Mr. Harrington to Mr. Seward.
No. 7.]
United States Legation,
Berne,
February 17, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy
of a communication addressed to me by Mr. J. Allemann, the president,
and Mr. Charles Beck, the secretary of a Swiss society of emigration
located in Berne, formed for the laudable purpose of facilitating the
movements of such worthy persons as may desire to emigrate to the United
States, but who are without the means necessary for that purpose.
It will be perceived that the communication embraces two distinct
propositions, the first, to enter into direct communication with the
government of the United States, or with its officer the Commissioner of
Immigration; and second, to obtain from the government a repayment, in
part at least, of the passage money of such emigrants as may emigrate
under the auspices of that society.
I transmit also copy of my reply thereto, which I trust will meet the
approval of the department.
The spirit of emigration is rife throughout Switzerland, and the
passports which I am daily called upon to verify indicate that a very
substantial class of Swiss are seeking homes in the United States. There
are many others, skilled artisans and agricultural laborers, robust, and
of sober, industrious habits, who are restrained for want of the
necessary means to defray the expenses of the voyage, and it is to this
class that the society making the communication has reference, and whom
it is their desire to aid.
I have observed in the newspapers, and have been otherwise unofficially
informed, that societies have been or are being formed for the
development of the resources of the country, both agricultural and
mineral, by the aid of foreign labor sought and contracted for in the
country of their nativity, such societies advancing in whole or in part
the expenses of the passage, to be repaid by the labor of the emigrant
after arrival, as contemplated by the act of July 4, 1864.
I have frequent applications for assistance or for the course of
procedure to obtain assistance for emigrants, to which I can only reply
that the country is open to all industrious persons desiring and able to
reach our shores.
As indicated in the conclusion of my reply, I should be glad to receive
from the department, or, with its sanction, from the Commissioner of
Immigration, any regulations issued by him under the act of July 4,
1864, and any other information that will enable me more effectually to
co-operate with the society referred to, or any other responsible
parties that may hereafter apply to me for information or direction.
I take this occasion to acknowledge, under cover of despatch No. 6, the
receipt of my commission, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, for which I beg you to receive and to convey to the President my
profound thanks.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 183]
The president and the secretary of the Swiss
Society of Emigration to Mr. Harrington.
Sir: A Swiss society of emigration has been
founded, a few months ago, with the purpose of creating a link
between the persons who take an interest in the questions relating
to emigration and colonization, and in order to enhance, by working
together, the influence they may exert in the way of protecting and
instructing the emigrant.
The society has no other aim than to promote the interest of the
Swiss emigrants: and, with a view to this object, the undersigned
committee desires to enter into a direct connection with the
government of the United States, or with the office appointed by the
same for immigration matters, in order to receive from this
authentic source every possible information concerning the
advantages which the government is disposed to confer upon
immigrants, either by grants of land or in any other shape.
The experience of many years shows that the emigration agents are
constantly applied to by parties whose means prove, upon
examination, to be insufficient to pay their voyage, and who are,
therefore, obliged to give up their project, which is to be
regretted not only on their own account, but also on that of the
country to which they wished to go, and where immigration is
desired. It seems, accordingly, desirable to find a way of removing
this impediment.
We are aware that the notion of rendering emigration possible to
moneyless persons inspires the American authorities with terror at
the thought of being overflowed by a crowd of disabled and
degenerate paupers who are a burden to their native land, of which
the latter seeks to deliver itself by shifting it upon other
shoulders. Therefore, we deem it necessary to declare at once that
we have no such intention. We desire to bestow upon the New World
only such elements as will be a real gain to the same, being fully
able not only to earn their livelihood, but even to elevate
themselves gradually into comparative wealth by their labor and
industry. But these very people are frequently withheld, by want of
the necessary passage money, from seeking beyond the seas the field
of activity which is denied them by their own country, and this is
the class of emigrants whom we desire to be able to assist. There
are others, also, who can with difficulty bring together the cost of
their voyage, but who find themselves in a sad and helpless position
when they arrive at New York.
In consequence, we take the liberty of putting the question whether,
and under what conditions, the government of the United States would
consent to repay such persons or families as would
be especially recommended for that purpose by the Swiss Society
of Emigration a part of their passage money on their
landing, or to assist in some other way those who are
entirely destitute, either by a grant of land or by supplying them
with some requisites for their settlement.
We feel assured that a measure of this kind, being submitted to our
careful control, would produce most satisfactory results.
And hoping to be favored with an answer complying with our request,
we have the honor to be, with deep respect and particular esteem,
your excellency’s most obedient, humble servants,
THE COMMITTEE OF THE SWISS SOCIETY OF EMIGRATION:
Mr. Harrington’s reply to
the above.
Legation of United States of
America,
Berne,
February 15, 1866.
Gentlemen: I have received your
communication informing me of the formation of a Swiss society of
emigration, having for its object “to enter into direct connection
with the government of the United States, or with the office
appointed by the same for immigration matters, in order to receive
from this authentic source every possible information concerning the
advantages which the government is disposed to confer upon
immigrants, either by grants of land or in any other shape.”
You further state that it is the desire of the society “to bestow
upon the New World only such elements as will be a real gain to the
same, being fully able not only to earn their livelihood, but even
to elevate themselves gradually into comparative wealth by their
labor and industry.”
And, finally, you submit to me the direct question: “Whether, and
under what conditions, the government of the United States would
consent to repay, to such persons or families as would be specially
recommended for that purpose by the Swiss Society of Emigration, a
part of their passage money on their landing, or to assist in some
other way those who are entirely destitute, either by a grant of
land or by supplying them with some requisites for their
settlement.”
[Page 184]
The high character of the officers of your association is a
sufficient guarantee that the persons who may emigrate to the United
States under the auspices of the society will be of a class capable
of fulfilling all that is asserted in their behalf; and to all such
the United States not only extends a cordial welcome, but permits
them, on their compliance with the requirements of law in relation
thereto, simple in form and inexpensive, to enjoy, within a limited
period, the full rights of citizenship.
As a further encouragement to the emigration of the surplus worthy
labor of the Old World, (paupers, as such, and criminals not being
received,) the government of the United States, by authority of the
national Congress, offers free homesteads, from its unoccupied and
unappropriated public domain, under such liberal conditions as to
place them within reach of all.
The beneficence of the government meets the emigrant immediately upon
his arrival within the United States, an officer of the Bureau of
Immigration holding himself in readiness at all times to furnish
such information and facilities as will protect him from fraud and
enable him to proceed in the cheapest and most expeditious manner to
his place of destination. This protection and information is
provided free of cost to the emigrant, but the law presupposes that
he will have been already supplied with the means for his support
and transportation, inasmuch as the government assumes no expenses
whatever upon his account. And as a reply to your direct question, I
will add that the government of the United States, being
emphatically a government of law, is dependent upon the action of
the law-making power, i.e., the national
Congress, in all that appertains to the levying, collection and
disbursement of the public moneys, and cannot withdraw one dollar
from the public treasury without the previously enacted authority of
the Congress; and, as no appropriation of moneys for the purpose
indicated by you has been made by Congress, it necessarily follows
that the government has none applicable
thereto.
Immigration must be voluntary, and if immediate and direct assistance
is required, such must come through the medium of private societies
and private parties, and not from the government.
Assuming that private enterprise would seek the skilled labor of
Europe, our laws declare that any contracts made by emigrants prior
to their arrival in the United States, whereby such emigrants may
have pledged their wages of labor to repay the expenses’ of their
immigration, advanced by or in behalf of the party making the
contract, shall be held to be valid in law, and may be enforced in
the courts of the United States, provided such contracts shall be in
conformity to regulations that may be established by the
commissioners of immigration.
In relation to these regulations I am unable at this time to inform
you, but will address myself to the proper officer of my government
for such information in relation thereto, and upon the subject
generally, as he may think proper to communicate. On receipt of
which it will be my pleasure again to address you.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
