Speech #540093127

That the pover t9 pass such a law should exist somewhere is so obvious as to require no argument. That it does not exist in the States the Supreme Court has decided. That it does exist in this Congress under the power to regulate commerce is as reasonable and perfectly satisfactory as it is that the power to purify and regulate immigration is a part of the power to regulate commerce given by the Constitutiona. Therefore the end vhich is sought by this bill. so far from being a fraudulent and unconstitutional end. is one of strictest constitutionality as of the highest importance. and it is strange. indeed. that able and excellent gentlemen. incited by a preconception in respect to the strict construction of the Constitution. which never has been observed as they would observe it. not even by themselves. and never could be in government. are found throwing themselves like a Swiss bodyguard in desperate phalanx around some fraud when they are seeking to insist upon the dignity of the Constitution. Now. let me pass to one other point.