The Shasta courier., 1856-01-05
The chinese Question Again.

The Chinese Question Again.
From the experience which has thus far been
gathered in regard 10 the increased tax upon
the Chinese, it would seem as II 1t was not oper-
ating as benefcially as might be wished.
The Coloma Argus says, that the receipts IN
the County Treasury of Ell Dorado County, from
foreign miners, exclusive Of percentages and the
portion paid the State. amounted in 1853, to
500 COZ 80; in 1854, 10 s32.706 "a; in 1855.
for period of nine months, to 24,473 H. On
the lst October the increased license tax went
iuio operation since which The monthly receipts
have diminished nearly one-third, in spite OF
the most strenuous eifarrs to collect.
The Marysyille Herald gives a statement,
showing the foreign miners tax collected IN lu-
ha county. For the year ending December l3ih,
1855, the tax amounted. exclusive OF percent
age, To s3l $50 Previous TO the operation "f
the present license law the total collections,
monthly reached an average of $4,000. Since
October Ist, and underl the law increasing Ii
censes for period of two and half months,
the average collections is fraction, less than
$3.50 per month.
In other counties, so far as can learn, the
result has been alike nnfavorable.
In our own county we have thus Tar had no
fair test in regard to the operations of this law
Sheriff Dreibelbis informs that no money has
been collected from the Chinese since the first
of October last, for the reason that no blank IL
censes have been furnished by the proper au-
ihorities below. Why these licenses have not
been forthcoming is more than we are able 10
/ say.
We have no sympathy with the Chinese-no
desire TO retain them in our couniry-but in
attempting TO rid ourselves of the evl.we should
be careful that measures do not have con-
trary effect from that which was intended. 1t
is difficult to perceive how tax which if faith
fully collected, would eventually deprive the
Chinese in the mines of their last dollar, can
have the effect of Fastening their exit from the
country. On the contrary inclined TO
believe that it will only be the means of teach.
ing them new schemes of ofdeception-new meth
DDS of evading the payment of their monthly
licenses, and retard rather than accelerate their
wished for departure.
Neither perceive how The matter
would be much benefited by compelling the
Chinese to abandon the mines and adopt other
pursuits. Labor, like water, has Il constant ten
dency TO equalize tself-and should :he Chinese
leave mines, the only effect would be, that
they would come in competition with other cas-
ses of our citizens, equally dcservins-egually
worthy of our protection. The consequence of
this would be, that many Of them would have
to abandon the occupations which they have
hitherto followed, and go 20 mining for live-
hood. Can any perceive how the miner
would be eventually benefited by all ,hs2 1t
is certainly beyond our comprehension.
We opposed TO the general principle of
tax for the protection of any particular class. as
contrad istinguiShed from tax for revenue. it
is I'M Democratic, and in almost every instance
unjust. We say, then, let the tax be restored to
what it formerly was. four dollars per month
let it, if constitutional, be collected from all the
Chinese in California, whether miners or other
wise; and in order TO prevent the future coming
of this class of people, let the immigration tax
of fifty dollars be vigorously enforced, and in
creased so as TO amount 10 absolute prohibition
if necessary.
This evil of Chinese population is one which
it is impossible at once to remedy; but with
proper legislation, duly enforced, it will gradu
ally die away.