Speech #480122066

I understand that during my absence momentarilyfrom the Senate Chamber the Senatorfrom. Missouri fAr. V2sT] called attention to the act to encourage immigration passed on the 4th of July. 1864. That act was in its nature a temporary act. intended to meet a condition of affairs in whichwe were then engaged. The Senator from Missouri ought to have remembered that at the date of the passage of that act this country of ours was making the most memorable struggle .in history. in acivil war. We were then engaged with all the power that we could command. with all the resources that could be called from our own or from foreign lands to put down the most formidable rebellion in history. Atthe time thatlawwas passed the Senator from Missouri did not know the motives that influenced Congress to pass such legislation. he was doing all he couldto break up the Government. and this was one of the means selected by us. one of the methods. designed and framed for the occasion to meet the emergency. a bill that was passed bythe unanimous vote of both Houses of Congress. The bill originated in the Senate. and contained a few provisions to encourage immigration. Itwas amended in the House bya substitute which Vontained the second section of the bill. and as the second section of the bill did tend greatly to.strengthen our country in that memorable war. the Senate agreed to the amendment in n committee of conference. and it became for the time being ingrafted on the law of the land. What was that provision?