Speech #470058164

I should like him to tell me if he can take a citizen of the United States and by direction of the President of the United States remove him to the country from which he came? He will not say that he can. Here is a statute making it a crilne and specially applicable to that people who inhabit the Southern States to do either directly or indirectly that which the Senator today proposes to require by law to be done to the Chinese alien inhabitants of States and Territories. that is to deprive them without crime of their liberty. extradite them to their country. and prescribes for them. in the language ot his law. "on account of such inhabitant being an alien or by reason of his color and race different punishments than are prescribed for citizens." In 1871 the honorable Senator. to the end that the white Caucasian race of the Southern States. as a penalty for resistance to the Union. might besubjeeted to the political domination ofthe African. whether native or foreign born. or of any other raec who might go to these States. enacts a law that if any person. under color of any statute. regulation. ordnance. or custom. should subject. or cause to be subjected. any alien inhabitant of any State or Territory. by reason of his color or race. to different punishments. pains. or penalties than .are prescribed for the punishment of citizens. he shall be fned $1.000 and imprisoned not more than one year. or both. Now. tothe uend that the Caucasian in the Pacific may be the dominant power. the Senator himself proposes to punish the alien inhabitants of the Territory or State by different pains andpenalties because of his race and color. I make this criticism upon this legislation not because I do not -concur. for I do most heartily. in the purpose of protecting the inhabitants of the Pacific coast or of any other State requiring such protection from the migration or importation thither of any class of persons from Asia or anywhere else who are essentially hostile to those people. their interests. their sympathies. their religion. their social polity.