Speech #510038243

President. the course of legislation upon this subject has been clear and plain and in one direction. Under the acts of 1882 and 1884 Chinese laborers departing were allowed to return. Hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands came into this country without certificates. which were furnished by the law and which nobody believed were a stigma or disgrace to them. and the courts in San Francisco and other ports were crowded with thousands of cases wherein it was claimed that they had a right to land. because it was alleged in their affidavits and testimony furnished that they came in during the time between 1880 and 1882. when the first exclusion act was passed. Congress legislated. if possible. to cover that in the act of 1888 known as the Scott exclusion act. which is simple. clear. plain. decisive. ruthless if you choose so to call it. in its provisions. It declares in a few sectionsThat from and after the passage of this act it shall be unlawful for any Chinese laborer who shall at any time heretofore have been. or who may now or hereafter be. a resident within the United Slates. and who shall have departedNo matter what his certificateor shall depart therefrom. and shall not have returned before the passage of this act. to return to or remain in the United States. All the previous legislation that sought to regulate departures and .returns was swept away by that act. which has been decided to be constitutional by the courts of the United States.