The Shasta courier., 1860-03-03
COURIER.
The Chinese Question in the Assembly,

In the Assembly, on the 2lst February, Mr.
Lawrence, from the Committee on Mines and
Mining Interests, reported Assembly bill No. SO,
an Act entitled {" An Act to amend Act to
provide for the protection of foreigners and to
define their liabilities and privileges" approved
April 18th 1856. Also, Assembly bill No. Ill,
an Act amendatory of and supplementary to an
Act entitled " An act to provide for the protec-
ton of foreigners" passed March 18th, 1858,
reported substitute for both bills, recommend
ing its passage:
| Mr.. Speaker: Your Committee on Mines and
| Mining Interests, to whom was referred Assem-
bly, bill No. SO, an Act to repeal an Act entitled
Gan Act to amend an Act to provide for the pro-
lection of foreigners, and to define their liabili-
ties and privileges" approved April 10th, 1856,
and to revive the Act approved April 13, 1855;
and also Assembly bill No. IL, an Act amend
atory of and supplementary to Act entitled
"An Act to provide for the protection of for
1 egners,' passed March 30th, 1858, have had the
same under consideration, and report them back
with substitute bill, respectfully recommending
the passage of the substitute. Your Committee
would inform the Assembly that they have re-
ported the substitute bill after due deliberation,
and they most earnestly solicit careful analysis
of its provisions by each and every member
The ultimate object Of the bill is not disguised.
| The gradual but certain expulsion of the Chi
nese or Mongoliaus from the mines will be the
| result of its passage.
The Supreme Court says that we cannot pre-
vent Chinese or Mongolian immigration by pos
tive enactment. Undera decision OF the same
Court, we have the right, as police regulation,
10 impose tax upon these Asiatic coolies, in
lieu of the protection they receive and the liberty
they have to work in the mines. The substi-
tute bill increases this tax by a gradual scale
until it shall reach the rate of $50 per month
declares it misdemeanor for a Chnaman OF
Mongolian to work in the mines without a IL
cense receipt for the current month, and pro-
vides that the fine imposed, if not paid, shall be
worked out at 81 per day upon the public high
ways. These provisions of the bill are in the
nature of police regulation, and therefore are
not repugnant to the Constitution.
In this report Jour committee do not propose
to argue the great question at issue. That may
more properly be done when the bill is consid.
cred by the House. We earnestly recommend
that the whole matter be fully discussed, con
fidently believing that the result will be the pas
sage of the substitute bill. A wretched race o
semi barbarians are sapping the wealth of oul
State. They are overrunning usj they are elias:
who can never become citizens under our gov
ernment they can never be admitted to the So
ca circle; they mostly coolies, or, in othei
words, slaves to the wealthy grandees of thei
own country, but are not calculated for or de-
sired as slaves by our own citizens; they are
blightng curse to the State in every sense o
the word. 1t is for the Legislature representing
the will of the people to say whether the mine!
of California shall longer remain the field il
which Chinese nabobs work their slaves. 1t i;
| fort tI,a clatr tn VIII ri
liens shall longer be disgraced by this assoca
ton, and the gold which belongs to them trans
} fer ed to a country from whence it never re-
turns. A wise policy will either make tn,
| Chinese a source of five times the revenue nov
derived from them, drive the pestlence will
| which we are beset, fro1 the State. All O
which is respectfully submitted.
JOHNSON, of Amador, Chm.
A. c. LAWRENCE,
BENZ. 2. HUGO,
J. White
2. II. GALLAGHER.
} Mr. Lawrence moved that the usual number o
copies of the bill just reported be ordered print
: ed. Agreed to.
The following is the bill offered by the Com
mittee, with the exception of the 4th, 9Th, an(
9th sections, which are not important:
; An ACT IN relation 10 Chinese or Mongolian
| scorking IN the mines Of this State.
SECTION l. From aud after the first day O
April, 1860, until the first day of October, 1860
the tax to be paid by Cinnamon or Mongolani
working in and upon any OF the gold, silver o.
other mines of this State, for the purpose o
taking gold, silver, or other metal therefrom
shall be at the rate of six dollars per month fol
each Chnaman or Mongolan so working in any
of said mines. From and after the first day o
| na. tta first Iax- of al.ar
1861, said tax shall be at the rate of eight dol
lars per month. From and after the first day
of October, 1861, until the first day of October
1862, said tax shall be at the rate of twelve dol
lars per month. From and after the first day o
October, 1862, until the first day of October
1868, said tax shall be at the rate of sixteer
dollars per month. From and after the first day
of October 1868, said tax shall be at the rate o
twenty dollars per month.
SEC. 2. Section first Of this Act shall be con-
strued to include all Cinnamon or Mougolian.
: working in the mines, whether as Coolies, OF
} upon their own account or for hire and it i!
expressly provided that Cinnamon or Mongolian!
shall not be permitted to work or labor, or hire
or procure others to work or labor in and upor
any of the miaes of this State, without having
first paid the tax and procured the license pro
vided for in this Act. When any Chinaman oil
Mongolian shall fail, upon demand of the TAI
Collector or his deputy, to produce license re-
cept for such tax for the current month, such
failure shall be deemed pTima facie evidence tha
he has not procured such license
SEC. 3. Any Chinaman or Mongolian foGnt
working in the mines for the purpose of taking
gold, silver or other metals therefrom, or who
is known by the Collector, his deputy or other
person to be engaged in mining, who shall fail
| upon demand of the Collector or his deputy tc
produce a license receipt for the curreut month
shall be liable to be forthwith taken into Gus
tody by the Collector or his deputy, and taken
before any Justice of the Peace in the township
in which be was arrested Upon complaint or
affidavit of the Collector other person, the
Justice shall proceed to a hearing of the case,
and if it shall appear that such Chinaman or
Mongolian had been working in such mines
and had not first procured a license so to do, he
shall be adjudged guilty OF misdemeanor and
fined in any sum not more than $500 nor less
than $50, together with costs Said fine, if re-