Speaker. if they are Invited by tile treaties to elect within 60 days to leave this country. their families perhaps being here. and join the cobelligerent forces and fight with our cobelligerents in the same cause. we ought to permit them to do so. and then. if they wish to do so. to place themselves in the same condition that they were as residents before they elected to go. And the obligation the gentleman refers to is the same obligation we assume in the admission of thousands of aliens already here and did before the war began as to public charges. If they are thought liable to become public charges they are inadmissible. but if they become public charges after a certain length of time. then our country tajces care of them under the present immigration law. And surely we ought not to say that where men have left this country. and possibly left their families. and have become affilicted or wounded on the other side in line of service. that they shall not come back merely because they are liable to become a public charge. I think that is right.
Keywords matched
immigration