SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF RECENT IMMIGRATION
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United States against the immigration of undesirable
persons of whatever kind. Even the energetic action
of those promoting the so-called “Native American”
or “Know Nothing” movements, from 1835 to i860,
resulted in no protective legislation. Indeed, these
movements were largely based on opposition to the
immigration of Catholics rather than to that of persons
undesirable for other reasons. In 1836 the Secretary
of State was requested to collect information respec
ting the immigration of foreign paupers and criminals.
In 1838 the Committee on the Judiciary of the House
of Representatives was instructed to consider the ex
pediency of providing by law against the introduction
into the United States of vagabonds and paupers de
ported from foreign countries. Moreover, a bill, pre
sented on the recommendation of the Committee, pro
posed a fine of $1,000, or imprisonment for from one
to three years, for any master who took on board his
vessel, with the intention of transporting to the United
States, any alien passenger, who was an idiot, lunatic,
one afflicted with any incurable disease, or one con
victed of an infamous crime. The bill, however, was
not considered. The early “Native American” move
ment had been local, confined to New York City at
first, afterward spreading to Philadelphia, but in 1852
the secret oath-bound organization that took the name
of the American Party, the members of which were
popularly called the Know Nothings, came into nation
al politics, and for a few years exerted not a little
power, carrying nine State elections in 1855. Later, in
something of a reaction against this “Know Nothing”
movement, which finally proposed only the exclusion
of foreign paupers and criminals, there was a definite
effort made to encourage immigration.