The Placer herald., 1859-02-19
The Chinese Question.

bill in the lower branch OF the Legislature 10
prevent Chinese from working the mines,
and from the comments made in various
quarters, we think there is disposition to
favor a measure Of the kind.
We do not know how the temper of Legis-
lators may be toward this policy, but we hope
they will not act until they have so far in
vestigated the subject as to be apprised Of the
result of the injury or good to the State that
may follow from the passage Of the law
spoken of. 1t is question that should be
decided not by the promptings of passion or
prejudice against the people involved, but
by the dictates Of humanity, and sound
policy.
The prevailing sentiment in California is
not favorable to the residence of Chinese
among us. Their language, color, habits OF
life, incapacity to citizenship, and inadapta-
ton to American customs, are disabilities in
the scale of equality not to be overcome by
time nor circumstances. Therefore, in a So
cal point of view, their presence is not de-
sirable-it is seriously Objectionable, and it
is we'll that the attention of Legislators
shonA be directed to the solution of ques-
ton that sooner or later must have sottle-
ment that will definitely mark the bounds of
Chinese emigration and habtation in Cali
fornia.
1t is important to know, whether under
the Federal Constitution and laws, their i'm
migration to California can be inhibited.
If it can, then our present State law to that
effect should be rigidly enforced. Thus freed
from any outside accessons to this people,
we may turn our attention to those now
among us with a view to obtaining an ulti
mate relief of their presence. We say ulti-
mate, because we do not believe it practical
ble or desirable that they shall be expelled
Immediately from the whole State or any
particular portion of it, and we assert this
upon the well-grounded conviction that the
taxes at present derived from them ale
necessity to the State; ard, therefore, any
law that looks to their immediate expulsion
from the Mines at the same time aims at
the immediate cutting off of a large revenue
from the several mining counties and the
State Government.
Objections may be urged to this, and pat
riotic gentlemen declare that Americans
should be ashamed to obtain large revenue
for the support of government from peo-
pie who cannot acquire the rights of citizen
ship under our laws, and further that is self
ish to desire their presence for the purpose
of taxation. Admit these objectlons-ad
the appearance of seltishness, in wishing to
desire revenue yet awhile from this people;
but answer the question who can-"who is
to make up the loss of revenue to counties
and State if the Chinese are Immediately
driven from the mnes?" The receipt into
the State Treasury from Foreign Miners Ii
cense for the fiscal year ending June 3oth
1858, was $l29,06S9l, over twelve per cent.
of the entire revenue of the State; and an
equivalent amount has gone into the Treas
|
source is this amount to be made up if upon
the instant Chinese are prohibited from mi
ming and the collection on the licenses ceases?
Have the public, the press, and Legislators
provided for this contingency! We think
not, The financial view of this Chinese
question should be Of some moment to the
Legislature when acting upon it. Represen-
tatives are sent to the capital to pass whole
some and necessary laws, and provide ways
and means to carry on the Government and
it becomes of consequence to them to know
when passing a law by which the State is. to
lose Sl29, 900 per annum to know in what
manner the deficiency is to be made up.
We have no partaity for the Chinese, and
are perhaps as desirous the State should
be rid of their presence, as those who ex-
hibit an extreme zealousness in this behalf
but we wish it done in manner both hui
name and for the public interest. To ac.
complisb this their immigration here must
be entirely prevented. Stop the supply and
the disposal of those~Aere will be but ques
ton of time only. Then let the Legislature
raise the mining license upon those engaged
in that occupation one dollar each year, anG
before six years rolls away the tax woulo
become so cnerous upon them that they
must prefer or seek other occupations OIL
leave the country. AS this system would
E be gradually working out the end intended
a gradual increase of property in the mining
counties would be taking place and woule
provide revenue sufficient to more than make
up the loss.
To rid ourselves of the Chinese,
course somewhat of this kind would be mucl
better than a resort to extreme measures
There is so much of pecuniary concern to thu
E general interests involved, that it were tn,
part of wisdom not to act with intemperat,