The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-02-13
THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Legislature. We thought so then we are
still Of the same opinion. If the bill had
become law then all these troubles, that
have since come TO the surface, about Chi
nese labor, would have been avoided, for the
Intention and effect Of the law was to drive
these long. g.cued, rat.eating idolators and bar.
barians out of the State.
This is from tho Albany Democrat. II il
fair specimen Of the ignoraute Of that
class of editors. They do not know that the
proposed tax could not be collected they
are not aware that a State cannot prevent
the introduction Of any class of foreigners,
or drive them out after they hayo come in.
They seem to be incapable of acquiring n
knowledge of the lainest principles of the
Constitution or the long established policy
of tho Government. All they can do is to
20 on with their everlasting gibbcrish about
rat. eating idolators" and descant upon the
marry your daughter to-a. niger philoso.
phy.-Iorttdnd OregoniaH.
The Oregonian substantially charg-
es that we arc quite ignorant. We
concede that we do not know ss much
as some others, nor as much Us we
hope to know after awhile. But it is
very questionable in our mind wheth-
er the editor of the Oregontan is Gu
pable Of learning us much in science,
politics, law or religion. He says
that the proposed tax" of the Chi
nese embraced in Col. Chapman's Chi
ma Bill, and which the Governor We
toed, could not be collected" viii
the sapient editor permit us to inquire
why? Many of the most eminent
men, of the legal fraternity of this
State, hold that the tax could be col
lectcd-the Governor and the Oreg0-
MAN to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The question of constitutionality was
fully discussed pending the passage
of the China Bill; and Mr. Galley,
the Radical leader of the House, and
possessing one of the best legal minds
in the State, was clearly of the opin.
ion that the bill was constitutional; 4;
and hence that the tax could be col
lected. He made the best speech in
favor cf the bill that was delivered in
the House during the last session of
the Legislature. In addition to these
facts, we state for the information of
the very profound and astute editor,
that, in accordance with n statute of
this State, every Chinaman in Oregon
can be made to pay an annual poll-tax
Of five dollars for the use of the coun-
" in which he may reside; and if he
does not pay it, it is the duty Of the
sheriff, after having asccrtained that he
has no property, to arrest the China
man, and make him work on the pub
lie highway, at fifty cents a day, un-
til he has paid the tax aforesaid. No
one, We believe, questions the consti-
tutionality of this law; at any rate
the Cinnamon of Linn county have
been made to pay the tax, particular.
ly since Mr.. Irvine has acted as sher-
if Of our county. The same is true
of other counties of Oregon. Now,
if it be right to tax these long-cucd,
moon-eycd, rat-eating, opium-smok-
ing idolators and barbarians I've dol
lars annually, why may they not be
taxed double, or treble, or quadruple
that amount? The principle is pre-
cisely the same in both eases the on
ly difference is as to the AMOUNT
Will the very learned, and most ex-
crutiatingly profound, and distressing
ly wise editor of the Oregonian an
swer this question?
But we are told by this brilliant
genius shat State cannot prevent
the introduction of any class of for
eigners." In other words, a State,
or nation, is perfectly powerIess to
protect it's citizens from the contami.
mating and debasing influences of a !
low, and ignorant, and groveling, and
idolatrous class Of pagans! This is a
beautiful doctrine; but it is perfectly
in keeping with others enunciated by
the fanatical, corrupt and assinine
leaders of the Radical party. The
doctrine that a nation cannot ex-
clude Chinese, or indeed any foreign
ers, is directly the reverse of that
taught by all standard authors on In
ternational Law. Vattel says;
"The sovereign may forbid tie entrance
Of his territory either to foreigners in gener-
al, or in particular cases, or to certain per.
sons, or for particular purposes, according
as he may think ii advantageous to the State.
There is nothing in all this that. does not
flow from the rights of domain and sover-
eighty every one is obliged to pay respect
to the prohibition and whoever dares to vi.
olate it, incurs the penalty decreed to render
it eRectual"
This doctrine, thus so clearly and
unequivocally enunciated by Vattel,
has been recognized by all civilized
nations of ancient or modern times
and accordingly we find that the Chi
rese and other oriental nations, who
refused to permit foreigners to live
within their borders, had their rights,
in this regard, most scrupulously OBJ
served and respected by all other ma