The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-07-16
THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.
Interview Between the Committee of Ways
and Means and Prominent Chinese Mer-
chants of San Francisco


companies of the city and several of the
leading merchants and bankers. There
was an interchange Of compliment and
sentiment, and one of the Chinese rep
resent4ies, FuSG TANG, delivered the
following speech:
Gentlemen 1t gives me, and all Chi
nesc merchants of San Francisco, great
pleasure to meet honorable Senators and
members Of Congress ofthe United States. |
We are made very happy by seeing you
here, for we can explain TO you our wishes
and the wants of our people. Our gov
eminent took pleasure in appointing an
American Ambassador to make treaties
with foreign powers, and we arc satisfied
with your treaty with our nation, but
want the just protection it promises
America is probably better known to the
Chinese people than any other country,
because many of our people have lived
here, and written home faithful accounts
Of the country. China is very old ma
s5nn, but our people have learned many
new things from the Americans. The
population of China is very large, and
intercourse between our countries will be
very intimate, if we have just laws to
protect US. You probably know that we
have very rich merchants and bankers
in China, but we cannot advise them to
risk their capital here when their agents
cannot testify in your courts, for like
your own capitalists they wish to know
that their property is protected and Sc
cure to them before parting with it.
Much gold and silver is boarded in China
which might be used probably here, if
the Chinese felt sure we had full and pro-
per protection. We merchants have
tried to be honest and fair in our deal
ings with your merchants here, and have
paid our debts to Americans as scrupu-
lousy as to our own people. The mana
gers of some of your largest San Fran
cisco firms, engaged in trade with China,
who have trusted us for hundreds ofthOu
sands of dollars at time, without secu-
rity, arc here to prove the truth of what
| say. We have introduced your grain
and other American produce into China,
and labored to establish trade, which,
if properly encouraged, must prove of
great value to this country. We hope
you will pass law doubling the Govern
ment pay to your line of China steamers,
and obligc them to run each way twice
o month for we feel certain that the
cost will be small, when compared to the
benefits your country will receive. Cap
tain Eldridge will tell you how much of
their freight and passage money is paid
by our people now-and should you in
crease your number of trips, we will do
all in our power to support this line, and
thus insure is success.
AT the banquet given in this city be-
fore the sailing Of the first American
steamship for China, ] made a speech
full of congratulations on the commence
ment of this great enterprise. All Chi
ncsc felt very happy, because VIC thought
it would make our nations better &C
quainted, and we hoped you would, by
knowing us, learn to like us, and be will
ing to protect us from some evils we now
suffer, and which we think unjust. We
think your special tax collected only from
Chinese minors, is not according to our
treaty with your government. We are
willing to pay taxes chccrfully when
taxed equally with others. We also
think the tax of five dollars collected
from every Chinaman for coming into
this State is not right, if this IS free
country. But most of al! we feel the
want of protection to life and property
when courts of justice refuse our tcsti-
mony, and Thus leave MS dcfcncelcss and
unable to obtain justice for ourselves,
and often for others. The Chinese who
come to California to labor are poor men,
our companies, which arei formed to
assist them, and not to Cypress them, adj
vance money to bring them here; but no
slavery exists at ali among our people,
for every man receives wages for his la
Dor and works voluntarily. Some peo-
pie in California have said we had slaves
here, but it is not true. We make mon
contribute from their earnings enough to
pay their debts, if money has been ad-
Yanced to bring them to this country
China can furnish you good, faithful, in
dustrious men to cultivate rice and cot
ton in your Southern States if you wish
to e,pploy them; or to raise tea and silk
in California, if you will make laws to
protect and make them feel safe, and in
sure them equal justice with other ma
tions, according to their treaty with your
government. As people, wo wish to
do right and treat all people well. lfyou
will converse with my countrymen here
to-day, they will answer any questions
you wish TO ask, and We hope on your
return to Washington you will speak ia
vorably of us to the United States Gov
eminent. For all Chinese in California
and the Chinese merchants of San Fran
cisco, We welcome you here, and thank
you kindly for thinking of us and honor
ing us with a visit. We have received
much kindness from many excellent peo-
pie in California, all of whom we apprc-