Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-17
CHINAMEN IN CALIFORNIA.

CHINAMEN IN CALIFORNIA.
We have, on previous occasion, laid before
our readers the substance of Governor Bigler's
message to the Legislature of California, advising
the adoption of measures to retard if prevent,
the influx of Chinese to that State. This mes
sage drew from those of that people now in Cali
fornia long reply, some account of which we
propose now to give. 1t is signed Hab Wa,
Long Achick, Sam Wo &c Co., Ton Wo & Co.,
for the Cinnamon in California 1t is denied
that these inhabitants of the Celestial Empire
have come to the mines fettered by contracts of
labour for the benefit of masters or employ ers
home. They say that they are independent men,
each reaping the fruits of his own toll. 1t will
be remembered that a principal objection urged
by Governor Bigler against unrestraned immi-
grafton of these idolaters, was, they wrought in
the mines and would then return to their homes,
carrying with them the prodact of their industry.
Thus producing outflow of gold, for which
the country received no adequate return. There
can be no sort of doubt that in politico-economi
cal point of view this course of action is calcutta
ted to produce serious injury the prosperity of
that infant society. Gold fulfls double capaci-
ty, as the vehicle of commerce and as the subject
l.
leave that metal to the regulating influences of
trade which will speedily adjust the deficiencies
of money that may be produced in the different
countries. No wise government undertakes to
dam the precious metals. The most that they
do is by judicious regulations Of trade to prevent
too great loss of this commercial flood a certain
amount Of which is necessary to the health and
vigor of the system. But it is quite another affair
to adopt system to protect the public property
of the state, this case areservoir from which flow
such copious streams of public wealth, from the de
predictions and nroads of multitudes CT foreign To-
Gusts. The argosies which these people launch
on the ocean freighted with, not only the rep
resentative but with the substance Of public prop
erty, is SO much wealth taken from this country
and carried to Asia What would be said, if
swarms of foreigners were to come to the United
States and reap our aoheat-felds and carry away
the grain !! And are not the cases 10 strict anal
ogy! The only point of differenc would be one
of collateral nature, viz: the existence of indi-
vidual rights in the case supposed. This appears
to our mind to be ground enough on which to
bottom the Governors proposal. Here is an ex-
tract in which the Celestial helmsman, in order to
avoid one rock, wrecks his barque upon another.
The object of the following paragraph being to
deny that the Cinnamon go to California fsttered
by indentures of service-but it contains the ad-
mission, that they go to ''gather gold' with the
ultimate intention of returning to their native hab-
itations
''As to countrymen coming here to laborf for
So or 81 per month wages it is unreasonable on
the face of it, and it is not true. That strong
affection which they have for their own country,
which induces them to return with the gold they
dig, as you say, would prevent them from leaving
their homes for wages little if at all better
than they could get there. The Cinnamon are
indeed remarkable for their love of their country
in domestic way. They gather together in
clans in districts and neighborhoods, and in some
villages there thousands an dthousands of the
same surname, fiocking around the original family
home. They honor their parents and age general
ly with respect like religion, and have the deep
est anxiety to provide for their descendants. To
honor his parents is the great duty of the son.
Chinese proverb runs somewhat in this way: SIN
the morning. when you rise, inquire after your
parents heath at midday be not far from them,
and In the even comfort them when they go to
rest: this is to be pious son." With such
feelings as these, it is to be expected that they will
return with their gains to their homes but it is
foolishto believe they will leave them for trifling
Inducements. 10 the same cause you mustlook for
the reason why there are no Chinese drunkards
lnyour streets, now convicts in your prisons, mad
men in you hospitals, or others who are change
to your State. They live orderly, work hard, and
take of themselves that they may have the
means of providing for their homes and living
amidst their families. The other marter which
you aude to-their leaving their families in
pledge of their security for the performance of
their codtract-is still more inconsistent with
their character, and absurd. Have you ever in
1,.aAx ~, lzJlo x,5af. l.
with them! If he used any force towards them,
he would be guilty of an offence, and be punished
by the laws just as III any other contry, and if
he treated them we'll, they would only be
burden andan additional expense to him. Some
times very rich persons who have poor men in
their employment at home, or abroad, support
their families through charity: particularly if
they are relatives. Sometimes they bind them
selves to do it by their contracts, but this give.
them no power over them as hostages or pledges.
What sort of benefit does California derive from
the temperance and orderly industry of the Chi
nese abourer On the other hand their indus
trious habits, by enabling them to collect greater
amounts of plumber and larger stores of wealth,
mutiplies and magnifes the injury of which we
complain la another part Of their protest, they
tell Governor Bigler that the commerce of Asia
cannot be secured TO the merchants of California
except through their exertions. We admit that
the first effect of this emigration is to impart in
creased activity to the China trade But this is all
1t is a branch of commerce that must ultimately
flourish, because it must be lucrative to both
parties. The treaty negotiated by Mr.. Gushing
has removed the shackles imposed on commercial
intercourse. as far as Americans are concerned.
and it does not require the intervention of those
yeIlow-ja gold-hunters to enable that bust
ness to flourish. On the contrary, if we have
Cinnamon for the exporters and Cinnamon for
the importers-idoatorsa at both ends of the stick
wa abond ha Glad IN know from vphat source. orr