Speech #670209763

I was going to remark that in these cases which become crimes merely because they are prohibited there is not necessarily any moral turpitude. except you may say that a man who violates any law is guilty of moral turpitude. but as between those things which men in conscience consider right and those things which they say are wrong there is a clear distinction in the law. And when you include in this section as crimes things which are merely made crimes by statlite. which are not morally wrong. which are called bad only because prohibited. and for which men are liable to conviction. because they are prohibited. in which even the intent of wrongdoing may be wanting. yet because they are prohibited the person may be convicted. I respectfully submit that when you so provide. singling out such cases and imposing the grave penalty of deportation. you are enacting a monstrous piece of legislation.