Memories of the Calls 27: Robert Call's Views on Immigration

Among their papers, i find one of the Robert Call's that I wish to copy, including errors, to show his manner in debating. 

"Resolved, that immigration should be restricted. 

I say no, and for why do I say no. In the first place how did this country become settled by different clafses of people that we now find here. By immigration from the old countries, England Ireland Scotland, France, Jermany Itly and Spain, and a few from other countries. And from this small beginning of immigration the Country has grown to be a mighty Nation, Whose ships sails in all known Seas, and the Stars and Stripes float in the breeze of every known land and sea. Free and unrestricted immigration has done this. Now this Country has grown in strength and power through immigration some Croakers and my opponents among them say let us restrict immigration. 

Who is it they wish to keep out, is it the Rich man or the man of moderate means or the Poor man with his willing heart and Strong arms that has converted this once Wilderness to almost a garden od Eden. 

What has brought about such an immense change in our financial standing from a few years agone. only a few years agone this country was inportin severall Millions of dollars of merchandise more than the exports amounted to, but now the Gate hangs on the other post and swings the other way. so now we are exportin Millions of dollars worth more than the imports amount to. What has brought about this change. Free immigration has done this. So now the Farmer and the Manufacturer can place our products in the markets of the world in competition with the older Countries. So today you can buy and American make Jackknife in the city of Sheffield, and American make watch in Switzerland. 

Why are we the most independent Nation on the face of the earth. We have all the metals in use excepting tin. And our miners have come from the four corners of the Globe, and the most skillfull of our artisans that we have in the different mines of this country today that is helping us to develope the rich treasure still in the bowels of the earth were immigrant, and some of them very poor, perhaps, in this Worlds goods, but rich in experience in their Vocation. 

Who is it that my opponents would keep out of this country by their restriction policy. Not the man of wealth Not the skilled mechanic nor the skilled artisan. Is it the man that is helping to build our Railroads and help us on our farm place, for my opponents know that we as farmers need this clafs of labors to carry on our farms succefsfully and we could not without them, and yet the(y) say restrict immigration, in  order to pay higher wages to those we may want to hire. 

I am sure it is not the rosey cheeked Girls that come to us from over the seas for I am sure their should be a Dozen or more come to town tomorrow morning if it was know they were coming there would be a scramble for them and before night they would be domiciled in your houses, and you would go to bed so much relieved to think that you had at last secured a hired girl after so many weeks or perhaps months of fruitlefs and perplexed searching for one, so I feel sure that is not the clafs my opponents would restrict.

Perhaps it may be a clafs of persons that are fleeing from opprefsion or justice, if from justice it very much depends on the crime committed Wither it be the killing of A man A hare or a Pheasant. I know of more than one man that has left his native home to escape three months of hard labor in a county gail for trying to catch a hare or a Pheasant. Such laws ought to be trampled in the dust and the maker of those laws likewise for the(y) are cruel and oppressive. Some such persons we have in our town today, and they have been industrious and through economy are now living on good farms they call their own, and they are called good Citizens. 

Oh is the poor Chinaman my opponent would restrict and for Why is is because the color of his skin is not just like ours. if my opponents were keeping Batchelors hall or boarding and they wished some cuffs or collars done up nicely, they send them off to the laundry to get it done because it is done nicely and cheap. Who does the work. in nine cases out of ten it is done by Chinamen. A friend of mine that has worked in the field by the side of them speakes of them as good workers and docile. Another gentleman that I am acquainted with who has them in his employ says the are industrious as a clafs, the like to get two dollars per day if they can, if they can't get two they will work for a dollar and half if they can't get that they will work for what they can in order to get an honest living, and that is more than can be said of some of our native born, who lounge around the street corners with their hands in their pockets and puffing tobacco smoke in the faces of those that has to pafs them. 

If my opponents can tell when a pig ceases to be a pig and becomes a hog, How old must he be or what weight must he be to become a hog then and not till then can they make a just discrimination or restriction of immigration. 

Then it is contrary to all of our Republican principles and Government. This Government has grown in power and strength with immigration unrestrictedd. Who dares to clog its chariot wheels from rooling to greater and more glorious destiny be restriction of immigration to our shores. Our great and good Father creator of us all gave the Command that we should love one another as children of one common Parent. and that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. is my opponents living up to that command of their creator in trying to prevent their Brothers from enjoying the blessings and priviliges they enjoy themselves. it is very plain Mifs President they are getting along way from headquarters. My opponents say they are poor and ignorant so many that are coming to our shores that there is danger ahead. If ignorant let us educate them, if poor give them employment pay them justly for their work if hunger feed them and act well A Brothers part. 

So I say let them come unrestricted, come from every nation, come from every way, don't be alarmed, for Uncle Sam is big enough to let us all have a Farm."

I was much impressed with this debate as I copied it. It seemed to show a clear logical mind and a good gift of expression. I was ashamed to copy errors, many of which were careless ones, but I was anxious to have it as he wrote it. 

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Patty's notes on this entry

My guess is the Robert Call used the long s (an archaic version of the lower case s) in his original manuscript, which explains why words with a such as class appear in the typed version I have as clafs. It was more commonly found in hand written manuscripts than in typed/printed materials by the late 19th century when Robert Call likely wrote this. 

I don't know when Robert Call wrote this essay, or what audience it was delivered to. My guess is that it was to a group such as the local society where issues of the day were often debated. 

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