They have fought under our flag. and its stars shine brighter for their valor on our battlefields. But that class of people who come here to compete with our own people for a time and then return to their own country. the criminals. the paupers. the sick. the blind. the halt. and the lame who come here as a refuge. ought to be restricted. When our country was new and undeveloped we encouraged immigration. It was necessary for us. and the people who came here and helped to clear.our forests and build our cities have become a part of us. and it is for those people that I speak. Our latchstring has been out a long time. it is time to pull it in. The framers of the Constitution contemplated that there would come a time when immigration should be restricted. Article I. section 9. provides: The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit. shall not be prollibited by the Congress prior to the year 1808. but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation. not exceeding $10 for each person. Clearly the framers of the Constitution contemplated that Congress would at some time in the future find it necessary to proibit the migration or importation of persons. They provided that it should not be done prior to the year 1808. and they provided for the imposition of a tax or duty not exceeding $10 for each person. There has always been a dispute as to whether the Congress had a right to impose a tariff for protection or for any purpose other than for revenue. but it seems to me that the authority is clear that the Congress might not only restrict. but in the langua.4"e of the Constitution. prohibit the migration or importation of any persons which the States thought proper to admit at this date. and it might impose a tax or duty of nt least $10 for each person. Immigration should be restricted. It should b3 restricted to people capable physically and mentally of selfsupport. and. in my judgment. the time has come when in the protection of our own people we could very properly impose a tax or duty. which would reduce the larger number who annually come to our shores.
Identified stereotypes
Criminals, paupers, the sick, the blind, the halt, and the lame come here as a refuge.