San Andreas independent., 1857-07-18
(For the INDEPENDENT ]
The Chinese Question.


and momentous importance to the present and
future prosperity of the mining interests OF the
State of California The United States Govern
ment granted or tolerated the occupancy and
privilege of working the mines, to her own clti-
zens; and as the Legislature of California has
tacitly acknowledged the jurisdiction OF the NIL
ners by recognizing the laws, passed by each
mining district, as the highest law of the land ::
therefore, the mining portion of the white pop
ulation, of California, has an undeniable right
and privilege of deciding who shall be allowed
to work the mines. The following are few
of many evils arising from the residence of the
Chinese amongst US, which is calculated to
bring white labor into direct competition with
the oppressed peonSPf over-populated China
and to introduce and tolerate species of Sla-
very in our State which is prohibited by the
Constitution of the State of California, thereby
allowing depraved Chinese population to en-
slave their fellow-countrymen in defiance OF and
in direct contravention to the laws of our young
and important State. Besides they are rapidly
exhausting the most reliable portion OF the
mines, the surface and small stream digglngs.
That description of mines requiring the small
est outlay of capital or labor to work ;-Just the
kind of diggings to meet the necessities OF our
own emigration when first coming into the
mines. The Chinese will work just enough
cheaper to obtain nearly all the employment OF
common mining labor, and will work claims
which the white miners are not willing to work
@.Jo 10 two II
three years hence, just as the mines worked by
the Cinnamon two years ago would be consld-
cred good diggings at the present time; and
they as frequently get as good claims as the
white men, Coming amongst us in friendly
and unassuming manner, is we'll calculated to
enlist the sympathies of miners. They have
got fast hold of the very vitals of California
The revenue derived from taxes, is very strong
plea for their intrusion and continuance in the
country 1t is q well known fact that nearly
three-fourths of those who follow mining,
evade the payment of their mining tax. 1t is
the true policy of miners to encourage families
to settle in the mines and to furnish employ
ment for the different members of families
There, too China labor has to be competed
with, as they are engaged in all the light kinds
of employment, such as cooking, washing, &c;
such as females usually follow for a livelihood
in the Atlantic States. Truly, aprotective tar
iff is required in California, when John China
man is allowed to come on our own SOIL and
not only occupy and work out our mines, but
monopolize our light work, and thereby throw
out of employment the members of the family
household, which every principle good policy
should protect and encourage.
The moral influence and effects of the resi-
dence of their women amongst us, is injurious
and deteriorating in the extreme on the morals
of community There is no view OF the subject
that can be taken, where their presence amongst
us is conducive to the permanent, present or
future welfare or prosperity OF California; but
on the other hand, their continuance and ac-
eessions would entail lasting and permanent
evils, which might eventuate in serious conse-
quences by exhausting the mines, and thereby
impoverishing those who, by choice or necessl-
ty have identified their fortunes with the des-
tiny of California, entailing on the country a
permanent and irreparable injury. Another
view of the subject is, the gold taken out by the
Cinnamon and sent back to China gets into the
hands of the most exclusively intolerant gov
ernment, and the most opposed to reciprocatng
favors of any kind whatever, and whose people
have the least claim to the favors of other ma
tons and as has been justly observed, are
physically, socially, morally, and politically in
fo1 from
becoming citizens of the United States conse-
quently it would only be an act of humanity to
the Cinnamon themselves, to prevent their con-
tinuance in a country where they must inevita-
bly, become degraded, and can never rise to the
dignity of respectable citizens. The effects OF
the influx of those Asiatic flibusters, will be to
exhaust the country of the wealth and founda-
ton of all its prosperity and future greatness,
and entail on us poverty, and leave on our
hands their paupers to support, as their real
intention is to rob the country of its gold and
return to China, and not to settle in the coun-
try and become citizens, or in any way to bene-
tit our common country-in fact they are car
rying out the very principles of filibusterism.
1t is well known fact-cognizant to the
most casual obseryer-that the Cinnamon do
nothing for the welfare of our country, and very
reluctantly pay their taxes. They even bring
their rice and other provisions from China, buy
as little of us as possible, benefting few shop
owners, navigation companies and stage lines.
at the expense of the country's present and fu-
ture prosperity; thereby entailing ruin on CAL
ifornia forever.
sing from the residence and occupancy of the
mines by Cinnamon, and as the necessity of the
case imperiously demands that suitable meas
ures be promptly taken to rid the country of
this great and increasing evil that hangs, like