Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/122

108 Emigration "to designate some one place in the city of New York, as they should deem proper, for the landing of emigrant passengers; providing further that "it should be lawful for such passengers to be landed at such place so designated; and likewise (meaning the Commissioners) to purchase, lease, construct, and occupy such wharves, piers, and other accommodations, in the city of New York, as may be necessary for the accommodation of emigrant passengers."

This important act finally enabled the Commissioners fully to carry out the benevolent objects of their trust. From that time only the Board could be said to be clothed with the necessary powers and to have become responsible for the well-being and protection of the emigrant. The Commissioners, on May 5, 1855, leased the old fort at the foot of Manhattan Island, known as Castle Garden, and immediately proceeded with the fitting up of the premises in a manner suitable to the designed purpose.

"Owing, however," says the Commissioners Report for 1855, "to the extensive repairs required, and the obstructions thrown in the way by those who, on different grounds, apprehended injury to their private interests, the place was not in readiness for use until the first of August, when it was formally opened as the Emigrant Landing Depot.

"It is not deemed necessary to allude to the efforts made to obstruct the execution of the law in this instance, further than to state that, where that effort was resorted to with the design of rendering nugatory the power conferred, and for the ejectment of the Commissioners from the occupancy of Castle Garden, the courts have sustained the law in its beneficent objects, and the Commissioners in the possession of the premises for the purpose of carrying the law into effect; and that, where violence threatened with a strong hand to lay waste and destroy, the police authority of the city, by prudent and decisive action, effectually checked the thoughtless and lawless in their course, and preserved a valuable property from destruction or damage, and the reputation of the State from disgrace.

"Two hundred and fifty vessels have landed their passengers at the Depot in the five months it has been in operation, bringing, in the aggregate, fifty-one thousand one hundred and fourteen