Speech #500065818

To the execution of that trust it gave a singleness of purpose and of service unparalleled in the history of parties or of governments. and I was made to again recall its fidelity to duty and the greatness and variety of its achievements during the years of its infancy. when the gentleman from South Carolina quoted my response to the suggestion of General Schenek. chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. with reference to the admission of skilled foreigners to employment and citizenship. That distinguished gentleman exclaimed. "We have free trade in men." and following the suggestion I said. "We promote free trade in men. and it is the only free trade I am preepared to promote."I Mr. Chairman. this happened on the 25th of Marcb. 1870. more than seventeen years ago. when we needed immigrants to replace the waste of war. The South and the North had sent the flower and vigor of their manhood to the field. and had poured out nearly two millions of lives. I had. in the course of my remarks. called attention to the fact that we had come to the discharge of that great trust with a bankrupt Treasury. and when our Army was mainly stationed in the enemys country. where it was surrendered by General Twiggs and sent to the North. a body of ablebodied men under parole. so that they might not serve their country as soldiers. and when our ships of war were upon the most distant stations. and when the sources of revenue had been reduced to so low a point that 11 per cent. and a fraction was the average rate of customs duties upon which. in the absence of internal revenue or war taxes. were our exclusive dependence for current expenses. [Here the hammer fell.] On motion of Mr.