New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-07
CALIFORNIA.
The Chinese In California.


one Of importance which IL widely agitated at the pre-
tine s the question Of permitting Chinese labor in
the mines Since the departure Of the last semi month
" mail steamer the Increase of the foreign lmmig grafton
10 our shores has been very great and the class which
has far outnumbered all others has been the Chinese
These people, although peaceabe and honest and In
their mining operations lees obtrusive than any other
distinct portion Of the mining community, are believed
be less advantageous 10 the State as citizens than any
other class of abores account OF their parimonieus
habits Of life and their temporary intentions among US
Agsipst these people in particular, Is the growing dis
ike of miners directed and II is the rapidly swell
ing tide of immigration of their countrymen that has
disturbed the minds Of our citizens and created doubt
apprehension and dislike In all parts of the State
The subject of the Chinese immigration has been
transmitted to the State Legislature in an Executive
document and has been discussed with some spirit and
occupied no small share of the public debate. The
miners In some sections of the gold districts have
ed the still fuI ther and quite summariy and in
formally expelled from the dggngs parties Of Chinese
who had established near them Meetings have been
held In divers places in the Northern and Southern
Mines at which has been agreed TO prevent the labor
Of Chinese in the neghborhoods represented at the
meetings. No violence has yet been attempted, or
contemplated but the dQgers in Of the districts
proclaim unalterable intention not 10 permit Chinese
labor near them.
Gov. Bigler, in his message, recommends that meas
ures be taken by the State Legislature to check this
Asiatic aon and that aid from Congress be also
invoked He proposes for the State sucn an exercise
of the system of taxation shall prevent the Chinese
from realizing the gains which they have hitherto en-
joyed.
Here the matter rests at present The apprehensions
entertained on this subject have been exaggerated and
distorted and is therefore, not unlikely that they will
pass away ss suddenly they were created. We do
Aria California.
The following curious document in reply
to Gov Bslers Message from the Chinese in San Fran
cisco is published in the papers Of that CITY,
Letter of the Cinnamon 10 his Exceliency
Gov. Bigier.
SAN FRANCISCO, Thursday, April %, 1852.
SIR: The Cinnamon have learned with
sorrow that you have published message agansthem.
Attic ugh Asia les some OF US nave been educa'
ted In American schools and have learned your Ian
tuaqe which has enabled US 70 read your message In
the newspapers for ourseves and TO explain It 10 the
rest OF our couptrymen. We have all thought great
deal about it, and after consultation with another we
have determined to write you as decent and respectful
| letter could pointing out to your Excelency
| some OF the errors you have fallen into aboutus
When you speak of the laws Of your country, we
sha not presume to contradict you In ours all great
men ar learned men, and mans rank just accord
ing to his education. Keyng who nadehe treaty with
Mr. Cushing not only cousin OF the En- Jeror but
one OF the most learned in the Empire otherwise
he would not have been Governor OF Canton just so,
we doubt not 1t is in California and other enlightened
countries But 1t will not be making little OF your at
! tanments 10 suppose that you do not know as mach
about our people as you do OF your own
! You speak of the Cinnamon Goodies" and In one
sense the word 10 applicable to great many OF them
that Wnich you seem 10 use H. LOO
"" is not Chinese word 1t has been imported into
China from foreign paIs has been Into this coun
try What its original Specification was we DO not know
but with US 1t means common laoorer, and nothing
more. We have never known II used among us ss
designation Of Glass; such you have In yew-persons
bound 10 labor under contracts which they can be orc
bly, compelled to comply with. The lrishmen who are
engaged digging down your his the men who unload
shps who clean Your streets, drive your drays
would if they in China, be considered Coolies;
tradesInep mechanics OF every kind and professional
] I.nt Iupaan he
many of our countrymen In the mines are Goodies,
az many again not There are among them trades
men, mechanics, gentry being persons OF respectaoly
and who enjoy certain rank and privilege and school
masters who are reckoned with the gentry and with US
considered a respectable class OF people None are
Coolies" ythat word you mean bound men or con-
tract slaves.
The ship Challenge, of which you speak in your mes
sage as bringing more than hve hundred Cinnamon
did not bring over one who was under CODY contract
labor who came In her as agent lot tne CHAR
terers one of the sgners Of this letter. states to your
Exceency that they all passengers and are going
! to work In the mines for themselves
As TO our counnymen coming over here TO labor Tor
"a per month IL is unreasonable on the lace
of H. and not true That strong affection which they
have for their own country which induces them to re-
tuin with the gold they dig as you say would prevent
tb. m fir, leaving their homes for wages SO little, al
ali 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 as
trc,s and peighbo hoods and In some villages there
are thousands aod thousands Of the same surname,
focking around the original family home They honor
their parents and age generally with respect IKE re-
Geon and have the deepest anxiety to provide their
decepdants To honor his parents lie the great duty OF
the SOD Chinese proverb runs somewhstin this way
ain the morning when you rise inquire after your pa
rents health, at midday be not far from them, ana IN
the evening comfort them when they 60 TO rest this It
| lie to be pious son
With such feelings these, II Is 10 be expected mat
they will return with their gains to their homes but II
is foolish to believe they will leave them for trnlng H.
/ To thQ aap1pc a
| reason why there no Chinese drunkards In your
streets nor convics In your prisons madmen In your
hospitals or others who are charge 70 your ataIe
They live orderly, work hard, and take care OF them
that they may have the me ans OF providing Tor
their hemes and living amid their families Inc otner
matter which you alude TO, their leaving tner iamcs
in nledpe as security for the peornanc OF their con-
tract Is kt more inconsistent with their Character and
absurd Have you ever inquired what the holder OF
! such pledge could do with them. II be used any
force toward them be would be guilty OF an orense,
and be punished by the laws In any other coun-
Iy snd If he treated them well they would only De
! burden and an additional expense TO him Sometimes
yery rich perons who have poor men IN their employ
ne1 81 home OF abroad support their families through
charity particularly If they relatives Sometimes
they bind themselves 10 do II by their contracts out
! this gives them no power over them as hostages OF
pledges +. ,h.. tho ch,ns.s NOR como
| 10 California Some have borrowed the snaI amount
necs,satv 10 be returned with unusual interest on &C
| conr, ot he rick some have been furnished with
money witout interest by their friends ana relations,
AID some again, but much the smaller poron nave re-
ceyed advances In money, 10 be returned OUT OF 'ne
nv s,s OF n adventure The usual spponiOument OF
lbs profits Is about threeen,hs 10 the lender OF the
! money and rarely II ever any more. These arrange
pents made al home seldom bring them further tnan
San FraDcsco and here the Chinese traders turai'h
,hrm the means of getting the mines great deal
az money il thus len, nominal or very lo~ interest
which to,he credit OF coustrymen, We are able 70
cav Is almost invariably faithfully reped Inc poor
! C6inamen does not come here slave. he comes
because of his desire for Independence and he a.
sisted by the charity VI his cou tynen, when tney De
stow on him safely because he IS industrious spu 10 . .s.
esy epsys them when he get, 70 ."s and econ
INV We ives no man any ohen'e, and ne Is con'eneo
whh small gairs perhaps only TWO or three doa17 per
dsy. nj. living costs him something, and ne 4, wei
pleased re up three or four hundred ooiAi'
| year. .,,,r ., n. az.