The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-07
TEE CHINESE IN AMERICA.
Interview Betveen tho Committee OF
Ways and Means and PEOminent Chi
nose Merchants OF Sam Exancasco.

Of the sx Chinese 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 represen
atives. Fung Tang, delivered the following
speech: a.. att Il
Genaemen-N gives me. and all Chinese
merchants Of San Francisco, great pleasure to
meet honorable senators and members Of Con-
gress OF the. United States. We are made very
happy by seeing you here. for we can explain
to you our wishes and tho wants Of our people.
Our government took pleasure in appointing
an American amb aseadOr to- make treaties
es
protection it promises. ,Amer'oa Is probably
better known to the Chinese people than any
other country, because may, OF our people
counts OF the country. China is o very old ma
tion, but our people have learned many new
things from the Americans. 1. The population Of
China is very large, aud intercourse between
just iaws,to project us. You probably know
that We have very rich merchants and bankers
itn China, but we cannot advise them to risk
their capital here when their agent cannot
cspitslists @ 'ss they Wish ~ to ~ know sSf tat tat
them before parting WITH it. Much gold and
silver is bearded y china yhloh nigh. be
chants have tried to be HONEST and fair in our
dealings with your mer r,hants here. and have
paid our debts to. Americans as scrupulously
of your largest San FrRncisco firms, engaged
in trade with China, who have trusted us for
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars at q time
without security. are here to prove thetSuth
OF what say. We have introduced your gram
and other American produce lnto CHINA. and
labored to establish trade which, II properly
encouraged. must prove Of great value to this
country We nupe you viii pass law 'fioubs
steamers, and oblige them to 'ruu each way
twice month; tor we feel certain that the cost
will be sm Ill, when compared to the benefits
your country will receive. Captain Eidridge
passage money is paid by our people now--and
should YOU increase your number of trips We
will doail in our power to support this lire,
and thus insure It's. success.
At the banquet given IN this city before the
ling Ut the frst Amer1can steamship 70 .
China, made speech full OF congratulations
on the commencement OF this great enterprise.
Az !hdssh. Chinese a feis very happy, because We
quaiuted, and we hoped you would, by knowing
US. learn to like us, aud be willing to protect
US from some evils we now suffer. and which
we think unjust. We think your special tax,
collected only from Chinese MINERS is not ac.
cording to our treaty with, your government.
We are willing to pay taxes cheerfully when
taxed equally with Others. We also think the
TAX OF QV6 collars cOli0Ct0Q from each China
man for coming into. this State is not right.
if this lS q free country: But most Of ali we
feel the want or protection to life and prop
erty when courts Of jusuce retuse our testi-
mony, and thus leave US defenceless and un-
able to obtain just ce tor ourselves, and often
for others. The Chinese who come to Caiif0r-
MIA to labor are poor men, so our companies
which are formed to assist them. and not to
oppress them, advance money to bring them
here; but no slavery exists at all among our
people, for every man receives wages tor his
labor and works voluntarily. Some people m
California have said we had slaves here, but
it is not true, We make men contribute from
their earnings enough to pay their debts, il
money has been advanced to bring them to
this country. China can furnish you good,
faithful, indus trious men to cultivate rice and
cotton IN your Southern States IT. you wish to
employ them; or TO raise tea and silk
in california, il you will make laws to protect
and make them feel safe. and Insure them
equal justice with other nations. according
to their treaty with your government. As q
people, We wish to do right and treat all people
we'll. If you will converse with my countay-
men here to-dav, they will answer any ques-
itions you wish to aak, and We hops, ON ypur
return to Washington, you will speak favorably
all Chinese in California and the Chinese mer-
chants of San Francisco, We welcome you
here, and thank you kindly for thinkingso sof us
and honoriDg US with visit. We have recelv-
ed much kindness from many excellent people
in Cahfornla, all Of which we npprecia1e, and
for which we gratefully tender our thanks.