Speech #510167651

Here is this record. not only the record of Mr. Lynde. of Wisconsin and Mr. FORxlEY. of Alabama. but here are the solemn judicial records of the Government of the United States. the decisions made by one who today fills the exalted function of judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. under reports which he himself edited. in which it appears that this man John L Davenport. in the city of New York in open day caused warrants of arrest against American citizens to be issued upon the merest. slightest suspicion. in order. not to punish them for any crime they had committed. but in order to compel them to surrender into his .hands the naturalization papers which the courd of the country had given them. Here is the solemn adjudication of that judge that Davenporthad no right to issue such instructions. Here isthe solemn adjudication that he had no right to confine these prisoners. Here is the solemn adjudication that these were not fraudulent naturalization papers which they held. but papers to which they were entitled and in which they should have been defended by the supervisor instead of his becoming a party to rob and despoil them of them. Mr. President. that is the whole of my allegation. that a supervisor of the United States did cause the arrest of thousands of American citizens who did not hold fraudulent naturalization papers. and that he holds his office today. and. if I may judge from recent reports which come to us from New York. even while his past misconduct is being exhibited to the Senate here. he has been recently engaged in the same despicable and basetransactions. I read from the NewYork Sun of December 10. 1890. This is no ancient matter often or twenty years ago.