Speech #680074254

I want to submit four reasons justifying the passage of the Johnson bill. First. this bill has one new constructive feature in it and no more. We have imbedded In this bill the process of selective immigration. the same to be exercised on foreign shores. and In this we have gone as far as the Congress of the United States can go without abrogating Its sovereignty in any particular. In this bill we make provision whereby we can say to prospective immigrants. "You can proceed to America." and to others. " You can not." If we go any further than this bill provides we would have to do it through the avenue of the treatymaking. power of this country. and the Congress has not the right to delegate the sovereignty of this country to that extent. but even if it had the right. the American people would not want it done. and In that view I heartily concur. The constructive feature of this bill. namely. the selecting and culling. as it were. the people who want to come to America. even if you disagree with every other provision In it. would alone justify every Member of Congress in voting for the bill. because it establishes once and forever the right to select our Immigrants over on the other side. The very humanity of it should appeal to those who might otherwise object to the bill. because we say to the inadmissible people. "You can not get into America. consequently there is no need for you to go." For this reason every man in this House ought to vote for the bill. The second proposition refers to the burden of proof. We say to the Immigrant. " You are asking and demanding -the right to enter Into this country. upon you Is the affirmative and therefore the burden of proof." He has all the evidence within his possession. He knows whether lie is entitled to enter. He is asserting and claiming the right. and on him ought to be and Is the burden of proof.