious patriots who framed the . constitution introduced into it a clause empowering Congress to adopt a "uniform rule of naturalization." The first Congress which assem- bled under the constitution, composed in a great degree of the same sages arid statesmen who had signed the Declaration of Independence and, framed the constitution, enacted a law by which any free white alien, who Had resided two years within the United States, might becdme a citizen. This law was passed in March, 1790. In January, 179-5, the term! of residence, prior to admission as a citizen, was increased to five y'ears. Such was the legislation during President Washington's two terms. In June, 1798, after John Adams became President, and when federalism held sway in the governirient, the terrri of residence, prior to admission to citizenship, was increased to fourteen years. It so continued until April, 1802, when, Mr. Jefferson being .President, and democracy in the ascendant, the term was reduced to the 'Wa:shington standard of five years, and so it has remained down to the present day. _ '■ ' . ■ It is now proposed by the modern order of patriots, who delight in the name of know-nqthings, to prevent the further immigration of for- eigners by repealing the naturalization laws entirely, if that is found practicable', and, if not, to obstruct it as much as possible by extending the term of residence to twenty-one years. Their first proposition is substantially the policy of the king of Great Britain, which the signet's of the Declaration denounced to the world as tyrannical; their alterna- tive proposition is substantially the policy of the .federahsts of 179S, except that it is worse by just one-half. The democrats stand upon the platform first erected under Washington^ and re-established under Jefferson, for carrying into practical effect the policy proclaimed by the signers of the Declaration of Independence.' I propose now to vindicate the wiisdom and patrotism of the fathers of the republic against the reckless and factious attacks of the modern federal advocates of the policy of king George the Third. Upon the principle which these model patriots now promulgate, they would have been on the side of the British king in 1776, and' in 1798 they would have passed as acceptable federalists. If immigration is wrong now, it was wrong then; if obstructions to naturalization are right now, they were right then. ■ • ) i , , : ; , We are not without reliable data on' which to determine whether know-nothings are wiser ' and' ' iriore ' patriotic; than Washington, Jeffer- son, Madison, and the host of sages and statesmen who havfe cbricurfed with then} in encouraging immigrfition and facilitating naturalization. ' We halve the fruits of their policy, and by that standard we will judge of its wisdom. With the exception ,bi" four years, the dfembcratic policy, as to immigration and haturaltzatioh, has been in force from the begin- ning of the government to the present fime. We commenced with ' thirteen States and a free population of less than three millions and a half. We have now thirty-one States, with a free population of more; than twenty- milUons. Population and territory are prominent elements in national strength, prosperity, and greatness. Our revenues have increased from- , a few millions to more than fifty annually. Immense empires of new territory have been acquired and paid for, and now furnish homes and happiness to millions of enterprising and productive citizens. Our progress, in all that gives power and greatness to a nation, has.fiilled the world with' wonder and admiration, . whilst it has filled' our own people with a spirit of national pride \yhich they have abun- dant 'cause to indulge. All this, and manyfold more, will be readily conbeded even by our know-nothing patriots ; but, in their simplicity, they will ask, what has our amazing progress, in all the elements of national prosperity and. grandeur, to do with the policy of immigration and naturalization? We will endeavor to enlighten them by the irresistible logic of facts and figures. If the know-npthings had controlled the government in 1789, when the constitution went into operation, instead of encouraging immigration and enacting liberal naturalization laws, their policy would have been a total exclusion. of all foreigners. They would have acted upon the doctrine which they now advocate, "Americans must rule Arnerica;' an,d to that end no foreigner would have been allowed a resting' place' within the limits, of the Old Thirteen. , Let us see ihow that policy would have worked., , • in 1790 the population of the United States, including whites and- free colored persons, was 3,231,930. .If all increase from immigration- had been cut off, iri pursuance of the know-nothing doctrine, the sur-^ plus of births over deaths ^ould have constituted the only growth in our population. A very interesting problem then presents itself. Up- on the know-nothing policy, if adopted in 1790, what would be the present population of the United States? Fortunately, the census ta- iale furnishes us with the data for solving this proposition; and of illus- trating the wonderful wisdom of the know-nothing policy. If we take the qensus returns for 18^0, we find the' number of births to be 548,835, and the number of deaths 271,890 — confining ourselves to the white and free colored population. The difference, being 2-76,945, was the in- crease of population for 1850: from excess of births over deaths. The whole population, in 1850, of whites and free-colored persons, was, 19,987,573. The increase, therefore, from the.! excess of 'births over deaths, was oi^e and thirty -eight hundredths per cent. We take 1850 as an example to ascertain the per-centage of increase from the only source, of growth in our population which the know-nothing policy recognises wise and patriotic. As the know-nothings are using the United States Census Report as far as it favors their purpose, but repudiate it as false as soon as, in accordance with yera:pity, it speaks in favor of the immigrants; and to show that the per-centage furnished by the returns of 1850 is reliablp,' I furnish' a table carefully made out, showing the per-centage in a number of countries from which I have official sta- tistical returns. The table, is as follows : Table No.' 1. — Showing the increase of pOpUMion by the surplus of births ■' ' over deaths. ' ' •: Year. ■1850 . ISfO 1851 1835 ■ 1849 18S0, 1830 1849 1852 Name of the country. United States . ..i. . j. Eiiyland ajid ^Vales. . I'V^'ince ..:...: Kussja :.. Prussia : ', Holland ....■ Belgium Portugal .,.•.. Saxony Number of in- Jjabitai>ts., Numbf?roI"births in the respec- tive year. Il9,987,573* i^saTjeog ' 35,783,170 . 69,000,000 16,331,187 <3,05f),..591 4,4a6,aoa 3,473,758 1,987,833 548,835' -593,422 943,061 !, 173,055 691,563 105,338. 120,107 , 114,331 80,322 Numb, of' deaths in the respec- flye year. Per. cent, ofin- crease of the total popula- tion. 271,890* .. 368,986 7*84,433 1,731,834 498,863 B7,588 92,830. 88,993 58,739 1.38* 1.25 0.44 0.,74 1.17 1.23' 0,61 0.72 1.08 ^The United, States Census of 1850 aives the hirth^ and deaths of the white and free colored population in one column, without any separation j therefore, it has become necessary to include Ihe.free colored population in all other tables hereafter given.. As to 'the slave pot)Ulatibn the writer sees, for his purpose, no necessity to mention any thing of it at all, as it has no cohnexion whatever ^yith the irnmigration. . ,. As' -would be expected, it is «een that the excess of births over deaths in the United States is larger than in any other country; and hence I have no hesitation in adopting the per-centage of annual increase of .one and thirty-eight : hundredths as reliable. This furnishes us a rule to solve the problem before stated. The population in 1790 was' ■3,231,930, Excluding all intj migration, the increase of population each year would be at the rate of 1.38 per cent. This increase added eacli year to the aggregate of the preceding year, down ' to 1850, will give Us the population of the United States in 18-50 as it would have been upon the iknow.-nothing policy of excluding all imtaigratibhl In the following table vifill be also shown what our population in 1850 would have amounted to if immigration had been stopped in 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, or 1840, taking the actual population 'of thosie years as starting point. The calculation is a long aind tedious one, but the result is mathematically certain. It is this: The populatiori' in 1790 beiing 3,231,930, and being increased alone by the surplus ofbirths over deaths, would in 1S50 amount to 7,555,423 whites arid free colored persons, in- qluding 200,000 for. Louisiana, 'Floridaj California andthose territories which were acquired since 1790. But Upon turning to the actual returns of the census of 1850, we find the number of whites arid free colored per- sons to be 19,987,573. It appears,' then, that if the know-nothing policy had be,en adopted in 1790; our preserit population would ;be 7,565,423, instead of its actual number of 19,987i573 — a difference in population between the know-nothing and the democratic 'policy of 12,432, 1^0. Table No. 2.—Show'\ng^ the increase, of the white and free colored popula- tion of the United States, if without, immigration since -the respective years 1790 to 1840, after the. ratio of.increa,se in 1850 : i ' year. ' Anwual increase of , the white andtrcn- color'd population "if without limmi-' gration since 1790. Annual surplus ' of birthf . Annual increase of '.the white ali'dftee color'd population '' if without immi- ■ . gfation since ISpp,. Annual surplus . oflbirtiis. 1790 3,331,830 3,276,530 3,331,746 3,357,f86 3,414,05t 3,461,172 , 1791 44,600 4S,216 45,840 46,472 47,114 1793 1793 1794 1795 \ Table No. 2— Continued. Year. 1797. 1798., 1799., 1800.. 1801., 1802.. 1803;. 1804.. 1805.. 1806.. 1807.. 1808.. 1809 . 1810.. ,18llv. 1812.. 1813.. 1814.. 1815.. 1816.. 1817.. 1818.. 1819.. 1820.,. 1821.. 1832. . i8aa. . 1834.. 1825.. 1826.. 1827.. 18-28.. 1829.. 1830.. 1831.. 1832.. 1833.. 1834.. 1835.. 1836.. 1837;. 1838.. 1839.. 1840.. 1841.. jm.. 1843.; lS4¥.. 1845.. 1S46'.., 1847".., 1848'.., 1849.1: 1850... Annual increase of the white and free . eolof'd population if without iniriii- gratiou since 1790. 3,557,359 3,606,460 3,656,219 3,706,674 3,757,826 3,809,684 3,863,257 .3,915,556 3,969,590 4,024,358 4,079,895 4,126,197 4,193,276 4,351,143 4,309,808 4,369,283 4,429,579 4,490,707 4,552,678 4,615,504 4,679,197 4,743,769 4,809,233 4,875,600 4,942,883 5,011,094 5.080,247 S; 150,354 5,221,428 5,293,473 5,366,522 5,44U,.580 5,515,659 ■ 5,591,775 5,668,941 5,747,172 6,826,482 5,906,887 5,988,402 6,071,041 6,154,821 6,239,757 e; 325, 865 6,413,161 ■6,501,652 6,591,384 6,-682,345 6,774,561 6,868,049 6,S6i,828 7,059,115 7,156,530 7,355,300 7,355,423 Annual surplus of births. 48,423 49,091 49,769 .50,4,55 51,152 61,858 62,673 63,299 54,034 54,768 65,537 66,302 57,079 57', 867 58,665 ■69,475 60,296 61, 128 61,971 62,826 63,693 64,. 572 66,464 66,367 67^283 ■68,211 .69,163 .70,107 71,074 72,0.55 73,049 74,058 7.5,079 76,116 77,166 78.231 79; 310 ■ 80,405 81,616 82,639 83,780 84,936 86, 108 87,296 88,501 89,722 90,961 . 92.3IS ,93; 488 ". 94,779 96,287 97,415 98,770 100,123 Annual increase of tlie white and free color'd population if without immi- gration since 1800. 4,412,884 4,473,781 . 4,535,519. 4,598,109 .4,661,562 4,725,991 4,791,209 4,857,327 4,924,358 4,992,314 5,061,207 5,131,051 5,201,859 6,273,644 5,346,409 5,420,189 . 6,494,990 5,570,820 6,647,697 5,724,73? , 8,803,734' . .5,883,855 6,965,021 6,047,338 6,130,791 6,215,296 6,301,068 6,388,020 6,476,174 6,56.5,545 6,666.149 6, 748; 003 6,841,126 6,935,632 7,031,242 7,128,273 7,226,643 7,326,470 7,427,676 7,530,076 ■ 7,633,991 7,739,340 7,846,142 ■ 7,954,418 8,064,188 ' 8, 175,473 ■ 8,288,294 ' a,402,672 8,518,628 8,636,185 8,76S,'364 Annual surplus ' of births. Table No. 2 — Conlinued. 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814, 1815. l8(6, 181.7. ]818, 1819. 1820. . itel. 1822, Annual increase of the white and free colorM population if Without inimi- . gration .since 1810. 6,048,450' 6,131,918. 6«16,638' 61^02,325 6,3S9,'298 6,477,470 6,6b6,859 6,657,481 6,749,354 6^842,495 6,936,921 ..7,032i650; 7,129,700 Annual surplus of births. 83,468 84,620 86,788 • 86,972 88,172 89,389 ' .9q,622 . 91,8Y3 93,1*1 94,426 96,729.. 97,060 Annual, increase, of the white anil free color'd population if without immi- gration since 1820. « 8,100,093 a, 21 1,874 8,325,197 Annual syrpfus 01 b'lrchs. Table No. 2 — Continued. Tear. Annual innrease of the white and free eolor'd population if iWitlinnt immi- gration since 1810. Annual surplus ,of births. Annual increase of the white and free color'il population if without immi- gration since 1820. Annual surplus o( births. 1823 , 7,228,089 7,327,8.36 7,428,960 7, ,531, 479 7,035,413 7,740,781 7,847,603 7,955,899 8,065,691 8,176,997 8,404,238 8,520,216 8,637,794 8,756,995 8,877,841 9,000,355 9, 124, 559 ' 9,250,477 9,378,133 9,507,551 9,638,755 9,771,769 9,906,619 10,043,330 10,182,927 10,323,451 10,465.914 10,610,343 98,389 99,747 101,134 102,519 103,934 105,368 106,822 108,296 109,792 111, .306 114,399 11.5,978 117,678 119,201 120,846 122,514 124,204 125,918 127,656 129,418 131,304 133,014 134,850 136,711 138,597 140,534 142.463 144,429 8,440,184 8,,5.'i6,658 8,674,739 8,794.449 8,916,802 9,0.38,840 9,163,575 9,290,032 9,418,3;J4 . 9,518,205 9,678,970 9,812,539 9,947,953 10,085,333 10,224,409" - 10,36.5,505 10,508,548 10,6.53,.565 10,800,584 10,949,633 11,100,727 11,253,917 11,409,221 11,566,668 11,726,288 , 11,888,110 12,052,163 12,218,484 114,987 ^16,474 •lis, 081 119,711 131 353 1824 1835 , 1836 1827 1828 ■ 123,038 1829... 1830 126,457 128,202 139 97L 1831 1332 1833 130,765 1834 1835 135,413 1836... 137 281 1837 1838 i 141,096 1839 143 043 1840..., 147,019 1843 151,104 1844. 153 190 155,304 1846 : 159 620 1848 , . . 164,055 166 319 1850 Table No. 2 — Continued. Year. Annual increase of the white and fiee eolor'd population if without immi- gration since 1830. Annual surplus of births. Annual increafeeof the white and free eolor'd population if withdilt immi- gration since 1840, Annual surplus of births. 1830 10,856,977 ' 11,006,803 11,158,696 11,313,686 11,468,801 11,627,070 ' 11,787,533 11,950.190 12, us; 103 13.282,290 12,- 45 1,785 12,623,619 12,797,824 12,974,3,33 13,153,378 13,334,874 13,518,895 13,705,4,55 13,894,590 14,086,3,15 14,280,726 1831 ■ 149,833 151,893 1,53,990 156,115 108,269 160,453 162,667 164,912 167,188 169,495 171,834 174,205 176,509 179,015 181,496 184,021 186,560 189,135 191,745 194,391 1833.... 1833 1834.... 1835 1836 .... . . .... 1837 1838 1839. 1840 14,581,998 14,783,239 14,985,337 15,192,033 15,401,683 15,614,226 15,829,702 16,048,151 16,269,615 16,494.1,35 16,721,674 1841 201 231 1842,.., 1843 206 79R 1844 '. 309,650 212,543 216,476 218,449 231 464 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 185P 327 539 To these are to be added the results for Louisiana, (1803); Florida, (1821) ; Calitbrnia, New Mexico, Texas, and Oregon. Louisiana had in 1803, 77,000 iiihabitants, ofwhich 53,00,0 were slaves. Florida, in 1821, had about 10,000. California and New Mexico, at the time of their acquisitioia, had about 60,000. Texas and Oregon only brought back into the Union citizens who had emigrated thitherbut a short time before. If we put them down: in 1850, after the above scale, with 200,000 white and free colored persons, the writer thinks he has done ihem more than amnle .iustice. 9 Table N o. 3 . — Recapitulation. ' The United States would have in 1850— Total white and free T- .,, ^ „„„ colored population. If without immigration sinoe 1790 7 355 423 Addition for Louisiana, Florida, &c '20o'oUO If without immiffration since 1800 8,755 364 ' ' Addition for Louisiana, Florida, &,c QGoloOO i . g 955 3g4 Ifwithoutinimipratinn since 1810 ....! 10,610,343 ' ' . Addition for Florida, 8lc 100 000 ^ ___„ 10 710 343 If without immigration since 1820 13,218 484 ' ' Addition for Florida, &c loojooo If without immigration since 1830 14,280,726 ' ' Addition for New Mexico and California 50,000 ,^ . , . . . 14,330,726 Ifwitllout immigration since 1840 .... , 16,721,674 Addition lor New Mexico and California..'. 50,000 16,771,674 They had aotually, however 19, ggy^ 573 This will be to many an astonishing result ; but I am well assured of the correctness of this statement.* As I have shown above that the mean (1.38 per certt.) by which I have made up these tables corresponds well with that of other coun- tries, I will also compare the result. It will be found that no European country has actually increased in the same period so much as the United States would have, if, instead of a population of 19,987,573, they had in 1850 only 7,555,423. The figures in the following table are taken from official returns. Table No. 4. — Increase of various European nations since the last decen- nium of the 18lh century. 8,675,000 , 17>22;768 Increase- . = 2.06 23, 500, 000 36,514,466 do . = 1.55 26,000,000 35,783,170 . = 1.37 8,660,000 16,331,187 ■ do . = 1.88 10,351,075 14,216,219 do . = 1.33 2,150,493 3,316,535 . = 1,54 456,990 547,948 do . = 1.19 3,231,930 7,655,423 : do , = 2.33 England and Wales , in 1790 Do do in 1851 Austria in 1792 Do f in 185U France in 1789 Do in 1^51 Prussia 5 .in 1797 Do in 1849 Spain in 1797 Do in 1849 .' Sweden in 1790 Do in 1849 Sard inia, ( Island) in 1790 Do do in 1848 United States* in 1790 Without imoiigration since 1790.... in 1850 * White and free colored. This table clearly proves the above estimate of the population of the United States, without immigration since 1790, to be not only a correct one, but even exhibiting a higher increase than any other country. England, the highest among them, is still, with one year more increase, twenty-seven on the hundred behind the United States. Some persons may think doubtful that the actual increase of England and Wales is so close to that ot the United States, as there has been every year a *An abstract of these statistics I pablisiied ia a small pamphlet la,st JuOb.' The principal papers of the United States took notice of it, and commented, with one insigaificant exeep- tion, as far as 1 know, very highly on it. Of statistical authorities, De Bow's Review published it in September, Hunt's Merchants' Magazine in December; in which later month it was also read before the American Geographical and Statistical Society of New York. I have con- stantly been on the alert to hear that its correctness and reliability its attacked, the more, as 1 took the liberty to beg the statisticians of this country to honor it with a thorough examina- tion ; but till now, at least to my knowledge, there has been no such attack. 10 large emigration. But it must be remembered that England has had in return a considerable immigration from Ireland, Scotland, and even from the continent of Europe, invited by the enormous rise of her manu- factures and commerce. England is not only, a very healthy country, but also inhabited by a healthy people. Besides, it is a known fact that the population of manufacturing districts increases more than that ."where agriculture is the principal branch of occupation. But there is another point of great importance, 'and in favor of my problem. The people of the United- States, left witiiout immigration,' ■would not have increased 1.38 per cent, every year. Proof hereof is found in Massachusetts. This iState had, in 1850, 830,066 native and 164,448 foreign born inhabitants, or one foreigner tajive natives. The marriages were, during the years 1849 to lS5i, Americans 18,286, or 220 in'10,000 of their own race ; foreigners 7,440, o]» 450 in 10,000. .This is 104.5 per cent, of foreign over native ratio. The births, were in Massachusetts in' the three years 1,849, '50, and ,'51,,, of Anjerican parents 47,982, or 578 in 10,000 of their own race ; foreign 24,523, or 1,491 in 10,000, of their own race. In Boston there were, American 7,278, or, 966 in 10,000 ; foreign 13,032, or 2,053 in 10,000 of their own race, Of the 32,000 born in Massachusetts in 1854, 16,470 were of American parentage, while some 14,000 were of parents one or both foreigners ;' and the increase from foreign parents was more than twice what it was from native parents. At the same rate shortly we shall have more children born in Massachusetts from foreigners than from natives ; for in fiye years the Americsfti births have not increased 1,000, while the foreigii have increased rnoie than 5,000. In Suffolk county akeady the births in foreign-families are mor.e than twice as numer- ous as in American, being 3,735 in the former, and 1,737 in the latter. Of the parents of Boston children, in 1854, the largest number was from Ireland, 2,824 fathers and 2,957 mothers, while there were but 41,0 fa,thers and 624 mothers natives of the city, and 533 fathers and 475 mothers natives of Massachusetts, out of Boston,, or of other States. Cambridge had born of foreign parents 422 children to 208 Americans ; Fall River, 223 to 88 ; Lawrence, 322 to 146 ; Lowell, 596 to 427 ; Eoxbury, 383 to 168; Salem, 344 to 120 ; Taunton, 291 to 142; and Worcester, 421 foreign to 320 American. The foreigners in Massa- chusetts are chiefly of Celtic origin. In twenty years from the present time, one-half of the young ,men and wonien in the State, will be of direct Celtic descendency, and there is no doubt that they, also will brag and boast of their Pilgrim fathersj their .revolutionary ancestry^ and especially of their Anglo-Saxon blood in their Celtic veins.- And; why should not they? They: will have the same right to do so as is posse.ssed by at least two-thirds of; our know-nothings. As the traces of a negro descendency disappear already in the third or fourth genera- tion, I should think that in Massachusetts the Pilgrim and revolutionary blood, if it is not already so, mufet, in very short time, become at least " very thin. ' ' , , ' ' " ■",', \\'. ' ' ' , ' '" ' ' The cause,, of the large increase of , foreigii birtlas is simply !thg.t,. whilst of the native population in 1850 there were only 49.07 per cent, over the 15th "year of age, the average amount of foreigners, of the, same age, who arrivedin J.S54 ^nd' 185^,1 was 77.63 'i3er.,cent. .,..'; , V 11 Nnrtiber of white inhibitaiits of th^ Ufllted Siatea in 1850 linder 15 years'.' 8, 003, 715 — 40.93 pr. cent. Do-^.......;.....;.,do....,.,.i....|.do ;.;,..;River.l8jfearq,.,i..... Jl, 5>W, 353 = : 69.1)7 ' " ,,:.,, ,-:■;. "• 19,.=iM,068cr 1.00100 ' " .. Niimlier of iininigrants 1111854 'under 15 vears!. I! ;;;...;.'.'.'.;.„..; 'Iff0,()(3±: SI. 72' " ^ Do.^.......,;,...dojw over J 5 years.; ',.. .i ;.....;,. ...,.:.'.,.. i • ,360,461 =;, l7b,a8,: :" ,.'[. ;,w;.,i ■' ,. , ,,. :i!' ■'■ ■■'< I, .,,480, 4-74 = 100:00 V " Suniber of innriigrants in 1S53 under ISyerirs.'... .' .1.. '........ ....:. 5S,045= 23.09- ''= Do ..;.do..,.,;'...-.,pver IS.years.,..; i.r.,. ,- 177,431 = 76.98 ", :' , ■ : ■-'.•>;■' ' ( . - . .. ;:.■■ '^ " .23MV6_^ ibojw . ■ " ,,i . .,1'. • •(, ;. .v ■:,,.:; •■:\: i),.;!: J. ■■;,i:. ; > ,.Ki .■•:rr Suppose that there are now five millions of foreignprs jn this country, they will, from this cause, produqe. just as much, and increase in the same degree, as 6,610,169 natives. Before the morialitv tables' of the United States were published, statisticians and political writers usiaally belieVed that ^he foreigri b i. ...... ':9,377j230..L' :". '■' 1820.. .''..... '...'....-ji .8,669^0.89 • ;.:.,- " J^?Q,;. . ..w V . . .. . .'.'_ ;;5,656,847-':..l.y' . .o !,.., '^ 1840...;...:. ..r .....'..„.:...•.'.'.; 3',2i5,899.: ' ^' Siz . At the first glanoe.it 'will Seem 'almost' iiicre^ible ''that the excess from immigTatiO'd should alone amount 'ih the' siilgle decade'of 1840 to 1850 to 3,.^15,§9&.^:''But it must be- remembered thaitheinimigtatiPrt wiithia tbese^ ye'ars,!as given by ^thB^cuglibni-hPufe'e' reports^' anion n'teji, to not less than l,677,330,i;w>ithout those of'ivhich'the ctistom-hous'e^''^i'v'6 no returns, and which 'Dr. Chick&ring, in ■his 'efe'Say "on 'irhmi'^^tion, puts down at 50 per cent, of the total number. ' 'Should'' their natuM increase resemble that of. the foreign population in Massachusetts, as stated kbovevnohe Will find my hypothetical ' staternent otft of -reEtch of probability. 1? These astounding results enable us to discuss . intelligibly the effects of immigration upon our nationSl progress in the great elements of strength and greatness, and wealth and prosperity. If immigration had been cut off in 1790, our population in 1850 would have been about what it actually was in 1820. Immigration, then, has put us thirty years forward in this important element of national prosperity. Our increase in all the departments of national progress has been m the exact ratio of our increase in population. Whilst the latter has increased sixfold, our commercial exports have increased, in the same period, eightfold, and. our imports threefold. Value of imports. Value of exports. Commercial fleet. 1789-91. 18001...., 1810.... 1830.... 1S30-..,.:. 1840...., 1850i..., 1855 ..., S52,200,000 91,253,768 ,85,400,000 ■ 74,450,000 ,70,876,920 131,571,950 ■.•178,1.36,318!: , 261,466,520 $19, 01?, 041 70,971,780 66,7.57,974 69,691,699 73,849,508 104,805,891 151,898,720 275,156.846 Torn/. 502;i4B 972,492 1,424,783 1,280,166 1,191,776 2,180,764 3,535,454 5,212,001 $4-399,473 10, 624,997 9,299,737 16,779,331 24,280,'8e8 16,993,858 43,375,798 65,203,930 'None can'fali to has' derived from ihcrea'$e 'of fehijipiti^," I'.feVeiiues, Our' impbrti 'increased 200 per se'e in these figures the great benbfit this 'country the 'I'ncreased 'itiitaigration. Enormous is the and cpmtrierce, from 1840 to 1855. pbrtS 'increased 2O0 per cent., ohr exports '300 per cent., our comrnereidl'fl'eet lOO pdr cent., and 'o'ur revenues more than 300 per fc'erit.' ' Since 184'0','iiririiigr,d,tidn'lia's been chiefly directed to this coun-. try. Coiiipafe,' again, 18S0' with 1855, and the blindest man will perceive that the'su'ddeti.,nse of v^ealth and power this country owes chiteiEly. td' immigration/ ''Bu,t; for the in'fluerice of imhiigration, the won- derful .wdrKs of imprbvern'eht, which have added so much to bur national ■vvealth^hd ptospferity, cb'uld ^ not have been accomplished. To this . we are indeibted, iri aii eniinent degree, for the thousands of miles of railroad 'and canal cotttmthication which now coyer our vast dornain like a net-work, and furnish ready and profitable 'Ikcilities for realizing th'ebenefitsof the productive etiergies and enterprise of every industrial pursuit. To this we are indebted for the reduction of the vast wilder- ness of the \vest and northwest to the dominion- of civilization and industry, s-vteelhrig theamount of our annual revenufes,' increasing to an almost liraifless extent our commercial wealth,- and placing us in the front rarik 'of nations, as an agricultural,- manufacturingiand commercial people. To 'immigration we are indebted in -no small degree for the rapid addition. of State after State to the confederacy, until we have spanned -the. continent. -vviith- more than double:our original number. Kut_ it cannot, be neQpssaity to dwell, upon result's, so astounding to fpreign, nations, aud so flatteringto our lown national pride. To ap- pr^c;^te.them,iV*fehave;but4o imagine .twelve millions of our population witiidrawn^.arid reflect;- upan the amazing contrast that would now be presented with, a population. little more than one-third of its present number [ , . This contjrast will befbetter appreciated, if' we imagine the following eighteen of the bright stars .Whiih now. illustrate the galaxy of .States exptinged from our natipnal banner ; Alabama, Arkansas, 13 Calirornia, Florida, Illinois', Indiana, Iowa,;" Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Vifginia, and New York. These States have a free white population of twelve millions, the' amount of increase resulting from in^migration. Instead of settihg up a just claim to being the rndst, happy, and pros- perous, and^poWerful nation on the earth, able 'to cornmand respect all oyer the world, to ma.intainoui;' rights on sea and land against any for- eign cdmbinatioti', and' by the, moral power of our' repubfican ex£i.mp![e to shake the hoary throhes of mon'archs in the Old World, we shbijld be a fourth ^rate nationaf power, subject to .constant dangers of foreign' in- vasion, and poorly able to defy the aggressions of a foreign, enemyi These results prove the wisdoni of the fathers of the republic in resist- ing the attempfs. of the British king to, prevent immigration into the colonies, and illustrate the soundness of the policy whicli has, enacted liberal naturalization laws and given' encouragement to foreign immi- gratibii.'' ■'''■.'," ' " ' - " . Men do not. come here merely for the purpose of improying their.' physical condition.' This is especially shown' by the sudderi decrease of immigration since the political ascendancy of the know-nothings. Exactly one hundred per cent, less have arrived in 1855 than in the preceding year 1864. In 1854, landed - - - - ' 466,474' ' '' In 1855 " ■-' ' - , - - , ,■• 236.,4:'7'6 Decrease - - ' ■.". .229,998 In order to have an idea of the loss this country has sustained herebj'-, it will not be amiss to state that the population of Delaware and Florida together is yet far below the number of persons the know-nothing policy has kept away iri 1855. Rho4e isla.nd had in 1850 only l47,o45, and may have now about 180,000. Only imagine that owe year of know- nothing reigrt has cost us already more than the present population of two States like Delaware arid Florida! How much will it cpst us if this svsi'ay should be extended to four years niore? Thig is the rea,l and true standard with which to measure the prudence of the principles of the know-nothings, and the depth of their love to this country. It is, more than probable that the immigration of 1856 will be even far be- hind that of 1855, if one may' judge after the compar'atively small nuniber who ha,ve arrived in the first' iquarter of this year. After that rate the whole i'rfimigration will hardly exceed '50,OQO. ,T{iis shows sufficiently that the immigrants come to this country ju§t' as muph for political freedom as riiatdrial well-being." It is triae, the people of the United States, as a power, can use, means to- prevent iihtnigration, arid prbfitbit it if th§y will; But, in doing so, ah original 'arid distingu'ished pripciple of the goVeirnment mu'st be abiro'gated ; apd, having done this,* vi^e. descend to a level with the .arbitrary and proscriptive .thrones o Etirbpe. But the loss of the laborious immigrant will soonbe felt. As . already stated, the most .of the immigrants wended their way to the ptairies of the Far West;^ buying' ftorn. the goverrimeht with Ineir own inohey the pubtifi Iaiids,''i'n order to wrest; a livelihood .from th? bosom, pf ihother eaifth. THeir liabors have enriched riot only' the cultivator, 14 but' the country and the native-born citizen. . Others , again .renjained in the'greafAtl'aritic'cities, where- their herculean eiiergies have "been Brhployed ih. the^^^erection of public works. Men of genius, artists, scholars, came \vith this tide of immigration ; and, whfle they have been able to find' employment for' themselves, the^ have also vastly cont;ri- iDuted'to the intellectual scores of this country. ' A remarkable instance .tif the public spirit and generosity of foreign-born citizens, jfinay be seen in the fact thai the three' leading scientific or educational institutions m the I United ' States' \Yere', founded by men born in other larids-,- I allude to' the' great' Astor Library,' of New York, endowed by the German, John Jacob 'Astor;' the trirard College, in Philadelphia,, endowed ^y the Frenchmah, Stephen Girard ; and the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington, "endowed by the English'inari, John'Saiithson,,^, ^ ; it is' not a high estimate if we put down the imndigratiqp in, five years, froiii' 1550 to 1855, at 'about fwo a'li'd a half millions. ,■ Suppose ,this number' brought with them in value only 30 dollars per head, which is the very lowest estimate; and they. have enriched the country in the Very s-niprf'space of five' years, by' ,ai> amount equal'tq $75,000,000. It is also a very safe, calculation' to say that these , i mrnigrants ha.ve p,ai5' $l5b',o'ob,p00.'i!^to .the treakuy' of .the 'tJhited States for publicMands-' l^'h'e' revVilutibns or 1848 gave emigration a vast impulse, and' drove . masses, £jf m.en of excellent quality to our shores. Whether we consider the arft,odi?'it!!,i3f money, principally specie, brought with them, .pr the amount' paid' into tlie treasury for public lands, or the advantages conferjred"upph the native population by their, industry and their skill, we mky.-i^etLhesitate in alarm and, surprise, that any movement look- ing to the. arrest or .curtailment of the tide of immigratioii should, for one! 'moaaeri't' have been encouraged by any portion qf the American people.'' .The principles of the knOw-nothmgs carried out .would de-. grade the'emigrant to the low position of ap East Indian pariah, or a Russian serf, exceptitig only that'. .he, could not be sold. They, A^ould dooni^ him. to a fate far worse than tlie hardest despp.tism of the Old' World. '"Th^re, at' least, he would haive the , consciousness of n.ot suf- fering al.one, as the whole" population, and not a part of it, would have, no, more .rights than' hiniself. Here he woijld be marked out as an in- ferior, useful ofiiy.to." dig canals and build railroads,. to fight like, the H<_li').ts,b'f old', io'act as'.hewer of 'wood and drawer ,o.f water to those^ whq.falsi^ly cij 1 iherriselves .superior, beings. And riot this only. While this is sought to be made the,'lo'l of the white adopted citizens — wjiile, the' laboring,, classes are. appealed to deny equal privileges to the for-., eign-librn fellow-being of their own race-r-heholoi their- efforts, making, in tl|ie free States'. 'to elevate the hegrQ,to the. 'political rights and priyi- leges of tbei whit'esj! _^ ' '. ,',',' "" '" ■ ^ ," '; '" Americans I must rule America!" — that.'is th^ ,copstant war-cry of tjie tnbW^nplhihjjs'.l' There are 'at pr^ in the U.nited 'States Iwen.ty-; seven hillUQns of inhabitants, of w hich five mil,],i6jis ,a,r^ foreigne,rs.. The ' Serjate '.co.n'iain's' 62 'arid the. House "S-Si meiribers. ; Shaiild the, five million's '.be equally represented "in their specific quialrficatiQii.,as,, for- eignef?, b|',.t'})e Seiiiatbrrs 14 arid of the House 63' should be fjoreigri-borti,'. ciiizena. '.teut there is iidt/a' single foreign-bipitri riiember jp Congres^.^ <|. Ax&ijie ,<^epapcr^dc medters for >hora fprgigti-born citi^zj^os have c^st" 15 their votes, not as good, intelligent, and wise as those who have been elected by a mere native vote ? The know-nothings speak constantly of their revolutionary inheritance, their "glorious sires of '76." Will they inform me how many of them can trace back their lineage to the time of the Revolution ? Are not at least two-thirds of their number descend- ants. of those who arrived in the country since 1790 ? Was not, in New York, even their candidate for governor a son of a foreigner ? Are not, with the only exception of two, all the 148 or 149 know-nothings of the New York State legislature sons of foreign parents ? The answer to these questions will put to shame the warfare which know-nothingism is waging upon the policy of the founders of this republic. It is not simply a warfare upon the foreign-born citizens diffused throughout the Union, identified in interest with our institutions ; connected by the closest ties with native-born citizens ; engaged in industrial pursuits which add to the national wealth and prosperity ; levelling mountains and filling up valleys for our great internal improvements ; felling the forests, and spreading the area of productive agriculture in the Far West ; shouldering their muskets when the tocsin of war sounds ; and fighting and dying bravely on the battle field by the side of native Americans. A warfare upon such a body of men is bad enough in all conscience ; but the warfare of know-nothingism is against the princi- ples on which our Revolution was started and was consummated — against the pohcy engrafted upon our constitution, and carried out by liberal naturalization laws in Congress ; and against the prosperity of the nation, which has received one of its chief impulses from this policy.