QUIET THOUGHTS ON EMIGRATION. LETTER L
TO WEE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
London, 12th December 1849.
SIR—The actual condition of the population of the United Kingdom may be shortly stated thus: there is an immense aggregate amount of wealth, great destitution amongst the most numerous classes, and a considerable amount of emigration. Theoretically, we have the Poor-law to redistribute so much of the superabundant wealth as may be necessary for the support of the destitute. The Poor-law, original and amended, contemplated a provision for the whole destitute population, born or that should be born, without recourse to emigration. It has failed of its purpose, inasmuch as the union-houses are crowded in spite of the numbers who have emigrated; and its failure has been admitted by Govern- ment, who have, of late, patronized emigration actually and avowedly in aid of the Poor-law.
It is important to distinguish Colonization from Emigration. The former, as conducted on the English system, is not the result of over-population, but is under- taken for the aggrandizement of the empire. During the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, colonies were planted in peace, and were at once the causes and prizes of war; and yet, throughout the whole of the same period, it was a main object with European governments to increase their home population. Now, when colonies are of less estimation as the sources of power, but over-popu- lation induces Government to favour emigration, we contemplate the loss of oar colonies with comrarative equanimity. The colonist of former times went abroad because he might be more useful there than at home; the emigrant of today goes thither because he is useless here to himself and detrimental to others.
Now the practice of some European states, and the theory of some political economists, aim at a different solution of the acknowledged difficulty. They propose to limit the numbers hereafter to be born, so as to equalize the supply of meat to the demand of belly- to protect those already in the world from an unde- sirable multiplication of rivals; to convert mankind into an engine that shall not only do its work, but shall reproduce itself, and no more. Caste, which would clearly show whether the shoemaker or legislator with their respective wives pro- duced more offspring than was necessary to supply their places, would be of ob- vious assistance to this scheme; and would, though unintended, be its necessary result, because interchange of employment, if permitted, would endanger the due observance of the limit. It is curious that caste is, in Europe, strictly observed by royalty alone; and, as the tendency of sovereignties is to decrease in number, either by natural or violent akeeeption, so there is no permanent numerical in- crease in the members of royal "`"° "- The existenceof caste, however, has rpolticareconomeis:Ined advance in civilization; gent9likeL coasideieu iii'cOlir (-seed the moral effects upon royal \ not, it is certain tl;estriction to which they are subject, are not encouraging to th, iMte prospect of regulh if he is also a moral philo- sopher. But, whether desirable or or any legislative checP' in Europe, and particu- larly in Ireland, there is no imme remedy, (its efficacy as ajcing the increase of the poolation, either by Poor-law opinion y of a restraining rule, • - • . ,,,,,, palliative is not dis- The failure of the row-law aa a. .bmission to the latter,' puted,) and the present impoesibilit %dings of sympathy, un man nature in its
ieave the matter to emigration and famine. Against su will urge men to save o xception therefore, of t ass the sufferer be own mdividnal case will revolt; whilst 1 they dread for themselves. NS ith the e investment on the othe '
', and are thereere from the fate
he Free-traders,
of a hostile sect in religion or ,politics, ir country who think that they have saved the t he
may have to seek ore striving to who . •
obtain for the mechanic a freeholdi of Exeter Hail,* 1 side of his t"- his fortune county, instead of warning him ther in accordance with their of' xpect from elsewhere, and of the frequenters i ok only to emigration, and EOM, „„ %fedi, 5 Providence a solution of the matter mt the thinking portion of mankind can I enter upon the task of promoting it stated as a dogmatic conclusion of reaso to adopt, but as a fact which has alway n every way. And this is by ceriously ling, which all the world will be i. no means existed, and still must continue ..,ompeued For emigration, rightly considel to • t Ind the son of the ploughman wk. red_ has in spite of all reasoning on the matter. -town is as much an emigrant as h ., seeks nothing to do with crossing the ocean; ' in New Zealand. To the emigrati . o who employment in the neighbouring county :es is owing the demand existing for • traverses half the world to settle himself culturalto the manufacturing on of agriing i our large bodies of rich and poor to the Colom lying that demand, the consequent i im_ manufactures ; to the emigration from the :e, and the augmented wealth of ti. In-_ tricts are owing the means we have of supp - and our advance in civilization hay^ m creased consumption of agricultural produe ration, and the continued consequent , country. Hitherto our existence as a natioil le„endants of emigrants, and most depended on our continually increasing Min if emigration in others. It is not, emigration. We are all of us emigrants, or i e to do: but on the right apprecia- of us in some way practically advancers c e fate of millions of our fellow sub- then, a theory, but a fact, with which we hay , of the mirth. Lion of that act depends, in all probability, th Mount Ararat, the ark but lately jects, perhaps our position amongst the nations ], is it wise, to stray out of sight Let us for a moment suppose ourselves on , of our race? Food may be ob- quitted, and still within reach. Is it permittei than we can return before night- of that which has so lately been the sole refuge much larger population, still we tamed without venturing further in the morning,n, or the more strongly expressed fall; and though the supply would not suffice a te individual from infringing our can put a limit on our increase, and eablic opinic replenish the earth, and subdue remonstrances of his neighbours, will hinder tb race; but Reason must put her self-imposed law. " Increase and multiply, and if we populate up to the caps- its" is indeed the charter by which we exist as a : contrary course, it is evident interpretation on it, and its terms will be satisfied that th„arth will have more tildes of the ground we occupy. If we adopt the that at last the possible limit will be reached, and le years ago as today. The inhabitants than its produce will support. faculty, just as now the uncul- Surely this reasoning was as good four thousar do not impute our individual plains of Assyria had to be reached with toil and due) rectitude of his conduct in tivated regions of Australia and America. If we • existence to Japhet as a crime, we must assent to t talons ; their leader, now gone them to influence the Govern- * "For years past the Bomanlsts had boasted of their stronger beneath those supposed to kb account, bad exaggerated those millions; he used;Load cheering and applause)" ment of the day; the pressure from without became s' 1849.
millions ; and God had thinned those ranks of millions. I
—ranee Report of to Meeting at Exeter Halt, 24th Nesernba multiplying descendants too numerous for the land in which they were born, and to the consequent continued emigration, which, waging on both sides the Caspian Sea, and over the Steppes of Northern Asia and Europe, has brought our Scythia and Celtic ancestors to the British Isles. Why, then, are we to stop now? Ws have over-population here, unoccupied lands to remove to, an unaceomplishee task to fulfil; motive, opportunity, and duty, combine to urge us forward. But it will be replied, that emigration is greatly on the increase; that between three and four hundred thousand seals quitted the United Kingdom last year: that we have a Secretary and an Under Secretary removeable with the Ministry; and two Perpetual Assistant Secretaries, to administer our Colonial dependencies, and besides all this a special board for conducting emigration. That is the very fact spoken of above. The necessity of emigration is so pressing, that a very great deal is done: why, and how it is done, is another question. It is notorious, however, that emigration is not the admitted remedy for the evils of Ireland; that the Colonial department kindly protects the interests of the colonists, (though contrary to the expressed wishes of their clients,) by hindering emigration In many ingenious ways; that more money is spent in building and altering useless war-steamers than is expended on emigration; and that, after all, emigration is, as it has been, entirely voluntary.
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