MESSAGES AND PAPERS OF THE PRESIDENTS-1789-1897

Immigration (As discussed by Presidents)

No official statistics of immigration were kept previous to 1820. By the act of Congress of Mar. 2, 1819, collectors of customs were required to keep a record and make a return to the Treasury Department of all passengers arriving in their respective districts from foreign ports.

 As early as 1700 large numbers of Germans from the districts along the Rhine emigrated to America, most of them settling in Pennsylvania. Some 5,000 are said to have arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany in 1729. The outbreak of the Revolution of course retarded immigration for a time. Then the breaking out of the European wars and their continuance until 1815 absorbed nearly all the surplus population for about 40 years.

Various estimates have been made of the number of immigrants coming to the United States prior to 1820. These range from an average of 4,000 to 7,800 a year, some of the calculators, however, basing their estimates on returns for only a part of the time. Dr. Loring, of the United States Statistical Bureau, calculates that 250,000 immigrants came to the United States between 1775 and 1820. This is an average of 5,500 per year. In 1820, the first year of record, there were 8,385 arrivals. The following years showed a steady increase up to 1854, when the number reached 427,833. Almost every year's figures show an increase over those of the preceding year. After 1854 there was a gradual falling off, until during the first year of the Civil War the number was reduced to 91,920 --but little more than half the number of arrivals for the preceding year. The following year (1862) showed but 91,987, but this numbers was nearly doubled the next year, notwithstanding the result of the war was yet in doubt. After the war the tide of immigration again set toward our shores, and in 1882 the arrivals reached 788,992.

The total immigration from Jan, 1, 1820, to the close of 1893 was more than 20,000,000. This large influx of foreigners so disturbed the existing social conditions that remedial legislation was demanded. By an act of Congress in 1882 a head tax was laid upon every immigrant by sea, and commissioners were appointed to inspect vessels entering American ports, who should have the power to prevent the landing of any "convict, lunatic, idiot, or person likely to become a public charge." Such persons were to be returned to the port whence they came at the cost of the owners of the vessels bringing them to this country. A further law, passed in 1885, makes it unlawful to pay the transportation or to encourage in any way the immigration of aliens under contract or agreement to perform labor or service in the United States. The penalties attached to this act are $1,000 fine upon the person so encouraging such immigrant and $500 upon the captain of a vessel who knowingly transports the laborers. The immigration laws were amended in 1887, 1888, 1891 and 1892 in the direction of protecting American workingmen from the ruinous competition with foreign pauper labor. These laws have served to reduce the number as well as improve the class of arrivals. The report for 1896 showed only 343,267 arrivals, against 603,322 in 1883.

Paupers introduced into United States discussed:

During the term of Martin Van Buren while in office as President March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1841.

Washington, May 11, 1838

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives reports from the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, with accompanying papers, in answer to the resolution of the House of the 30th ultimo, relating to the introduction of foreign paupers into the United States.

M. VAN BUREN Page: 469 Vol.3

Request of President to withdraw articles regarding, from consideration of House:

Washington, May 24, 1838.

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

I herewith submit a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, explanatory of the manner in which extracts from certain newspapers relating to the introduction of foreign paupers into this country, and the steps taken to prevent it, became connected with his communication to me on that subject, accompanying my message of the 11th instant. Sensible that those extracts are of a character which would, if attention had been directed to them, have prevented their transmission to the House, I request permission
to withdraw them.

M. VAN BUREN Page: 475 Vol. 3

Paupers introduced into United States discussed:

During the term of James K. Polk while in office as President, March 4, 1845, to March 4, 1849.

Washington, February 20, 1847

To the Senate of the United States:

I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of State, with the accompanying documents, in answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 2d instant, requesting the President to communicate such information in possession of the Executive Departments in relation to the importation of foreign criminals and paupers as he may deem consistent with the public interests to communicate.

JAMES K. POLK (Vol.4, Pg.518)

Third Annual Message (Extract)

Washington, December 7, 1847

Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

"Numerous emigrants, of every lineage and language, attracted by the civil and religious freedom we enjoy and by our happy condition, annually crowd to our shores, and transfer their heart, not less than their allegiance, to the country whose dominion belongs alone to the people.

No country has been so much favored, or should acknowledge with deeper reverence the manifestations of the divine protection. An all-wise Creator directed and guarded us in our infant struggle for freedom and has constantly watched over our surprising progress until we have become one of the great nations of the earth."