President. let us glance at this question and take a commonsense view of it. On the 4th day of July. 1864. Congress enacted a law entitled "An act to encourage immigration." which is found in volume 13. Statutes at Large. pages 385. 386. and 387. That law appropriated $25.000 to carry its provisions into effect. and authorized the appointment by the President of a commissioner of immigration with a twentyfivehundreddollar salary. Then section 2 providedThat 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 the United States. or of the several States and Territories. and such advances. If so stipulated in the contract. and the contract be recorded in the recorders office in the county where the emigrantshall 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 Iiquidated by the emigrant. And then in section 5 it was providedThat no person shall be qualified to fill any office under this act who shall be directly or indirectly interested in any corporation having lands for sale to immigrants. or in the carrying or transportation of immigrants. either from foreign countries to the United States and its Territories. or to any part thereof. or who shall receive any fee or reward. or the promise thereof.
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immigrants immigration emigrants emigrant emigrantshall emigration