James Madison

“ It is to be regretted that the number and expense of the poor in the United States cannot be contrasted with such statements. The subject well merits research, and would produce the truest eulogium on our country. ”

“ The British population has, notwithstanding, increased within the period of our establishment. It was the opinion of the famous Sir Josiah Child, that every man in the British colonies found employment, and, of course, subsistence for four persons at home. According to this estimate, as more than half a million of the adult males in the United States equally contribute employment at this time to British subjects, there must at this time be more than two millions of British subjects subsisting on the fruits of British emigrations. ”

“ Population And Emigration.
Both in the vegetable and animal kingdoms every species derives from nature a reproductive faculty beyond the demand for merely keeping up its stock; the seed of a single plant is sufficient to multiply it one hundred or a thousand fold. The animal offspring is never limited to the number of its parents. ”

“ And in the mean time example and information will be diffusing the same taste among other inhabitants here, and proportionally extending employment and population there.
Fourthly. Freedom of emigration is due to the general interests of humanity. The course of emigrations being always from places where living is more difficult to places where it is less difficult, the happiness of the emigrant is promoted by the change; and as a more numerous progeny is another effect of the same cause, human life is at once made a greater blessing, and more individuals are created to partake of it. ”

“ What may be the greatest ratio of increase of which the human species is susceptible, is a problem difficult to be solved, as well because precise experiments have never been made, as because the result would vary with the circumstances distinguishing different situations. It has been computed that under the most favorable circumstances possible, a given number would double itself in ten years. What has actually happened in this country is a proof that Nature would require for the purpose a less period thaa twontj years. We shall be safe in averaging the surplus at five per cent. ”

“ Emigrants from Europe, enjoying freedom in a climate similar to their own, increase at the rate of live per cent a year. Among Africans suffering, or (in the language of some) enjoying slavery in a climate similar to their own, human life has been consumed in an equal ratio. Under all the mitigations latterly applied in the British West Indies, It is admitted that an annual decrease of one per cent, has taken place. ”

“ According to this computation, Great Britain and Ireland, which contain about ten millions of people, are capable of producing annually for emigration no less than five hundred thousand; France, whose population amounts to twenty-five millions, no less than one million two hundred and fifty thousand; and all Europe, stating its numbers at one hundred and fifty millions, no less than seven and a half millions. ”

“ The remarks which have been made, though in many respects little applicable to the internal situation of the United States, may be of use as far as they tend to prevent mistaken and narrow ideas on an important subject . Our country being populated in different degrees in different parts of it, removals from the1 more compact to the more sparse or vacant districts are continually going forward. The object of these removals is evidently to exchange a less easy for a more easy subsistence. The effect of them must therefore be to quicken the aggregate population of our country. ”

“ Other nations, who have to acquire their share in our commerce, are still more interested in aiding their other efforts by permitting and even promoting emigrations to this country, as fast as it may be disposed to welcome them. The space left by every ten or twenty thousand emigrants will be speedily filled by a surplus of life that would otherwise be lost. The twenty thousand in their new country, calling for the manufactures and productions required by their habits, will employ and sustain ten thousand persons in their former country, as a clear addition to its stock. ”

“ The present imports of the United States, adding to the first cost, &c, onehalf the freight as the reasonable share of foreign nations, may be stated at twenty-five millions of dollars. Deducting five millions on account of East India articles, there remain in favour of Europe twenty millions of dollars. The foreign labour incorporated with such part of our exports as are subjects or ingredients for manufactures, together with half the export freight, is probably not of less value than fifteen millions of dollars. ”

“ As his families were of the poorer class, and the subsistence a bare competency, let twenty-five per cent, be added, making the expense about twenty-five dollars a head. Dividing twenty millions by this sum, we have eight hundred thousand for the number of British persons whose subsistence may be traced to emigration for its source; or, allowing eight shillings sterling a week for the support of a working man, we have two hundred sixteen thousand three hundred forty-five of that class, for the number derived from the same source. ”

“ The number of persons subsisting themselves not more than six months in the year is computed at one million two hundred sixty-eight thousand, and the number of beggars at forty eight thousand. In Prance it has been computed that seven millions of men, women, and children live, one with another, on twenty-five livres, which is less than five dollars a year. Every benevolent reader will make his own reflections. ”

“ The most remarkable instances of the swarms of people that have been spared without diminishing the parent stock, are the colonies and colonies of colonies among the ancient Greeks. Miletum, which was itself a colony, is reported by Pliny to have established no less than eighty colonies, on the Hellespont, the Propontis, and the Euxine. ”

“ In both it insures the life of the species, which, if the generative principle had not a multiplying energy, would be reduced in number by every premature destruction of individuals, and by degrees would be extinguished altogether. ”

“ The share of this benefit which each nation is to enjoy will be determined by many circumstances. Oue that must have a certain and material influence, will be the taste excited here for their respective products and fabrics. ”