The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-08
Governor of Caiifornia's Special Message
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
Sacramento City, April 30, 1852. {
ON THE SUBJECT OF cooLIE EMIGRATION.

Sacramento City, April %, 1852.
TO The Senate and Assembly
Of The State Of California:
cannot permit the official relations Which
have united US, TO be finally dissolved, without
inviting your attention to a subject deeply in
teresting, as it appears to me, to the welfare of
our States. The various and important public
interests which have been confded to us, must
be protected, and the spirit of enterprise and in
dustry which distinguishes our people, must be
encouraged. In this State, questions Of public
concern must often arise, which are peculiar
in their nature, and which call for prompt
investigation, and rapid and decisive action. The
State is young in growth hardly past the period
of infancy but promises to become, speedily
one of the most populous and powerful sover-
eighties of the American Union.
The subject which deem it my duty to pres
ent for your consideration, before our final sep
aration, is the present wholesale importation to
this country, of immigrants from the Asiatic
quarter of the globe. | am deeply impressed
with the conviction that, in order to enhance the
prosperity and to preserve the tranquility of the
State, measures must be adopted to check this
tide of Asiatic immigration, and to prevent the
expectation by them of the precious metals,
which they dig up from our soil without charge,
| and without assuming any OF the obligations
imposed upon citizens. | aude, particularly to
class Of Asiatcs known as Coolies" who are
sent here, as am assured, and as is generally be-
| leved, under contracts to work in our mines for
term and who, at the expiration of the term
return to their native country. am sensible
that n proposition to restrict international inter
course, or to check the immigration of even
Aeiatics, would appear to conflict with the long
cherished and benevolent policy of our govern
ment. That government has opened its paternal
arms to " the oppressed of all nations," and it
has offered them an asylum and shelter from
the iron rigor of despot'm The exile pilgrim,
and the weary immigrant, have been the recipi-
ents of its noble hospitalities In this generous
policy, so far as it affects Europeans, or others
capable of becoming citizens under our laws,
desire to see no change nor do desire to see
any diminuton of that spirit of lberaty which
pervades the naturalization laws of the United
States.
A question, around which there has been
thrown some doubt, is whether Asatcs could,
with safety, be admitted to the enjoyment Of
all the rights Of citizens in courts of Justice.
| If they are ignorant of the solemn character Of
the oath or affirmation, in the form prescribed
| by the Constitution and statutes, or il they are
indifferent to the solemn obligation which an
oath imposes to speak the truth, it would be
unWise to receive them as jurors, or to permit
them to testify in courts of law, more especially
in cases affecting the rights of Others, than
Asiatics.
Congress- possessing the exclusive power to
establish uniform rule OF naturaz atom, has
enacted that every alien, being free ,ohite
person, may become citizen of the United
States by complying with certain conditions.
OF the construction of this law, Chancellor
fines the description Of aliens capable of nat
uralizaton to free phite persons" presume,'
continues the learned writer, that s. this excludes
the inhabitants of Africa and their defendants
and it may become a question, to what extent
persons of mixed blood are excluded, and what
shades and degrees of mixture of color dsQuali-
fly an alien from application for the benefits of
the act of natura ization Perhaps there might.
be difficulties, also, AZ to the copper colored
natives of America, or the yellow or tawney
races of the Asia;ics; and it may well be doubt
ed whether any of them are white persons with
in the purview of the law 1t is the declared
law of New York, South Carolina, Tennessee,
land other Sates,) that Indians are not citizens,
but distinct tribes, living under the protection
Of the government and consequently they never
can be made citizens under the act Of Con
gress."
1t is certain that no Asiatic has yet applied
for, or has received the benefits Of this act. In.
deed, am not aware that single subject of
the Chinese empire ever acquired residence or
Il domcil in any of the States of the Union, ex-
| cept, perhaps in this. In this State their habits
have been migratory; and, so far as can learn
very few of them have evinced disposition to
acquire domicil, or, as ctigeRs. to identify them
selves with the country. Gold with tails
manic power has overcome those national habits
of reserve and non intercourse which the Chinese
and their neighbors have hitherto exhibited; and,
under the impulse which the discovery of the
precious metals in California has given to their
cupidity, vast Numbers of them are immigratng
hilher not however to avail themselves of the
blessings of free government. They do not
seek our land as the asylum for the oppressed
of all nations" They have no desire (even if
Il permitted by the Constitution and laws) to alb
solve themselves from allegiance to other pow
ers, and, under the laws of the United States,
become American citizens. They come to &C
oure certain amount Of the precious metals,
and then to return to their native country.
invite your attention, for n moment, to re-
suits which may ensue, if by inaotion we give
/ further encouragement to the mania for immi
grafton which pervades several of the Asiatic
States, and which, it may be presumed, is being
rapidly dlftuseu tnrougnont all conlnental ASIA.
| The area of Asia is l7,865,000 English square
miles, and the total population is computed by
the best authorities at (375,230, O00) three hun.
dred and seventy five millions, two hundred and
thirty thousand The population Of the Chinese
empire and dependentSt States aloneis 1853 900 600.
1t will be readily perceived that millions might be
detached from such myriads without any per-
| ceptible diminution of the aggregate popula
E ton and that vast numbers may be induced
under contracts, to immigrate to a country which
thew are told contains inexhaustible mines o.
!, gold and silver The facilities afforded them fol
e immigration are rapidly increasing, and few
vessels now enter our ports from Asiatic coun
tries which are not crowded with these peculiar
people. | have received intelligence, from re
, liable sources that the average rate charged AZ
Y Asiatic from China TO California is $40 tina
q over 1000 of their number have arrived at Sar
Francisco within the last few weeks and tina
at least 600 are now on their way hither