I know. Mr. Speaker. that the statements I will refer to. although to gentlemen on this floor they may seem highcolored. portray ie life in the steerage painfully correct. I know whereof I speak. for I was one of those unfortunates. a passenger in the steerage for twenty days in 1866. when I emigrated to this country . and when I recall the indignities. the cruelties. the inhuman treatment to which nearly seven hundred human souls were subjected by the officers and crew of that floating hell. I feel that I woul not follow the dictates of my conscience. would not give vent to that sentiment which shonid pervade the heart of every true citizen of this great Republic. and which is one of the noblest attributes of a free American. that love of all mankind. be they ever so lowly in station or poor in purse. I would feel that I were unworthy to sit in this Congress would I not. now that I have a chance. appeal to you and implore you. for Gods sake. for humanitys sake. for the sake of millions who will come to these shores within the next few years. to put aln end absolutely and forever to practices which are a disgrace to the civilization of the nineteenth century. The bill under considerationwhich has so generously been given the unanimous recommendation of the Committee on Commerce for its adoption by this House. marks an important epoch in our naval legislation. It replaces all former defective and insifficient enactnatis upon the subject of sanitary provisions and other protective measures for the benefit of those who must face the "perils of the deep" in trying to better their condition in life. and who must lwa ys. at best. battle with some disadvantages which no humane legislation can remove. In a word. the bill aims at the protection of the immigrant at sea. and upon its passage by this Congress will stand upon our statutebooks as the "passenger act of 1 an2." a act by whichthis Congress will immortalize itself as having contributed one of the most beneficent measures to modern nautical legislation. Dr. Thomas J.
Keywords matched
steerage immigrant emigrated