It will not be expected. after the able discussion of the last few days. that I can materially enlighten the House upon this bill. I shall therefore confine my remarks in the time allotted to me to a statement of my views upon two principal points. First. the length of the time of suspension of Chinese immigration as expressed in the first tection of the bill. to wit: That from and after the expiration of ninety days next after the passage of this act. and until the expiration of twenty years next after the passage of this act. the coiing of Chincee laborers to thoOnited States be. and tc same is hereby. suspended. and daring such suspension it shall not be lawful for any Chinese laborer to come. or. having so come after the expiration of said ninety days. to remain within the United States. � It is submitted. Mr. Speaker. that the prohibition herein stated is a most remarkable and extraordinary departure from the long. fixed politcy of this country upon the subject of immigration. and in my judgment should be at least materially niodified. I am opposed on encral principles to sodden and radical changes in laws which afbeut a principle of long standing. and which carry with them the i ests of experience and the fixedness of age. not that I would oppose i he radical and sudden c:hange of law or precedent that brings evil and danger to the bodypolitic. but it is a question. a debatable one at least. wihether the iltroduction of Chinese cheap labor. other than by coolies. is an unmitigated evil. Gentlemen of learning and experience in Congress indulge in appeals and learned arguments in advocating the theory of it being a benefit to our country. Since tire commencement of this debate the subject has been discussed with great earnestness from a humanitarian standpoint.
Keywords matched
immigration coolies