Speech #460087093

Mr. Chairman. what estimate can we place upon the value to the country of the millions of Irishmen and Germans to whom we largely owe the existence of the great arteries of commerce extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. and the results of that industry and skill which have so largely contributed to the wealth and prosperity of the country? From 1776 to 1820 about 250.000 immigrants landed in this country. From 1820 to 1875 about eight millions arrived. and of these eight millions. six millions entered the country at the port of New York. The number of immigrants that have arrived during the past eight years is as follows: 172------------------.293.256 I 1876 ................-.......... 75.035 1873 .................... -------268.27 1877 ............................ 63.665 1874 .......................147268 5750e 187! ............................ 149. 769 1878 ---------.... ............. 79.801 187 ............................ 99.903 I 1879 ............................ 138.945 The arrivals in 1879 were nearly sixty thousand in excess of the previous year. and more than any year since 1874. On the 19th of the present month 2.392 immigrants arrived at Castle Garden. and 2.916 on the 12th. The arrivals on these two days alone exceed the total population of Chicago forty years ago. I hold in my hand a telegram from Henry A. Hurlbut. esq.. president of the Board of Commissioners of Emigration. with the surprisingannouncement of the arrival of 4.200 immigrants at Castle Garden today. The number of immigrants landed at Castle Garden. New York. from January 1. 1880. to April 15. 1880. is 49.566 against 12.339 for the same period in 1876. 10.381 in 1877. 11.119 in 1878. and 15.716 in 1879. The nationalityof the emigrant passengers landed at New York from January 1. 1880. to March 31. 1880. is as follows: Ierany .......................... 9. 4 Belgiuma 304 :Englnd . ............ .... ... 4 537 la .. ..................... 50 reland 7......................... 143 It a ................. i.... 479 England .........................4 4537 Frac .......................... 508 Scotland ......................... 1.003 I y ............................ 1.770 Austria-- ..........--------.......... 558 Greece. ..................... 181 nrway .......................... 1307 sohemia ....................... 510 Denmark ........................ 41 Vario countrs ............... 193 Netherlands .................. . 1 a The time has now arrived. however. when the magnitude of the subject and the inability of the States longer to establish regulations makes interference by Congress a duty which cannot be evaded. It can no longer be safely left to take care of itself. The condition of Europe today is such as to render it reasonably certain that. with the new era of prosperity upon which this cotuntry hasentered the number of immigrants wil l continue to increase largely. It remains for the National Government to do its part. alike for its own protection and that of the immigrant. Immigration has not flourished without attendant evils. At a omparatively early date some of the States passed laws to meet and counteract them. It was soon perceived that on the one hand there were foisted upon our communities numbers of Daupers. lunatics. and criminals. and on the other hand there grew up in our ports of immigration a class of men that preyed upon the poor and ignorant. crippling and oftentimes so completely stripping them as to make them charges upon the public bounty. These evils grew to such an alarming extent and filled the public with such abhorrence. that the Legislature of New York was prevailed upon to investigate the subject and to devise for these evils a more comprehensive remedy. The efforts of philanthropic and publicspirited citizens of New York finally resulted in the establishment of an institution. which. for the motives of those who inspired it. the character of those who managed it. and the helplessness of those who came within its fostering care. stood among the most benign and efficient in our land. I refer to the "Board of Commissioners of Emigration of New York. Through the ekertions of Thuirlow Weed. Archbishop Hughes.