Speech #500108080

The second section of this law reads as follows: Sec. 2. And be itfurther snacted. That all contracts that shall be made by emigrants to the United States in foreign countries. in conformity to regulations that may be established by the said. commissioner. whereby emigrants shall pledge the wages of their labor for a term not exceeding twelve months. to repay the expenses of their emigration. shall be held to be valid in law. and may be enforced in the courts of tile United States or of the several States and Territories. and such advances. if so stipulated in the contract. and tile contract be recorded in the recorders office in the county where the emigrant shall settle. shall operate as a lien upon any land thereafter acquired by the emigrant. whether under the homestead law when the title is consummated. or on property otherwise acquired until liquidated by the emigrant. but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize any contract contravening the Constitution of the United States. or creating in any way the relation of slavery or servitude. (U. S. Slats. at Large. vol. 15. 186365.) The extent to which the authors of this measure knew they were going is apparent from the last lines of this section-" but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize any contract contravening the Constitution of the United States or creating in any way the relation of slavery or servitude." When we ask Republicans why they took advantage of the absence of the wageworkers who were in the Army. they say it was necessary 1 Labor was scarce and wages were high !