g / i i Class HI ^ \ 5\^ Book > Gn"£ >^ / PROJECT FORMATION OF A DEPOT IN UPPER CANADA, WITH A VIEW TO BEC3IVE THE WHOLE PAUPER POPULATION OF ENGLAND. SUBMITTED TO THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD G. S. STANLEY, HIS majesty's principal SEGEETARY of STATE FOR THE COLONIES. BY JAMES BUCHANAN, ESQ. HTS majesty's consul for the STATE OF NEW YORK, FOEI-IEELY ONE OF HIO MAJJ sty's JUSTICES OF THE PEACE OF THE COUNTY OF TYHONE. NEW YORK: WIlililAM A. MERCEIN, PRINTER. M DCCC XXXIV. > ', ■■ ./!.-"V^J--- K-^^' K^^ *^ >^ ^6 2 J PREFACE I am prepared to hear the principles I advocate in the following pages, condemned by many truly benevolent people, who are an ornament to the Christian character, and our country ; and I deeply deplore, if in any of the measures I advocate, I should countenance those who are unfeeling and hard-hearted towards the poor. My opposition is against the abuse of charity, and with a zealous de- sire to give a salutary direction, not only to bene- volent feelings, but to the laws, and to those of Christian obligation, which enjoin upon us " to succour the poor,''^ My creed as to charity is, that we are bound to relieve want and distress, without first waiting to inquire how it has arisen,* and that too without regard to nation, color, sect, or view, * The parable of the Good Samaritan inculcates this truly Chris- tian obligation. IV PREFACE. to reward. If I have advanced or advocated any measure appearing in opposition to these princi- ples, I regret the obscurity in w^hich my sentiments are expressed. I should far exceed the bounds of discretion, did I illustrate my positions by numer- ous facts, the fruit of daily intercourse with the poor. To those who have taken a working part without emolument, such proof would be super- fluous, and for the greater number of those who derive either patronage, influence or emolument, from the vast expenditure connected with, and coming under the sweeping head, " Relief of THE Poor," I neither look for nor expect appro- bation. I shall mention a consequence of the poor laws, with which the people in the United King- dom cannot be supposed to be generally ac- quainted, that the poor working English in the United States, rarely send aid to their poor re- lations in England, aware that the poor laws provide for them, while the poor working Irish, with an earnestness of feeling truly character- PREFACE. ire in the constant habit of remitting to |their poor relations a part of their earnings. I fspeak herein from my knowledge of facts, arising [out of my official situation ; and greatly do I fear, Ithat the introduction of poor laws into Ireland will destroy those feelings which are more worthy of being cherished than the building of palace-like prisons, poor-houses, or permanent charity estab- lishments. Having adopted Canada for my coun- try, deeply interested in its prosperity, I shall not cease on all occasions to deprecate the introduc- tion of any compulsory relief for the poor therein ; the finer feelings both of the giver and receiver are cherished by being free. Hospitals for the sick or maimed, places of temporary refuge for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger, will never be wanting where sectarian intolerance or com- pulsory provision is not created ; all that can be now done for England, is, to endeavor to modify the evils of the present vicious system, not with violence or haste, but uponnot only a well digested, but a fair trial. Under a hope of such a consum- mation, the following sketch is sent forth, under VI PREFACE. your auspices, as having the especial charge of his Majesty's Colonies, and of having visited the United States, and Canada. As I have derived much valuable practical in- formation from visiting the institutions in the state of Connecticut, I deem it important to add, in an appendix, a brief view of the management of the poor by that far-famed, sagacious people, and also, to add some extracts from my report, as to the state of New Yorkj as also an outline of the rules for regulating the proposed depot, and an esti- mate of the expense. ^an'^m:'^ ■■ to the right hon. edward g. s. stanley, &c. &c. Sir, Having had the honor of being required by Viscount Palmerston, to furnish a full report of the legal provision which exists in the state of New York, for the support and maintenance of the poor ; the principles upon which it is founded, and the practical effect of the system upon the comfort, character, and condition of the inhabitants — I am led to submit to you, sir, as his Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, a measure which has relation to his Majesty's Province of Upper Canada, and has engaged my attention for sixteen years. With untiring solicitude I have sought information from the actual working of institutions upon a smaller scale, conducted by the most reflecting and calculating people on earth,* whose success has regulated my conclusions, and enables me without risk to propose the instituting in the first instance an experiment in a systematic way, for the * The Selectmen and Overseers of tbB Poor in the state of Connecticut. ;7".'j5»t- , • ' •■ L'-T 'V-,' ■r\,-;''r':t"' 8 RBIilEF OF THE POOR. purpose of proving that emigration and colonization will effectually relieve England from the oppression of the poor-law system, and prepare the way so as to place the rising generation of the working people in the sure road to independence. A variety of concurring circumstances renders the present hour peculiarly adapted for the success of the measure. That British North America should be the spot in which such an experiment should be made, will perhaps be at once apparent, without dwelling on its genial climate, rich soil, and vast resources, as the foundation of a mighty empire. With these preliminary remarks, I proceed to relate some circumstances of a more personal nature, and which first gave rise to the subject in my mind. In the year 1816, I had the heiior to represent to the late Marquis of Londonderry, then his Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that vast numbers of loyal and industrious subjects of his Majesty's^ were anxious to remove from the United States to Upper Canada. ,,. In consequence of which, his Lordship directed that such should be aided, not exceeding ten dollars each, for the purpose of being forwarded to that destination, and that every family so forwarded should receive also a grant of land. A number of these persons having come from RELIEF OF THE POOR. the counties of Monaghan and Cavan, and the Lieutenant Governor having directed settlements to be formed, two of these settlements were called Cavan and Monaghan; in which arrangement, Dr. Baldwin, of York, took a live- ly interest, and at this hour, no part of the province exhibits a greater degree of prosperity, or evinces more steady loyalty. In the course of this duty, I soon became convinced, that those who had not energy to make their way by their own resources, would be ill adapted to encounter the difficulties which are the inevitable lot of all in entering on a new settlement; and although I was ''empowered to afford aid to the extent already men- tioned, I rarely did so. Yet previous to 1821, I had for- warded above seven thousand persons to Upper Canada, and that without expending in aid as many shillings ; and finally, except in extreme cases, as unforseen sickness or great want, I discontinued affording any pecuniary assist- ance, having had abundant evidence, that just in proportion as people, able to work where labor is to be had, are aided, so in proportion are their efforts paralyzed and their prosperity retarded. It was very natural to feel a deep interest in the ^ prosperity of those persons, and as I generally made a yearly visit to Upper Canada during the sickly season in New York, I had an opportunity of examining the con- dition of many of those in other j^irts of the province. M- RELIEF OF THE POOR, whom I forwarded. The result of this inspection was,- that I can confidently state, that all able to work found] employment, and in less than six years, were not only de- livered from the fear of want, but that five out of seven! were living on their own lands, and had barns, oxen, cows, '. pigs, and many of them horses. I have, therefore, from the knowledge thus gained, become fully impressed, that Canada ; is capable of taking off, not only the surplus jjopulation of] the empire, hut the pauper poor of England ; and indeed, as far back as 1828, in ti letter I had the honor to address to Sir Robert Peel, I imparted the same idea.* In respect to the project of a colonizing and receiving establishment, already treated of, some account of its ob- jects and arrangements may be naturally expected. The examples and data for its government are chiefly de- rived from a personal examination and inspection of the institutions of the adjoining state of Connecticut, so famed for its prudential and economical jurisprudence ; besides, what facts have been gleaned from an investigation made •while this work was in press, I received the message delivered by the Lieut. Govenor to the ParliamenI of Upper Canada, now convened, and in reference to the capabilities of the Province, his Excellency says, "I am persuaded that you will concur with me in the opinion, that were they sufficiently known and ap- preciated, the parent state would be encouraged to regard this fertile country as an asylum for a large portion of her present redundant population, and to adopt an extensive system of emigration ; which, with prudent regulations, could not fail to ameliorate the condition of the laboring classes, promote the Wfclfare of the Province, and increase her own commercial prosperity. WWW: ^^^'f ""'^ ''\\ ^ '^?m-'-^y^^^ RELIEF or TTIE POOH. 11 into the polity of the state of New York touching the "relief of the poor." The experiment may be made either on national grounds, : or on behalf of any one county disposed to enter upon the same. But it is evident, from the immense responsi-. bility it will entail, and the important mischiefs which failure would occasion, that it would be highly desirable that even the arrangements of the voyage should be made under a well-appointed and judicious supervision. The physical condition and mora:l habits of the emigrant paupers being capable of being materially affected by it. As the principle of free agency and self-dependence lies at the foundation of energy of character, and systematic exertion, and the consequent prosperity of the individual, where there is any scope of action, it would be sedulously C enjoined by the superintendents, and be materially consulted in the various regulations of the establishment. The fol- lowing outline is submitted, in which, if some repetition appears, it will doubtless be pardoned, from the difficulty of being full and explicit without falling into this error. 1. None shall be fed in idleness, who are able to work. 2. Every measure calculated suitably to raise the charac- ter of each individual in his own estimation, will be adopted. 3. A steady and cheerful attention to religious duties to be promoted without infringing on the rights of conscience. '■'':qv,'!y^?f^. 12 RELIEF OF THE POOR. 4. Recreative exercises allowed as the reward of good conduct. 5. Marriage of the young encouraged.* 6. Punishments, where the necessity of such is indicated, to be adjudged by a jury of the emigrants, chosen out of their own body, as hereinafter set forth. The establishment to be named after the county under whose auspices formed ; or if national, to have a national appellation. The land should consist of at least one thousand acres, on which a saw-mill should be first erected, buildings for the married and the single of both sexes, dining hall, school, infant school, workshops, houses for superintendent, for two assistants, for doctor and schoolmaster, an hospi- • I confess (as the father of seventeen children,) I have ever been opposed to the Malthusian system, and I am supported in such opposition by the highest of all authority : " Increase and multiply." Cold mu^t be the current of that man's blood, and wretched is the state of that people, whose prosperity is dependent on and sacrificed to, the avoidance of marriage. As Upi er Canada can furnish employment and food for millions, is i^ not lamentable, that a system of not only violence to the dearest affections of our nature, but the most direful consequences promoted thereby, should be con- tended for as essential to F'ngland's prosperity. Could I arrive at the expense of supporting bastardy in all its bearings, I do not think I hazard too much in saying, that for a less sum, husbands could be proivded for the surplus female population of England, and render them the happy mothers of legitimate children, by granting to each female on her mar- riage twenty-five acres of land in Canada, the right to be vested unalienably in her and her issue. 1 hip assertion may be tested by bearing in mind, that 5Z. would purchase the twenty-five acres, and by making these grants in England on their marriage, what vast numbers would get married and proceed out to Canada, thus reliev- ing England, and increaaiog Canada! RELIEF OF THE POOR. 13 tal, barns, cattle sheds, &c. &c. The school rooms to be * fitted up with sliding partitions, so as to answer for a place of worship.* • All would be at liberty to depart as soon as employment offered. In the selection of officers, practical qualifications would be considered of paramount importance ; but in regard to the principal, capacity being indispensable, would be specially regarded ; one inefficient person, imposed through favoritism, would mar the success of the experiment. The number of officers requisite has been mentioned in the paragraph relating to buildings. The growing of hemp and flax, the planting of willows for basket work, the culture of the vine and other fruit trees, the planting of the mulberry for the rearing of silk- worms, &c., to afford employment for the aged and infirm is looked to. Such an -establishment would, prima facia, re- lieve the parent country of one thousand paupers annually. ., Laborers, assistants, and mechanics of all kinds are, in Upper Canada, in great demand, both for in and out door occupations ; food is abundant, materials for building are •The establishment should throughout bear evidence of its intrinsic charac- ter, and in its exteriur have the appearance of what it really was, the humble residence of humble persons. Perhaps it might also with propriety be rendered 80 plain, as to remind the inhabitants that their social rank was yet not so deservedly high as that of the occupants of surrounding habitations, the fruits of the industry of their framera. ^^^^r:^;^; ^^c^^^-^^r^^Tj::^ RELIEF OF THE POOR. [plenty, and consequently cheap, and such a state of things as likely to continue for many years; it follows that the iatural desire for independent action would lead all the iyoung, and the robust of other ages, to leave the establish- iment as soon as convenient. In regard to restraining the tparishes sending out those paupers alone calculated to be |useful, it is obvious that such a course would not be practica- Jle, as the counties would probably see their account only in ^disposing of the burden of pauperism en masse. Yet it rould be simply just, as the prosperity of the colony at large would have to be consulted, as well as that of the |contemplated establishment in particular, it would seem to )e only common justice not to burden the undertaking with in excess of the blind, the imbecile, and helplessly dis- eased, so as to make of it simply an hospital, as this would evidently defeat all the objects had in view in the prosecution of the above valuable ends.* From the demand for labor of all description existing in Upper Canada already mentioned, this would of course refer to every class of the community; but it seems ne- cessary for a moment to advert more especially to females and boys. Of these, numbers to an almost indefinite extent could be absorbed by Upper Canada, while these descrip- • Yet the reception of even all such as were capable of being removed has been duly considered, and to a great extent, could be provided for. RELIEF OF THE POOR. 15 ►•tions of the pauper population in England tax the public most seriously in providing suitable employment for them, i where they are so employed and^ apprenticed out ; and there are thousands who are an entire dead weight, con- tributing nothing to their own support. Emigration having ' I been hitherto chiefly confined to the male paupers, it is t somewhat essential to state further, that the demand for female assistants and servants in Upper Canada is very great, and cannot easily be satisfied; and the same may be observed respecting boys capable of being apprenticed ; it may be added, that so essential are females to a new agri- cultural country, that marriage is regarded as necessary to prosperity, and few can retain their maid servants, as they soon become the wives of farmers and mechanics. Should this experiment be properly conducted, it may be affirmed with little hazard, that it might be extended so far in a few years, annually, to embrace the formidable amount in round numbers of one hundred thousand ; or In other words, the whole pauper populationof the United King- dom, capable of being embarked. This apparently hazardous estimate has for its support many practical men in the New England States, as also, I believe, that of Sir John Colborne, the present truly efficient and valued Lieut. Governor, whose incessant labors for the happiness of this province are so conspicuous, and now :' 'justly estimated by the people of the colony. 16 RELIEF OF THE POOR. The future and prospective advantages of the successful working of the foregoing plan, if happily consummated, are so obvious, as scarcely to require minute enumeration, yet it may not be altogether superfluous to state some of them. The additional strength which would Ihereby be given to the upper province, where labor is so much wanted in every respect ; the gradual extinction of an unwieldy and un- manageable tax in England ; the satisfactory disposal in an English Colony of a large number of the dead weight population, and the accomplishing of the most extended expectations of the philanthropist, by conferring upon the destitute and miserable, the power to provide for their own wants, and to assume a corresponding rank and importance in their own estimation, and in the scale of society ; and not the least, the removing of the half-initiated from their old haunts and associates, are some of the advantages. I am fully aware, that every novel project is liable to be scrutinized with severity, and sometimes even with prejudice. On the other hand, candid examina- tion, so far from being deprecated, is desirable, and salutary to the cause of truth. Many objections doub- less remain to be stated, besides those which have been anticipated in this paper ; but as it claims no higher grade than that of a sketch or outline, and as I beg to state my entire readiness, as well as wish, if required, to answer ^W'M 1?ELIEF OF THE POOR. 1^' objections, and afford explanation on all the various points refered to in the project, as well as in the annexed estimate ; an anticipation of these in full, would at the presennt time seem unnecessary. It may be further stated, generally, that the details of every department have been thoroughly ar- ranged for practical operation, from observation of the actual working of similar institutions, on a less extended scale, and the estimate now presented is regarded as abun- dantly ample.* But over two thousand persons should not be under one management, although several depots might be profitably and successfully placed under one supervision A division of responsibility might not only strike at the success, but at the very existence of the experiment ; unity of plan and promptitude in action, so necessary in the management of large bodies of people, should be strictly regarded in the proposed measure. In case, however, of apprenticing out the young, and in regard to all measures affecting the future disposal of the inhabitants of the depot, it would be highly desirable that this should be effected through the medium of benevolent associations in different parts of the province. * The measure throughout, with the estimates, have been submitted to Gen. Johnson, thirteen years one of the Select Men of Hartford. The Hon. Judge Williams and other gentlemen conspicuous for their successful directing and controlling the various institutions in relation to pauperism and crime in the state of Connecticut. 3 RELIEF OF THE POOR. for that special purpose, and one of such vast advantage tcci the province. Should this project be taken up as a national object, tli idea of the amalgamation of the paupers of Ireland anc Scotland, would present an important point for considera- tion, which is fully provided for. In conclusion, if forty^ years of active life, an intimate acquaintance with paupei emigration in all its forms, and under all its various branches,, during eighteen years of that period spent in the Unitec States, and a thorough knowledge of Upper Canada, car qualify for giving an opinion, I am firmly persuaded, that honestly and judiciously carried into execution, the mea- sure will prove one of the greatest benefits bestowed upon England, and may be also extended to the other divisions of the United Kingdom. TATE OF THE POOR IN NEW YORK- ?he following abstract forms a part of my report as to ^ the poor laws, 6fC., of the State of New York, addressed to Viscount Palmerston. In the annual report for expense of the poor for this state, made to the Legislature up to January, 1832, The expenditure was, ------ $312,065 80 Or £70,214 10 sterling, being an excess over the previous year, of $118,874 33 or £26,746 10 sterling. •In the report lo 1st January, 1833, for the year 1832, - - ~ - $383,560 80 or £86,301 3.7 sterling. Being an increase of-------- 71,494 12 or £16,086 3.6. sterling over the former year. 5th Query. " The practical working and effect of the actual system, upon the comfort, character, and condition of the inhabitants ?" This embraces a wide field, and did I not fear to encum- '"^ berthis report, with matter which your Lordship might ^^■^|J^^•>.^e*''^^vi•>»^/ ■'::,■■ ■ ' >#• -"^ ■™- *'" ■^0 THE POOR IN THE deem irrelevant, I should go at large into the subject, m ilie- hope of rendering it more intelligible to those at a distance ; • but I am constrained to say, the working is had, and the^ effect had, and so considered by every reflecting man conversant with the system ; save the contractors and dis- bursers of the money, and by many of them also con- demned. Such CN sweeping charge requires explanation, iii which I shall be as brief as possible. The primary causes are : — First. That the support is compulsory. Second. The dissolute, the idle, and abandoned, partake equally with the unfortunate and the destitute. Third. The number of persons composing the adminis- tration, in all its bearings, instead of the responsibility being- limited to individuals at the head of each department. Fourth. The frequent change of the persons having the direct management of the poor, arising out of universal suffrage, annual elections, and flotation in office. After many years reflection on the working of our chari- table institutions, I have been led to question, whether the mis-application and abuse of benevolence or charity, has not entailed on mankind, (where employment is to be had,) greater evils than the abuse of power ? Let this seemingly hazardous assertion be well examined before condemned. I am upheld by the facts in this state. Siii^?srv^>': STATE OF NEW YORK. 21 where labor is dear, and provisions- cheap, that for what- ever class we provide, that class will increase ; provide for bastardy, it will abound; provide great state workshops, food and raiment for criminals, and occupants will not be wanting ; so with charitable institutions and poor houses. The sums levied by the corporation of this city on all stran- gers who arrive by sea, to guard the city against the expense of supporting such as may become poor, with the liberal administration of other funds, entail great and growing evils on its population, and leads numbers from the interior of the state, and from adjoining states, to flock here " as the eagles to the carcase ;" sympathy is awakened, persons are not wanting to plead for a share of the funds, which are applied to acquire personal popularity and political influ- ence, while the numbers who divide the responsibility of dis- tribution prevents firmness of purpose, as exposing to the charge of hardness of heart, so that numbers who could have found employment in distant quarters, come to this city, partake of the support afforded, herd with the lazy, the abandoned, and vicious, lose all self respect, and become the victims of crime. I do not fear, my lord, to be charged with overdrawing this picture, by those who take pains to investigate the subject. No other city in any country has more ample accommo- dations, more splendid buildings, or abounds more in a THE POOR IN THE igenerous disposition towards the poor. I should be unjust did I not bear this testimony, in fact their liberaHty is not meted out by country or creed, and hence thousands^ crowd the city, to partake of the liberal provisions made, and as liberally distributed,* while it cannot be too often repeated, all aid, save to the imbecile in body and mind, or on sudden and unforseen calamities, in a country like this, < where all who will work are sure of employment, and where two day's wages is sufficient to buy necessaries for a week's sustenance, is to be deprecated. With respect to poor children, a system prevails in this city, though seemingly harsh and unfeeling, yet it has a very powerful influence to deter families resorting to the com- missioners of the poor for support, or an asylum in their establishment for the poor, viz : — That the commissioners or overseers apprentice out the children, and dispose of them to distant parts of the state, and on no account will inform the parents where they place their children. Unquestionably, this mode is one of unfeeling severity, where no discrimination is observed as to the character of the parents ; but of mercy where parents are abandoned, A case occurred where a poor English family, who had paid, *I do not hazard too much when I venture to say, above 20,000 persons receive aid from pauper institutions within the city during the winter,— equal to one- tonth of the population. ??rgft; STATE OF NEW YORK. 23 Ife dollar each to the corporation on landing as commutation guard the city against their becoming a charge on the ^or house,) which I beg to set forth, the husband, wife and children, not being able to obtain immediate employ- mt, went to the Alms House on Friday, the husband left it Monday, and got employment ; before the end of the week ieterred by the dread of what took place) he was enabled to jmove his wife and applied for his children, but found his eldest child had, in the interim, been bound an apprentice, to whom or where, the superintendent would not inform the afflicted parents. After various applications, I was applied to in my official capacity, and not until after much negotia- tion, did I attain the restoration of the child ; the system has been forced upon the superintendents, as persons who took children apprentices could not manage them, while they were beset with, and subject to, the visits of their parents. In justification of the superintendents, it rarely occurs that any but the abandoned, or orphans, have occasion to resort to the poor house, as such has been the demand for the labor of children above ten years of age, that thousands can be yearly disposed of most eligibly, so as to render them inde- pendent of charity ; and it is truly a humane act to send children out of the establishments in this state, where the vicious and abandoned are sent as associates with the poor and destitute. 24 THE POOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Work houses and poor houses have become united, thus^ rendering the victims of crime and vice associates with those of misery and poverty, which has a truly demoral- izing effect, and cannot be too strongly condemned. In this state, poverty and crime may very generally be called synonymous, for no man or woman need be poor unless dissolute ; there is throughout the country a cheerful, nay, an outrunning of charity towards suffering worth, or the victims of sudden calamity or unforseen distress. Hospitals for the sick, provision for the widow and orphan, the imbe- cile in body and mind, for all such it is the bounden duty of every state and community to provide ; but all systems which tend to generate crime, although the fruit of benevo- lence, cannot be too strongly marked, yet few have firmness of purpose to act in accordance with such persuasion, Fss^^^iiwg';^;*::.-'^*"^^''' • ■ ' to THE MANAGEMENT OF THE POOR IN CONNECTICUT. ;'he state of Connecticut was first settled in 1634, and peopled from England, — contains four thousand six hundred and seventy-four square miles, and contained in 1820, two hundred and seventy -five thousand eight hundred and sixty eight inhabitants. The statutes relating to the poor, are comprised in five pages of an octavo volume, which contains the laws of the state, and is well worthy of consideration by all legislating on the subject, although such could not be followed in England, at the same time, all concur in condemning one feature, viz : — the want of classification between the vicious and the indigent, the existence of which I witnessed in all the establishments which I visited. Another questionable clause is, that the support is compulsory, and what seems highly so, there is a penalty attached to the refusal to afford it. A further peculiar feature of the law is, that any inhabitant who should entertain a stranger for fourteen days, unless notice given to the select men of the town, the person so entertaining, should be liable to support such 26 MANAGEJIENT OF THE stranger, if reduced to want by sickness or otherwise, within a period of six years after arriving in the state ; and another feature of the laws in relation to the poor, is, that the select men of each town are empowered to remove any stranger, coming to reside in the state, at any time within six years, if likely to become a charge on the poor fund.* The poor in this state are placed in two classes as to the source of support, viz : — Those having claims on the townf by birth or from having gained settlement (which requires six years residence) ; the other, those who had no such claim on the towns, are chargeable to the state. The following facts I obtained from General Nathan John- son, who has been one of the select men of Hartford, annually elected, for many years, who has also filled various depart- ments in the legislature, and is regarded by all, as among the most faithful and intelligent public men in the state, and to whom I had the honor to be introduced by the Hon. Judge Williams, the Mayor of Hartford, as also to Mr. Phelps, the Controller of the state : to those gentlemen'! beg leave public- ly to acknowledge my thanks for the kindness manifested to aid me in all my inquiries, I alone take the liberty of na- ming those gentlemen, as giving weight to my observations ♦This feature of their laws serve as an index to the character of the commu- nity, and deserving of particular notice by all who speak of this sagacious people. t Town refers to lands, lead embraces villages and cities corresponding to our Parishes- >X>OR IN CONNECTICUT. jvious to 1820 the select men of the state were permitted Eo grant support upon such terms, and to an extent alone [regulated by their discretion. But the expense became so great, that the'subject was taken Ip in the legislature and submitted to a committee, of whom [General Johnson, already named, was an active member, and law passed limiting the discretion of the select men, and Subjecting the state alone to a charge not to exceed one dol- lar, or 4s. 2d.a. week, for support of any pauper, and such ^lone to be extended to persons not born in the state, or in a (■bordering state. The annual charge to the state previous to this law, varied from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars, ^•£3,375. 0. 0. a law was also passed, authorizing the con- troller of the state to contract for the support of the poor, to which the state should be chargeable ; but no contract to be -made for a longer time than five years, and by public offers or bidding. Such has been the working of the measure, that the last contract has been taken at one thousand eight hundred dollars £405. a year, while such diminution does not arise from an improved_condition of the hitherto pauper community, but from the wholesome effect of causing them to work, and the consequence is, that the newly peopled regions of the west, of the shores of Lakes Superior and Michigan, and the valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri, afford sup- ■"f^f^' ':■/■' -■'-■■'■' ■'-■y'-?W^ 28 MAJVAGEAIENT OF THE port and independence for those who would otherwise have still constituted the poor of the state of Connecticut, but for the change of system, and thus the wisdom and firmness of the legislature, has driven the poor of the state thousands of miles, unaided, into the wilds of the West and thereby forced independence upon them.* The present contractor for the support of the state pau- pers, resides at Windsor, near the centre of the state, the more distant parts not exceeding much more than one hundred miles. He again contracts with the contractor for the support of the poor of the border towns, to allow them a fixed sum for supporting such poor as come under the class he is bound to relieve, without limitation as to num- bers, the inland towns not being exposed to claims of many poor from distant states, or countries, (the law authorizing the removal of all such) but any such who may get in, and claim aid, the contractor has arrangements made for their support, or being conveyed to his establishment, where they may remain at his expense until the termination of his con- * And such has been the effect of the times in England, that many families have been forced to leave the land of their fathers, for Canada to obtain that support which they could not obtain in England, where they are now independent and free from want. Why then should not England withhold support from the pau- pers, unless they in like manner remove? There is no pity for the industrious farmer and mechanic, who is forced to emigrate, but a great outcry would be raised, were it attempted to feed, support and maintain the poor, by removing them, not toSthe^wilds or woods, but to establishments amply provided for their wants, where a sure opening of employment, and a certain prospect of bettor ing their condition, would be the consequence. - r^^ POOR IN CONNECTICUT. 29 tract ; but in as much as the contractor is authorized by the legislature to make all paupers perform such work as they are capable of, it is evident all who can, will make their way out of the state, or seek labor where they will be paid. The working of this system is obvious ; the contractor having a limited sum, for supporting unlimited numbers, his gain depends on, not only his vigilance to guard, that not one man belonging to any town in the state, nor of a bordering state, shall be supported at his expense, and like a consummate general, he guards the avenues by which the enemy mg,y approach, he therefore contracts with the frontier towns of the state, and allows them also a limited sum annually for supporting all paupers, without limit as to numbers, who would have a claim on him, as therefore their gain in like manner arrises from their not admitting any, who do not come within the limitation, from all which arrangement, it is evident Connecticut is not the country where idle or dissi- pated characters will seek shelter. The foregoing refers to the provision for the paupers claiming support from the state. As to the mode adopted by the towns, the same revolu- tion as to expense has also taken place, as in the state expenditure. The numbers supported in the town I could not learn, no return being made ; numbers are not regarded, the expenditure alone looked to. The same economical MANAGEMENT OF THE r^ten^^Sopted by the state has taken place general!^ Ine towns. Happening to be in Southington (at the time o| leir town meeting, to elect officers for the year ensuing! ^hich contains about one thousand eight hundred inhabi ^ants, I learned that some years ago, the poor tax on th| town, independent of their tax for state poor, amounted tc about #14,00, or £315 0. 0. now it is down to about $30C or £62 10. 0. But now contractors take the poor at a limited sum, fo the support of all to which the town is liable, and such is the wholesome effect of the contractors working them well, that in a country where labor is dear, and the necessaries of life abundant, the demand upon the poor fund has dimi- nished, and continues to diminish in the state of Connecticut, as set forth. The Mayor of Hartford kindly accompanied me to the poor house, distant about three miles from the city. I was glad to find it was not a palace-looking establishment, as at New York and Albany, yet the rooms were clean, neat, and sufficiently comfortable for the occupants ; their food was abundant, and adequate to their wants ; not calculated to lead them to prefer the place as affording better living than the daily fare of the hard working laborer or mechanic of their neighborhood, the fruit of their own industry. The ]?00R IN CONNECTICUT. 31 females in the house, (save one who was lame, and another imbecile in mind) were votaries of intemperance in body and mind, hard to manage, yet such as humanity would not spurn from shelter and food. Beyond the work of the house^ save a little knitting, spinning, and weaving, some woolen garments,'they contributed little to their support, some occa- sionally worked out in the neighborhood, and thereby helped to clothe themselves. A system of rigid confinement does not appear to pervade these establishments, and with perfect tact, when a drunken vagrant is taken up, and sent to the workhouse, he is locked up in such a manner that when he awakes and becomes sober, he finds means to escape, whereby the establishment and neighborhood are delivered of his presence. Few are kept in prison who are not destroyed by it. I have yet to learn, who was ever reclaimed by imprison- ment ; the outside of a prison has terrors, the inside none ; a vicious person enjoys a quiet in prison — he is a stranger to without — no man dreads it less than he who oft frequents it, those who are young in the science of governing the depravi- ty of the human heart, will scoflfatthis digression. The funds for the support of the poor of the State of Connecticut, are levied from the real and personal estate of the citizens, which as has been observed in my report on the ?^?w 32 MANAGEMENT OF THE POOR IN CONNECTICUT. poor of the state of New York, is yearly valued by the as- sesors of towns, who make their return on oath, so that an- nually the property of every citizen is known, and published to the world. It is worthy of remark, that the select men are authorized to sequester the property of drunkards for the support of their families. r-r.v.'^'^-r^v ■ ^i RULES AND REGULATIONS, Peculiar circumstances may require a modification of the following ; but it is deemed proper that the regulations as to the governing principle of the measure should be exhi- bited, and no doubt, will call forth what all deem themselves capable of furnishing — advice : suffice it to say, they are all drawn from the actual working of various departments, the good effect of which, in so far as they have been acted on, has been proved, and with a special regard to Upper Canada, as a marked distinction must be kept in view between what is suitable for America and for England. It is only an intimate acquaintance with the subject, can convince people who come to the United States or Canada, that they have to unlearn what they regarded as their chief merit in England, before they become in any degree efficient either as agricul- turists, mechanics, or superintendents. The religious arrangement will excite the warmest discussion, but with- out the fear of God, and the glorious hope and consola- tion of the Christian religion, are inculcated in the spirit of meekness, kindness and charity, as exemplified in the Lofa MM:^:.^ RULES AND REGULATIONS, teaching of the Lord Jesus, I should have no hope the measure proving a blessing to those to be removed,! 1st. The residents shall be put and kept to such laboi| as they are capable of performing, and as will best promot industry and economy, reference being had to their agei sex, and ability, and no excuse shall be admitted. but actuate infirmity or disability, to be determined by the attending:! physician. And if any person shall refuse to perform hisJ task, during the hours prescribed, or shall be refractory or"J disorderly, or in any way violate the rules of the house, or « do any wanton injury to the furniture or other property, he^j shall be punished by the authorities, and in the manner herein after mentioned. 2d. A rigid system of classification shall pervade the whole establishment, viz : Jurors and monitors, as hereinafter set forth, (to enforce order and obedience,) the classification; to extend to distinction, as to accommodation in dormitories, dining hall, and eligibility to hold office, and other marks of favor. 3d. That the enforcing of the various rules and regulations shall be committed to monitors, elected by the inmates of tlie depot from among themselves, who shall report to the jurors any infraction of the rules ; but such appointment is not to interfere with their usual labor or occupation. The su- pervision to be as follows, viz : RULES AND REGULATIONS. ^•tth. In each apartment of fifty persons, two monitors tc le selected by the residents of such apartment, to hold their )ffice for one month; such, however, to be eligible for re- iliEtion with the concurrence of the superintendent. The s^me principle of election to hold among the single of botl^ pexes but the adjudication of all punishment to be alone en-* forced by five persons to be called jurors, to be chosen lonthly by all the monitors, but as to their re-election, such be sanctioned, as in the case of the monitors, by the super- itendent : the proceedings of this court to be open, and to ike place in the presence of the superintendent, and on the Evening of the day on which the oflfence comes to be known, and punishment immediately to follow conviction. 5th. That being guilty of disobedience of any rule dis- qualifies from holding office, either as monitors or jurors, for such period as the superintendent shall think proper. 6th. The hour for rising shall be at sunrise thoughout the. year, the bell to be rung, when every person shall immedi- ately arise, comb hair, wash hands and face, under the inspec-^ tion of the monitors, and such as are so disposed, repair to the school room, (place of public worship,) where the ten com- mandments and the Lord's prayer, shall be read by a discreet 'person, selected for the purpose by the superintendent, from thence to breakfast and to their respective occupations, the children to attend school for two hours, after which those capa- RULES AND REGULATIONS such labor as shall be prescribed ; also two hoursa! school after dinner. At the appointed hour for retirement^] the bell will ring, when all shall retire to their respective dor-^ mitories ; half an hour after, the jurors shall in their turn visit each apartment, to see that all lights are out, holding the mo- nitors accountable for any omission, or for permitting any to smoke a segar or pipe in their rooms after thfe bell rings. Tth. The hours for labor shall be as follows : — In sum- mer, from one hour and one half after sunrise until eleven in the forenoon, and from one o'clock to one hour before sunset. In winter, the same in the forenoon, and from one to sundown in the afternoon, and from the 20th September to the 20th March, they shall labor in the evening, from six to eight o'clock, except as to the labor of the youth of both sexes, which shall be particularly prescribed. 8th. The hour for meals shall be as follows : — through- out the year, breakfast one hour after sunrise. The bell shall always be rung thirty minutes before each meal, when every person shall cease from work, and immediately be ready, with clean hands and face, for the ringing of the se- cond bell, when they shall repair to the mess rooms, the aged first, and take such seats as shall be assigned by the dining hall monitors. Dinner at noon, and supper at sun- down. Half an hour shall be allowed for meals, when the bell shall be rung, and no person shall leave the table without RULES AND REGULATIONS. permission, when all shall rise, and retire to his or her rooi |vor employment, and no one shall take any article from the table. The monitors shall see that the table is immediately cleared, and be careful that the fragments are saved. No person shall be allowed any food except at the regular meals, unless prescribed by the physician. 9th. That the children, when capable, shall be bound out to proper persons, inhabitants of the province, to be approved by a justice of the peace, or any regular placed clergyman residing in the neighborhood of the applicant, who should undertake to act as guardians of such children, or by associa- tions, which should be formed in different parts of the pro- vince for that purpose, who would undertake the task, the boys to be bound until eighteen years, and the girls until sixteen years, of whose actual state a yearly report to be furnished to the superintendent, that in his annual report a full view should be rendered of all who had been sent to the depot, such report to be forwarded to the Imperial as also Provincial Parliament, made up to the first of January in each year. 10th.. None of the residents shall purchase, or have in his or their possession, any spirituous liquor, and the same shall always be taken by the superintendent, jurors or monitors, whenever found, and it shall not be restored. And the de-. linquent shall be punished as the jurors shall direct. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 1. That all persons brought to the depot, shall b^ Iberty to leave it when deemed capable of sustaining them- selves. !» •12th. That all w^ho choose to remain after six months should be remunerated, by being paid in cash, on leaving the depot, half of all contract w^ork performed by them^ separate from the depot. 13th. That the flute, violin, and other instruments, shall b« provided, to afford recreation for such as are disposed to] learn. 14th. That a library shall be formed and furnished with Biography, History, Treatises on Physics and Mechanics ; also such works as are acknowledged of a moral tendency, and such periodical works, daily journals, and magazines, admitted, as the jurors should require, under the sanction of the superintendent. 15th. That on the Lord's day, all should be required to respect the day, (however only by persuasion,) when the person selected to read the daily morning service, should in addition read in regular order a portion of the Scriptures. While such regular ordained clergymen, pastors or minis- ters, as should be desirous of rendering their services, should be at liberty to officiate, at hours to be arranged by the superintendent, {the arrangement as to payment, reserved for consideration) when all should be at liberty to attend cv AULES AND REGULATIONS. ts they might be disposed ; but no interference the peculiar mode of worship or faith of other denomi- itions of Christians, nor any observations of a poUtical nature, on any account to be indulged in by those allowed to officiate ; and in case of any departure from these regula- tions, such person to be excluded from the depot in future. Psalmody or singing hymns to be taught and cherished in the young on the Lord's day. 16th. That the Bible, without note or comment, shall be furnished for the use of all in the depot, and any work of professedly a moral character, sanctioned by the various clergymen or pastors who shall give their occasional atten- dance, will be received into the library ; but on no account shall any of the paupers be permitted to have any books which impugns the Christian character. 17th. The only punishment for adults, confinement and to be fed on bread and water, and for the youth, a firm, yet mild chastisement, but always in private. ATE. Estimate of the proposed depot in Upper Canada, and ret ving from England 1000 Paupers annually, including food, clothing, medical advice, and instruction. The ac- commodation to comprise 1000 acres of land, buildings for males, females, married, single, orphans, insane, dis- eased, or blind. EXPENSE OF TRANSPORTATION. First. — Adults can be provided with passage for 2l. IDs. children under thirteen, half price ; provisions for the voyage, young and old, can be amply provided for JEl. 10s. each, making £4. transport to the settlement, say j£l. IDs. and for contingencies, 10s. making £6. until placed at the depot. I see no good cause why the poor who are sent out at the expense of Ihe parish, should be better provided tlian the poor farmers and working classes, who come out at their own expense, and sure I am, the estimate is not only ample, but abundant, and under proper management, would cover removal from the parish to the place of embarkation. Much depends on the masters of the passenger vessels. The timber ships 'are general- ly second class, many'of them fourth class vessels, and commanded by men ignorant and dissipated. I should, therefore, deem it essen- tial, to secure success and the comfort of the poor people, to be par- ticular as to the class of the vessel, and capacity and sobriety of the master. Those directing the measure should take charge of the paupers in England, and thereby avoid the many and certain evik to which emierranls are liable, on their passage to Quebec and New '^M^^MMk ESTIMATE. Ifeir arrival there, which proves truly dis- couraging ; but such errors may be guarded against. The lands, houses, stock, farming utensils and cattle, should all belong to the county or community making the experiment. The blind, insane, or persons above sixty, not to be sent out, save under the special provision set forth in the estimate. Purchase of 1000 acres, and buildings for 1000 per- sons, asset forth, taken at £12,000, interest thereof Removing 1000 persons at £6. each. One year's support, Head Superintendent Two working do. £50. etch Schoolmaster, Doctor Matron Contingences, first year The resident officers to have such support as the farm can produce. £500 6000 0. 4000 200 100 50 100 50 1000 Amount, £12,000 Second year, 1000 removed from England at £6. each. Interest on purchase of lands, &c. Superintendence, &c. Annual allowance for support, &c., second and every future year, independent of the farm and labor of the Paupers, 6,000 500 500 *5000 £12,000 Only /lOOO is required for the additional 1000 paupera yearly sent oui. Tom^any of the persons so sent out becoaie insane or blind, addition to the above estimate, for all such a charge to be made ; Idiots or Insane, 4rf a day, Blind 3d a day, Clothing and attendance being included. View of Jive year's drainage of the Poor from theparent State. First year, lOOD persons removed to depot, Admit that one third depart from it, although one half might more correctly be calculated, Remains Second year, 1000 sent Second year, one third depart. Third year, 1000 sent. Third year, one third depart, Fourth year, 1000 sent Fourth year, one third depart Fifth year, lOOO sent Fifth year, one third depart Remains Remains Remains Remains 1000 333 677 1000 1667 555 1112 1000 2113 704 1408 1000 2408 800 1608 1000 2608 886 172? PpSiWPfll^^ ?" -^^ "^-^^^ ESTIMATE. 43 RECAPITULATION. Sxpense first year, Second year Third do Fourth do Fifth year £12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 £60 000. N. B. — Births would supply deaths. Thus in the space of five years, 5000 paupers, would be removed at an expense to the country of £60. 000. The expenditure of the County of Kent for 1832 is stated at £425, 578, at this rate one year's poor rate of Kent would for ever free the county of 35.000 paupers, teniper cent, is a wide estimate for those who would be born, as also for the feeble or blind making one hundred and fifty persons dead weight on the Depot, and admit that Ad. per diem should be required for them, this would not at most add in any way £l000 a year at the end of five years, while it is believed from the improved state of the farm, arrangement and management, no such additional charge would be required to the £l2,000 a year. It is to be kept in view that such additional buildings as should be required would be raised by the paupers. %^