The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-11
Hon. Edward Mcpherson Gives
a History Of Legislation.
MR.. CLEyELAND's POSITION
Shown by His Actlons-Hc Pockctcd
an Important Bill Which He
Should Have Acted Upon.
His CowardIy Course.
Special DisDdtch 10 The ItRtgeHeJ.
New YoRx, Oct. lO.-The following
meaty letter explains itself:

statement of the history of contract labor
legislation, respecting which your repre-
sentative, Hon. William D. Bynum,
made in the House of Representatives,
August ls, 1855, an incorrect aud incom-
plcte statement.
In 1864, July !, bill became law,
the principal section OF which declared
valid in law all contracts made by immi-
grants 10 the United States from foreign
countries whereby immigrants shall
pledge the wages of their labor for term
not exceeding twelve months to repay
the expenses Of their immigration, ana
provided that such advances, II SO stlpu-
lated in the contract, and the contract be
recorded, shall operate us lien upon
any land thereafter acquired by the i'm
migrant. 1t was also provided that no
such immigrant should be compu!sorily
enrolled for military service during the
existing insurrection, unless he re-
nounccd voluntarily his allegiance to
the country OF his birth anu declared!
his intention OF becOminga Il citizen OF
the United States.
The passage OF such law was recon-.
mended in Mr.. I.incoln's message OF
December, 1868. The reason given was
"that the Nation is beginning TO need
life" Under the sharp discipline OF war
which depleted our workshops and ma
terially lcssened the supply OF labor in
every department Of industry and mech
anismt It was, therefore, recommended
rs war measure, and passed as such.
THE ORIGINAL BILL
passed the Senate March 9, 1864, without
dissent. In this body at that date were
such Democrats as Charles r. BuckNlew,
of Pennsylvania, now Representative
in Congress; George Read Riddle and
Willard Salisbury, OF Delaware, now
Chancellor Of that State; Reverdy john
son, OF Maryland; Messrs. Powell and
Garrett Davis, Of Kentucky; Thomas A;
Hendricks, ofIndia, late Vice-President,
and MIR. NtcDougall, Of California. On
the 23d of April, 1861, q like bill was
unanimously reported from 4 select
committee Of the House and pass.
ed that body. The members OF
that committee representing the
Democratic minority were John Law, OF
Indiana, and james S. Rollins, of Mis-
souri,. Some differences between the
two bills were reconcilcd in q committee
ol cotsseEet1ee, ""a 'un;,too ,,'S nossoJ Loth
Iiie IIe, Coh'e,?ae ,,;ti.ert ""nosit;on In the
Honsc % we're such Democrats as Samuel
S. Cox, Fernando and Benjamin Wood,
and james brooEs, Of New ioFS EitSa% JaI"Gs g
T., 4: Enslisn, ,,,'n o1 ,T;IIiam S 8 Holman Of
EuSeItoh Il thu " Is,Ion and William r
lTons;nn,,, ui" yIt 81 TIIinois. Samuel ! Randall
~ Ntyi pnsn,,inon;o a,su and George ii. PenIle.
o. ol eS ~ S!S;n Most of these are vet in
toI' u ,;tI En!U. S.a 49, ~ ,,aod stand;ng in the
PuDl.c ny "m" t ~ tho entire mem.
Deai1ciaIltl I;. ~ ~" at So,,Scss the onlv ncrson
oeisuip % .a.s,S sn9 S0 nSv | onnositiSn to the
Wuo eAPlesSWSE t:aT,sSnrv @ otDsInwnrc
measuFe measure, wIs .Lot t'i Io % diJ not think tho
" wno Hn',,,t sa'u ,,i" ~ tho limited States had
uovertulonS VI ,t,;S sSh;cct
any power ~ b'Gt a., ,S 90 ' INV 1891 Abro.
ha,n Un TiOroIr Ti "4nroyed the act. This
! lain III u,n.n;naI Ll ~ nnerot;on three wears
oI'i 1 a' il"it "nJ - M thc S0tb dnv of March.
9nu nco iis'', ,,ooaI"d "nu @ v tSe foHrth section
1912 WIS i'i.1 IepI.'.'n nrG DirI0matic net of
ot the Co''ST;ar tEaa ttnito5 In States Statutes
th%E ye"I: o Neo SeN ThcsS orc s;mnie
volume 10 F"se ''1 A"N' "
lac's'
BYNrM's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. .
The Honorable William ID. Bynum, oi
voar city, in lis recent speech in the
IIovso LocIorad that the Republicans
alone we're responsible for this measure.
The record shows this not to bc the fact.
1t was recommended by a RepGlPIIiiean pl1Iiai,
PRESIDENT ana ehaS'e% isS ,Io W Mvf of
Ho"sJSS ~ ssnt;rr M 6an,ncro,;c minority, except
NJ salisbury, of Delaware, whose qucs-
ion @ wos as to The power TO pass, and not
w sion 70 vi" tLe - exnediency Of the act. Mr..
p,.rnn' TS ~ ~ f,rtI,nr stntes that the repeating
iow % Jil not mass until 1885. | suggest
.I"t ~" @ In stndv Tho statutes OF the United
St"toS s.as n He w;ii find that it was repealed
.:a..o,s;oo1, Sta.SS. ~ vonrs before. and by the
seavI,M s',,o,in,ons vote of The two houses com.
',as;n, tbo Fortieth Congress, which was
RoS,m bonm S,icSn iv in both branches.
NT TSo ;ncreaso Of immigration consc-
o,nnt ln nnon ,n Ills act was very slight.
;ERo s average e immigration per annum for
iLn ton years from 1851 TO 1860, inclu-
',;,o SH" W. wos SS0 SSI, The average immi-
S,SSi or",iIom W." ior tbS ton wears from 1861 10
SSe=S incl~s;vc was 3I0675. The aver.
n1o l0aVI ior ] n" vcnrs Of the existence Of this
IISS ISy W. was only SG6 GSS,
u" "''' VI. ,.r. -U ~, ,,,sropv
FACTS ot i''.o"1, ,Oe, ..
The history OF the act oil 4ost' pro-
hibitins the importation Of foreign con-
troct Iehor to which also Mr.. Bynum
N".s Nv 49, =. .his. r. nossed ttc Honso Of
refers Is ms ~ PAsseu t'o ttou9' I ~ ~
Representatives unanimously June Y,
1854. When it came up IN tie senate IN
the second session OF the Eorty'elghthi
Congress, February y, 1888, the record
shows a considerable Demcctatlc 4pPosi.
ton. Mr.. Bayard moved 70 strike 9ut
the third section, which was the penalty