Seward read to-day a letter on the subject of emigration
with a proposed bill for a law on the subject. Did not strike me favorably,
though no one else took exceptions. I remarked quietly to Seward that I thought
we should be careful about meddling with the subject on many accounts; we might
retard instead of promoting emigration, and if the Government attempted to
interfere and take upon itself the burthen, it would cause the whole private
effort to cease. Millions are now contributed to aid friends to emigrate, but
this would wholly stop if the Government came in to assist. He thought there
might be some danger if we were not careful, but something must be done to
pacify the feeling. Usher wanted something done. Chase read over the letter and
law and appeared to acquiesce. The thing does not impress me favorably. As a
general thing I am averse to government bounties
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 543
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