Speech #470053212

Not the least significant part of these hopeful predictions is the faith. expressed by many. of the ultimate irresistible magnetic attractiit which wotld make itself felt all over Europe and turn the eyes of all nations hitherward. So said the gifted Pown all. who filled successively the offices of lieutenantgovernor of New Jersey. governor of Massachusetts. and governor of South Carolina during the years of 175:3 to 1761. and what prediction could have beenmore brilliantly verified ?America will seem every day to approach nearer and nearer to Europe. When the alarm which the idea of going to a strange and distant country gives to the homely notions of a European manufacturer or peasant shall thus to worn out. a tliousad repeated repulsive feelings respecting their present home. a thousand at ractive. motives respecting the settlement which they will look to in America. will raie a spirit of adventure. and become the irresistible cause of an atmost genoral immigration to that New World. And lie then enthusiastically greets his cons try with this eloquent tribute: A nation to whom all nations will come . a power whom all powers of Europe will court to civil and commercial alliances. a peoploto whom the remnants of all rmined people will fly. whom the oppressed and injured of every nation will seek fir refuge. The ptresent witnesses the ample fnlfilhnent ofthese eloquent words. A mighty stream of immigration pours upon the Atlantic shore its gigatie waves of human masses. Only today. as I learn. there arrived 9.000 immigrants at the port of New York. indicating that a continuation of such a wonderful outpouring of Europes wealth of population will add millions to our people in the short space of one year. It is interesting to follow this stream of immigration in its meanderings through the past since its first small and insignificant beginning. thotgh its course is often obscured by the absence or inreliability of the records to which we must look for our guidance. The present official history begins with the year 1819. in which the first passenger act (March 2. 1819) was adopted. No authentic information exists as to the progress and extent of immigration prior to that date. The current of migration commenced its flow from England. Ireland. and Scotland. and from Germany through French.