The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-11-03


ing that Mr.. c. was an old fogy, and how
they did things in Massachusetts, sat down,
surrounded, and it may be, dazZled, mentally
speaking, with the edulgence Of his own light
The next speech was the event Of the even
ing, and it was fortunate for the speaker that
Mr.. Rhodes desired to speak, or else the reso-
lutiOns would have been passed so promptly,
that his speech would have been entirely lost.
Mr.. J. o. Carter commenced his remarks by
saying that much has been said about sympa-
thy for the planters, by several speakers. He
had sympathized with them himself, but row
felt convinced that it was not necessary.
class of men thatean evoke the aid of the Min
istry, Judge of the Supreme Court, Bank.
err, and many of our merchants, can care for
itself; instead of sympathy. it should excite
alarm" By the same reason, any good thing
that enlists the sympathy or excites the inter
est of these gentlemen, should excite alarm.
"He was opposed to the system of contract
labor, initiated and supported by the Board of
Immigration" This was a figure OF rhetoric
probably-the system of contract labor having
been initiated in 1851, say thirteen years
previous to the Board Of Immigration having
been thought of. ''Claimed that the system
which contracts give n semblance Of decency
to, is only a modification of slavery. The
machinery which perfects the coolie system is
identical with that which gave force to African
slavery. In China, strife is engendeTed, pris-
oners are taken and sold to parties who are
gathering 'laborers.' The gambler stakes his
body, and losing, goes to the barracoon- ALI
the evil in human nature is appealed to. The
pen or barracoon is an Institution in China as
well as in Africa. The crowding on board of
ships pertains to both systems" More figure
of speech, seeing that the Chinaman brought
here were brought under the British Emigra-
ton Act, and could not be crowded. "He
would not claim that this system prevailed at
Hongkong to the extent that it did in other
places, but would prove, before closing, that
abuses existed under our system, which would
warrant tho belief that other abuses had been
practiced. At the last meeting, member of
the Board of immigration said that the Chi
nese could all read their contracts, and had
yet to see the first one who could not read it,
or who would say that he had not signed it,
and repeatedly challenged any one to prove to
the contrary. He had taken the trouble to
look into the matter, and was prepared to take
up the challenge"
Mr.. Harris is reported in the p. O. A. of
Oct. 23d-with which paper Mr.. Carter is con-
nected-as having at the previous meeting,
Repeatedly challenged any man TO show, or
to stand up and say that he could produce a
coolie who did Northumberland his contract. He
had yet to see the first one who could not read
II, anu VINO WOulu say ne nau not slHneu IT,
They have never said they did not understand
their contracts and ii is so with the japanese
and Manahikis. You can't bring one of them
who will say to the contrary"
1t will be seen that the whole gist Of the
" challenge" was, "to produce a coolie who
didn't understand his contract" and if the
two sentences reported in the same paper are
compared together, the change made by Mr..
Carter will be more creditable to his ingenuity
than to his fairness of debate. In point of fact,
Mr.. Harris had said at the preceding meet
ing, whilst replying to the oft repeated asser-
ton, that the Chinese were deceived or forced
into their position ; that he had been n mem
Der of the Board of Immigration from the be-
ginning; that on the arrival of the ships Ros-
eoe and Alberto, he had, in company with
Mr.. Parke and Mr.. Widemann, (who was then
by his side) seen to the reception and distribu-
ton of these passengers. and by the aid of
competent interpreters, from shore and ship,
each man had been called who had presented
his contract, as the number was called, and
was asked if he agreed to all the terms of it,
and each assented to it. That one gentleman
in the room, at least, (whOm Mr.. II. mention
ed) had been an observer of the fact for
considerable time; that subsequently,, though
many had been before the Board of Immgra-
tion-in gangs sometimes-eco complaining of
that he did not understand his contract, and
upon that, would appeal to the Police Magis
trate, who was sitting before him, and had
likewise examined many cases. That far
as it had been brought to his observation,
most, if not all of them, could read their con-
tracts,
However, he says he proceeded to Mr..
Woods plantation. He does not say that he
invited any one to go with him who might be
inclined to crOss-queston, as it were. Mr.. C's
inquiries were strictly er-parfe, and he says
this was the result of his examination j
'He had visited a plantation in the neigh
borhood of the city-that of j. ii. Wood-in
company with Il competant interpreter and
had there examined ten Chinese coOe laborers.
He had found out of the ten who could
read and write one who could read but not
write and eight who could neither read nor
write. Not one of them had signed the con-
tract or paper by which he was held, and there
was not one ofthe contracts in which could be
found the name of the eoolie claimed to be held
under it. Three knew the contract by sight
seven could not pick out the contracts by which
they were held. None of them had seen the
contracts until after they had gone on board
the ship which brought them here. One had
visited the vessel chartered to bring them hero
and was satisfied that it was not desirable to
go on the voyage, had not signed q contract
received one, but was prevented from going on
shore again. Another case which Mr.. G. had
enquired into was that Of a Chinese coolie, a
cook, held by contract by Mr.. p. G. Jones, Jr.
He was questioned before Messrs. Along &
Achuck, merchants, through competent in
terpreter, and the following were the questions
and answers
q. What is your name in Chinese? A.. All
nese. The name in the contract is Meegahle-
ong)
Q. Can yon read and write Chinese? A. Yes.
Q. Did you read this contract before leaving
China? A. Never read it, but had paper Civ
en- me after got on board ship.
Q. Did you sign this contract? A. No
Q. Did you sign any contract? A. No
Q. Did you read any contract before going
on board the ship? A. No.
Q. Did you know you were hired for five
years? A. Yes.
Q. Did you know you were to work for any
body here who would hire you? A. Yes.
Q. Where were you born? A. In Chung-lo-in.
(The contract says born in Shenon.)
Q. What is your age at present. A. Twenty
four. By the contract was aged "a, Aug. IS,
1861
Q. How were you secured to come here, and
what inducements were held out to you?
A. Notices were put up in the streets at Hong
kong that men were wanted to 90 to Honolulu
l made application, and was informed that L
could find work at Honolulu at much better
rates than in China. | received an advance
of IS, besides one pair of shoes and some
clothes. Was told that | was to receive 81
per month on the vessel, and to get much
higher wages as a stone mason, his trade
after arrival here.
Q. What wages did you use to receive in
China? A. Sometimes so cents a day; some
times 371 cents, 30 cents and rs cents.
Mr.. C. proceeded quite at length in his re-
marks, and called up Mr.. J. II. Wood. to