Speech #510157911

Mr. President. when the Senator from Missouri first commenced his remarkable speech. in which he seemed to be tormented by the vision of the manufacturers pursuing him. he said that the law of 1864 was passed for the purpose of getting immigrants at work in the factories. and having on some former occasion read the report which accompanied the passage of that bill I remarked to the Senator that if he would read that report he would find that it was put very largely upon the necessity of having people to settle up our lands and work our farms. I thought I was not mistaken about it. So I sent for the report. and I want to read one extract from it. the report made by the Senator from Ohio . from the Committee on Agriculture. It says: The increase in the inhabitants of the great MiddleStateshas been at the rate of 25 per cent. during the last decade. while that of the northwestern group has been t0 per cent. It is to the less populous States and to the Territories that the influx of immigrants can be best directed. alike as regards their own welfare and prosperity and the benefits they will confer on the nation. Well. it is not the less populous States and Territoriesin which manufactories are situated. It goes on: The growth of these States represents the reclamation of new lands from the waste forests and prairies. to be a possession for civilized man forever. It indicates the development of mining. agricultural. and pastoral wealth out of the natural riches provided for the use and enjoyment of man. but yet chiefly unappropriated. The increase in the population of these States is directly due. in a great degree. to the settlement of immigrants. and the whole population of Indiana. Illinois. Michigan.