Speech #500108080

Let us see if the attention of. the Republican members of Congress was ever called to this matter. On the 13th of December. 1869. Senator Wilson. of Massachusetts. introduced a bill to regulate the importation of immigrants under contract. This bill was called up by him on the 22d of April. 1870. and its consideration urged. but Senator Ferry. of Michigan. objected. and the bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce. a majority of whom were Republicans. who reported against its passage. They were unwilling to consider a bill to even regulate the subject four years after the war was over. On the 5th of February. 1870. Senator Wilson introduced another bill to make the importation of immigrants under contract unlawful. He made several efforts to secure consideration of the same without reference to a committee. but objections were made. and on December 12. 1870. it was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor and was never heard of again. No power was strong enough to carry a bill through the committee. the ears of Republicans were deaf to all appeals.