Daily national Democrat. [volume] (Marysville, Calif.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-09
The Chinese.

IA verV much excited, at this time, against
the Chinese, who are found swarming in
nearly all the mining districts, and taking up
a great deal of auriferous ground which
would otherwise be occupied by American
miners. A good many fatal difficulties have
recently happened between Chinese and
American miners, on account OF this feeling.
In the majority of instances the Orientals
have had to flee, with loss of blood, but in
few cases they have not retired from claims
without taking the lives of some of their
American assailants. This state of things is
likely to grow worse, and legislation seems
to be positively needed on the subject. Eth
er the Chinese must be removed from the
mines or those who assail them, individually
or in organized mobs, must be held RESPONSE
bic in the courts of justice, and this can
scarcely be done without a modification of
the law governing testimony SO us to allow
Chinaman to testify against an American
Such modification would scarcely be advis-
able under ordinary circumstances, but it
must be made if the Chinese remain in the
mines, for it is the part of no humane govern
ment to stand still and see the weak and the
ignorant tranpled on with impunity by the
strong and enlightened. If the Chinese pay
taxes to the State, and are licensed to work
in the mines, it is clearly obligatory upon the
State to protect them and to do it effectu-
ally.
We perceive that meetings have been held
in various parts of the country which have
assumed the responsibility of issuing DEGREES
of Punishment from the mines against the
Chinese population. This is in strict accord
with that spirit of mobocracy which has far
too extensively prevailed in this State, and
has disgraced her reputation abroad. In
marked contrast with the general course of
conduct in this regard, we are very happy
to present to our readers the following res
olutions which were adopted by a meeting
of miners at Briggsville, in Shasta county,
on the Sd inst. The meeting was called for
the purpose of considering the propriety of
expelling the Chinese from that portion of
the mines surrounding Briggsville. The res
olutions are as follows:
WHEREAS, Certain persons from some cause
| unknown to your Committee, whether for political
or other purposes, are about to try to expel from
our county the Chinese miners and laborers, an
act in the opinion OF your committee at war with
the spirit of our Republican Government
And, Whereas, Being well aware, as your
committee are, of the great disadvantage Of hav
ing population in our country who can never
by reason Of our laws become citizens. Yet
they are legally amongst u.s. and now to under |
take to Immediately expel them from the mines
or any other occupation by which they acquire an
honest living, would be inhumane, unjust and
contrary to the laws of our land Thereupon, be it
Resolved, LIST. That we will oppose 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 and property.
! Resolyed I'd. That we will hold to IA strict ac
cOuntabty all officers of Shasta county for a
wilful neglect on their part to maintain inviolate
the laws of our common country, and as law
abiding citizens, we feel IN duty bonnd to aid if |
called upon by our officers in enforcing said
laws
Resolyed, 3d. That we will support no man or
set of men for any offices of honor, trust or profit
who advocate any move or tolerate any conduct
in the least at variance with our established laws.
We want men honest and capable, who will dis
charge their whole duty, "unawed by influence
and unbribed by gain"
The meeting at the same time elected del
egates to a County Convention, which was
held to consider the same question at the
town of Shasta, on the 9TH inst, the result of
whose deliberations we have not yet learned. |
From the tone of the Shasta press, we are
inclined to think the convention will do moth
ing more than recommend the immediate
passage of law forbidding the Chinese
working in the mines Yet, whatever the
convention may do, it is quite certain that
lawless Americans will, from time to time,
take the responsibility of driving Cinnamon
from their claims, it being so easy n matter
to impose upon this usually non resisting
class who have no oaths against white man
in our courts and consequently no protection
against violence and outrage
1t appears that Mr.. Street, Assemblyman
from Shasta county, has in view a remedy
for these troubles by bill which he has in
PRODUCED into the Legislature, the object of
which is to prevent the Chinese from going
into the mines at all. Should such law be
)hSeeuJ IL W III very ihSiJ SiS"bO q hCSVSslOJ |
for imposing tax upon mining claims in or
der to supply the deficiency in the revenue
resulting from a withdrawal of the large an
nual fund derived from foreign miners IL
censes, the principal portion of which are
paid by the Chinese. 1t will also make it
necessary to secure the collection of poll tax.
es by more stringent enactments than now
exist. Be this as it may, either Mr.. Streets
bill ought to be passed or some stringent leg
islation effected for protecting the Chinese
against individual lawlessness and mob vio-
! lence.
DOUGLAS AND SLIDELL.-Mr. Douglas re-
plies by card in the States, to Mr.. Slidell's
publication in which he says: at is not true
that l have authorized or countenaneed
offacka uDOp him kruo