We simply name the condition upon which these vessels can land passengers In our ports. Now. so far as the protests of foreign Governments are concerned. I am very little concerned in them. because I know that this Government has the right to name the conditions under which an immigrant shall come. If a foreign Government. probably instigated by a foreign shipowner who wants to make a profit out of human agony and to speculate upon the woes of humanity. has uttered a protest. that is no reason why we should open our doors for the reception of people who may be infected with disease. That is no reason why so wise a provision as is found here in section 11. which I shall read. should be stricken out. I call attention to this language: Such surgeon shall accompany the master or captain of the vessel in his visits to the sanitary officers of the ports of call during the voyage. and. should contagious or Infectious diseases prevail at any port where passengers are received. he shall request all reasonable precautionary measures for the health of persons on board. Mr. President. does anyone claim that we do not have the full right to say that no immigrant shall be landed upon our shores who comes from a port that is infected with cholera or with the bubonic plague or with any other disease that might spread over our country? If we have the authority to close that port entirely. surely we have the authority to say to any vessel owner who proposes to haul people from that. port: "You shall not load them until an American officer has passed upon the question as to whether they are proper to receive and to dump in our country or not." Suppose that in Mexico the cattle fever was destroying the cattle of that country. and suppose that they were shipping large numbers of them from the port of Vera Cruz to the port of New York. would anyone doubt for a moment that this Government would have the right to say no cattle should be landed from the. port of Vera Cruz unless they had been inspected by an American officer in the port of Vera Cruz? It is true that the authorities at Vera Cruz could .refuse to allow the officer to act in that port and we would have no redress. but it is also true that when that vessel lands in the port of New York we can say to the master of it: "You shall not unload a single head of cattle because you did not permit the inspection.".
Keywords matched
immigrant