The Shasta courier., 1859-02-05
Miners Meeting at Briggsville.

The Miners of Briggsville district have passed
resolutions in opposition to the proposed action
relative to the Chinese. They elected A. G
Davis, S. C. Simpson, Frank Sterling and ]. W
Colgan delegates to the Convention which as
sembles in this place to-day.
The meeting, which was presided over by A.
G. Davis, A. G. Taylor acting as Secretary
adopted the following Preamble and Resolu-
tions, as reported by committee consisting OF
E. j. Strong, George Roop, and John Hewett
WHEREAS, certain persons from some cause
unknown to your Committee, whether for DO
litcal or other purposes, are about to try to ex-
pei from our County the Chinese miners and Ia
borers-an act, in the opinion of your Commit
tee, at war with the spirit of our Republican
Government; and,
WHEREAS, being well aware, as your Com
mittee are, of the great disadvantage of having
population IN our country who can never by
reason of our laws become citizens vet, be
lieving that they are legally amongst us, and
that to undertake Immediately to expe them
from the mines, or any other occupation by
which they acquire an honest living, would be
inhuman, unjust, and contrary to the laws of our
land therefore, be it
Resolred, lst. That we will not approve any
illegal attempt that may be made by any set of
men, to force from among us any part of our
population who are legally here, and have not
committed any trespasses upon our laws, rights
or property.
I'd. That we will hold to a strict accountable
ity all officers of Shasta county for wilful neg
lect on their part TO maintain inviolate the laws
of our common country and, as law-abiding
citizens, we feel in duty bound to aid, if called
off in anf oil Ia
Sd. That will support no man or set of
men for any Office of honor, trust or profit, who
advocate any move, or tolerate any conduct in
the least at variance with established laws. We
want men honest and capable, who will dis
charge their whole duty ''unawed by influence
and unbribed by gain"
We under the impression that Brggsville
will stand alone in her glory. At least in no
other district from which we have heard. have
enough white miners been found to hold meet
ing favorable to the Chinese
We conceive that the miners of Brggsville
cast an undeserved reflection upon the starters
of this movement. We can assure the Briggs
Williams that those men have no political object
in view. None of them have ever been candi-
dates for ofiice-are not now. They are honest
miners have followed that occupation for
years-some of them have been working in the
Shasta mines for the past eight or nine years.
This we know of our own personal knowledge
1t is because they have lived here long enough
to see diggings-which, few years ago, they
would not work, but which now they would be
glad to work rk-disappearing before the Chinese
miner, that they have been induced to take this
action. They conceive it to be matter of self
protection. We agree with them We are op-
posed to having Chinese in the mines. Why
shall Chinese spectators, subjects of the moon
eyed Emperors be permitted to bring hundred
or thousand serfs into our mines and work
them alongside of American citizens, while the
American citizen from slave State is denied
the privilege of bringing his slaves here? ? Shall
we grant the Chinese speculators a privilege that
We will not accord to our own citizens?
We ask any miner who participated in the
Briggsville meeting, whether he thinks it less
degrading to work with Chinese serfs that it is
to work with negro slaves?