A stated minimum of the damages should be fixed by law in such cases, such as the amount of the passage money, or of double or treble that amount.
We do not think that any of the legislators of the nation will object to the passage of such a bill. One of the greatest sources of the nation's income in wealth and population has been the vast emigration from Europe, and it should therefore be protected by appropriate national legislation. Every principle of public policy, looking to the welfare of the country, as well as every sentiment of humanity, demands this at the hands of Congress.
Under the present system, the emigrants are treated more like beasts of burden than like human beings, starved and crowded together in ill-ventilated, ill-fitted, ill-supplied, and ill-manned vessels.
The arrival of an emigrant ship in our ports, if it does not bring disease and pestilence among us, often occasions great apprehension and alarm, disturbing the regular business of our city, and creating an indefinable prejudice against the worthy emigrant, instead of extending to him, as he truly deserves, a kind and hearty welcome.
The Commissioners of Emigration are the trustees as well of the emigrant as of the State of New York and of the United States in general. Although appointed by the State authority for State purposes, their line of duty is not confined to the boundaries of the State, but extends over the whole country, inasmuch as they have to encourage and protect the emigrant until he reaches his new home. It would betray a narrow-mindedness, of which no member of this Board is guilty, if they did not look at emigration from this national point of view. Whenever they succeed in doing away with a grievance, or achieving a result favorable to the emigrants, it is a national gain, and an advantage won for the whole country.
Hence, every consideration in relation to the comfort and protection of the emigrant is of a national character, and demands the serious attention of a good and enlightened statesmanship.
New York, January 21, 1868.
