Speech #470088421

Mr. Speaker. hitherto the subject of regulating immigration has received no attention at the hands of Con-. gross. Although purely a national matter. it has been left to a State to deal with it as best it could. As the great bulk of immigration into this country from foreign countries comes through the port of New York. the State of New York. by various acts of its Legislature. has attempted to take control of it and regulate it so far as that port is concerned. Various laws have been passed by that State from 1824 to 1881 on that subject. A board of commissioners of emigration was established an d a system of headmoney enforced. The duty of the board of emigration was to take care of all matters relating to immigrants arriving at the port of New York. and the headmoney exacted was to defray the necessarily large expenses of that board. The commissioners of emigration examied every emigrant ship. looked after the rights *and comforts of immi-. grants. assisted them in every way that they needed assistance. relieved such as were in distress. protected them from imposition and fraud. and generally did everything needful to the care and comfort of isnugrants. But this has come to an end. The commissioners cannot act without money. and the source of their revenue has been cut off. The Supreme Court of the United States holds that a State cannot regulate immigration . that it cannot in any form lay a tax upon immigrants. and that any attempt by a State to do this. whether by the means of headmoney or otherwise. is utterly void. Thisleaves the commissioners without funds and the vast number of immigrants arriving in this country without protection. It seems very.plain that the State of Now York cannot deal with foreign governments. She cannot prohibit the landing of immigrants at her great seaport . she cannot return criminals and paupers to the countries which sent. them here. Upon~principle. the question belongs to Congress. The rnation taxes commerce in the State of New York. and receives. in .round numbers. $140.000.000 a year from that source. while all the .other States contribute but about sixty millions of dollars. .IfNcw :York were an independent State. here is a princely income Wihich would belong exclusively to her. and which she might use to .benefit herown citizens. and with which she could take care of all matters relating to her commerce. including the interests of immigration in that State. The subject of imuigratio at the port of New Yoik is not only a matter of national bit of international concern. The State of New York could with quite as much propriety claim the ownership and .disposition of the 140.000.000 customss duties collected at her ports as she con be charged with the burden of caring for at her own expense the millions of immigrants vhmo land at her port and front thence are distributed all over the States and Territories. That State was wdlling. without Federal aid. to tidke the burden of such care so long.as the Federal courts did not interfere to prevent her from so doing. The judicial department of the Governient has taken away from that State the power further to do so.