3843. IMMIGRATION, Regulation of.—[continued].
I had often thought on
the subject you propose as to the mode of
procuring German emigrants to take the place
of our blacks. To this, however, the State
Legislatures are alone competent, the General
Government possessing no powers but those
enumerated in the Constitution, and that of
obtaining emigrants at the general expense not
being one of the enumerated powers. With
respect to the State governments, I not only
doubt, but despair, of their taking up this
operation, till some strong pressure of circumstance
shall force it on them.—
To J. P. Reibelt.
Ford ed., viii, 402.
(W.
Dec. 1805)
