Speech #500000584

Mr. President. the simple change in thelaws regulating immigration. as proposed in the bill introduced by me. is to have the examinations in regard to the character of foreign immigrants first made by the consuls of the United States at the place of their departure. at their own homes. where they are known. instead of being made. as they are now. at our ports by State commissioners. who must be wholly destitute of power to ascertain any antecedent facts in relation to the personal history of any one of a shipload of immigrants. Those who honestly pass this consular examination will receive a consular certificate. for which a fee of 50 cents is to be paid. instead of the same amount. as a duty. heretofore collected from the vessels in which the immigrants have been brought. This will be more convenient for all parties concerned. and also likely to deter from making any attempt at evasion those whom we seek to exclude. The cost of transportation to immigrants who comply with the law will not be increased. and any doubt about their reception upon their arrival here will be greatly diminished. if not wholly removed. All other changes proposed are intended to regulate but not to prohibit or embargo immigration. and are only the logical requirements made necessary to carry the change referred to into practical effect. There has been a sentimental idea abroad that we have offered a political refuge to the persecuted and oppressed of every clime. regardless of their moral character. but the American idea really never offered a refuge to convicts or to irreconcilable enemies to law and order. nor to the occupants of the Old Worlds insane asylums and poorhouses. Our laws only left the doors open to persons of "good moral character." There is no lack of constitutional power to interpose whatever barriers we choose in order either to regulate or even to interdict immigration. Section IX of the Constitution reads as follows: The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit. shall not be prohibited by Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight. It follows that after the date mentioned the power of Congress be-. came unlimited. and we may at least turn the turbid stream through a consular filter to intercept and exclude very unwholesome if not dangerous foreign interlopers. and relieve our people from the compulsory support of those whom every State would exclude but for the lack of constitutional power. The fact that over 5.000.000 of immigrants. by no means of uniform quality. came into our country within the last dozen years. or more than onetenth part of the population by our latest census. shows that the question is of grave magnitude and worthy of the attention of Congress. It should. however. be understood that the great American principle of the free admission of immigrants is not to be abandoned. but that principle has always borne upon its face the condition that the immigrants must be of good moral character and able to support themselves. Otherwise they have had no title to our recognition as immigrants. We have never pretended to offer support to universal pauperdom. or an asylum to all afflicted with incurable defects. nor to offer our freedom to the promiscuous outcasts and criminals of all foreign nations. None of these have ever been invited. and they are to be excluded because they have no proper claim upon us of comity. affection. or charity. and because they bring general discredit upon the reputation of all immigrants as much as upon our own native citizens. The time has arrived. as it seems to me. when it is more necessary to look after what the future character of the American people shall be than to the growth and vastness of its numbers. or to its territorial grandeur. Our forefathers. only three million strongless than the present number in several Statesand with less than a fourth part of our present territory. won a creditable name among nations by martial achievements. by elevated statesmanship. and by stern devotion to moral and religious principles. which a later generation can ill afford to lose. though it may leap ahead on "a canter" beyond even a growth of sixty millions.