Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-10-05

till this, the 18th of May. The legislature Of
California adjourned sine die on the 4th instant,
after very protracted and arduous session. 1t is
the general impression, however, that but few
acts were passed, considering the length Of the
session. This perhaps is attributable in great
measure to the diversity of interest more than to
any dereliction on the part of the members OF the
Legislature.
Before adjourning, q select committee Of the
Senate, to whom was referred the special message
of the governor in relation to Coolies and other
foreign sers brought into the state to work in the
mines, reported Gill concurring with the views
of the Executive, and recommended The immediate
adoption of that measure, to prevent the influx OF
| Chinese emigration, etc. But the bill did not
pass the Senate. The Legislature passed an act,
however, concerning foreign miners, that may
have some influence in checking too great an in
fux of any population that might prove detrimen-
tai to the interests of the people or citizens of
this State. ...
This law compels foreign miners, who have not
taken the initatory steps toward becoming natu-
rallied citizens of the United States to obtain a
State License, at the rate of So per month.
Although the Legislature of the State has failed
to enact the laws on this subject that seem to
be demanded by so many of the citizens, yet the
citizens themselves are moving in this matter
throughout every portion of the mining districts
of the state which we have heard from.
Take, for instance, the following, from the re-
port of the "Miners meeting held at Eldorado
Branch House, Edorado county, California"
"a. Resolved, That no Asiatic, Mexican, or
South American, shall be legally authorized to
hold clam in our mines. ..a - ~. .I.1-s
"2. Resolved, That no American Shall be en-
titled to hold any mining interest by virtue of
hiring said foreigners.
49, Resolved, That Asiatics Mexicans, or S..
Americans shall have seven days, and no longer,
to leave this district" etc.
And, "Meeting of Miners in Auburn"
"Whereas, the present influx into the mines of
! q very large number of Asiatics, and the almost
certainty that the present season will see much
! laroer number imported into the state, unless
speedy and effectuai means are made use of to
prevent III and whereas, this condition of things
is calculated to materially injure the mining in
terests of the citizens of California, and the pros
poets of American citizens who may come hither;
therefore, be it
| Resolved, That we consider legislative action
| proper and necessary in making and applying a
remedy to this evil: That we earnestly recon-
mend our Legislature 10 enact such laws as will
amount to prohibition on the importation OF
ASiaticS, particularly the Coolies, and that stamp,
into the State, and prevent those already here
from mining privileges in the country.
"ReSolved, That we most heartily approve of
the last special message of Gov. Bi9ler, recon-
mending to the legislature immediate action upon
the subject.
"ResO!ved, That if our legislature refuse to
enact such laws as will protect us from those
evils, or are unable from the closing Of the Ses-
sion, or otherwise, to enact them, much 9s we
respect our government and laws, much as we
deprecate aught that would effect in the least the
dignity and rule of the civil laws, we are deeply
sensible that ihe magnitude of the evil and the
exigency of circumstances will compel us to de-
fend ourselves, justified by the reserved rights,
which every man and community in our republic
has and must have retained for self-preServation.
And again "Meeting of Miners on Horse Shoe
Bar" The miners of Horse Shoe Bar, North
Fork Of the American river, having called meet
ing OF the miners, for the purpose of devisng
means to rid their vicinity of The Chinese now
mining there, proceeded at once to expel some
400 Of the Celestials from their Bar and having
called meeting for the ensuing Sunday, brought
together the miners from the vicinity to Join them
in the following proceedings:
cat large meeting of the miners of Horse Shoe
Bar and vicinity, held on the first day of May,
| lfnrf 70 mn n faE inf he
large emigration Of Chinese into the mines, the
following resolutions were adopted namely:
"Wheress, The influx Of Chinese is endanger.
ing the best interests of miners, and therefore o.
citizens generally, is filing the state with slavery
in its worst fo,m, is bringing our labor in compe
tition with serf labor, is filing our state with
population that can never amalgamase with oul
ctzens and that this class Of foreigners are max.
ing common treasury of California coming here
running over our mines, and carrying their treas
ures back, thus Offering an incentive to their mas
ters to forward still more of their half civilized
hordes among us, to the great detrmeat OF ou,
fellow citizens of the EaStern States, who art
now, with their families, preparing to fiud home,
in The Eureka State, and therefore to The future
interest Of the state, be it
Resolved, That we the miners of Horse Shot
Bar and its vicinity, will allow no Chinaman
Sandwich Islander, or Sonorian, to dig for gold
traffic in merchandise, or carry on any other bust
ness within the distance which our miniug regu
lations govern.
Resolved, That we will resist the mining o
the above named foreigners, by all the means il
our power, until the General Government shal
grant some law or make some regulation to NEE
the growing evil and We would respectfully re
commend to our fellow miners the propriety 0
calling meetings and giving expression to thei
views in regard to this subject" etc.
/. 1t is difficult to know the proper line Of dut
in the premises, for exalted philanthropy woul
perhaps dictate that no such restrictions as thos
indicated above should be imposed upon man, \
consequence of the place Of his birth or the colo
} Of his skin. But the law Of self preservation
, and the adage that "Charity begins at home,
! would seem to point out dfTereet course, espe
cially under circumstances so peculiar os thos
which pertain to the present case.
Yours affectionately,
!; A ARTHUR LEDLiE.