The Van Buren press., 1869-08-24
From the San Francisco Herald.
The Chinese in California.

Almost the hrst subject 10 which the
attention Of the committee was invited
on the arrival was the Chinese question
A vessel had arrived day or two before
bringing | 300 Chinese emigrants, who
were greeted on their landing with stones,
brickbats, and every description of un-
hospitality. There are now something
over $4,000 OF these people in the coun
try. A million will come next yoar if
they are wanted, and the almort univer-
sal ,opie Of discussion is whether they
are wanted or not. The Irish laborer on
the Pacific regards Chinaman with ex-
actly tho same sentiments Of disgust that
fills his bosom in the East on tho appear.
ance of "nagur," and most of the phys
ical outreges committed upon poor John
are by this class of American citizens !;
but the legislation OF the State and the
decisions Of the judiciary are all against
him. He is made to pay capitatiou tax
on landing of three dollars, another mi
ner's tax Of five dollars ayear, if he works
in the mines, and penalty OF eight dol
for going out of the country, Judge
Fields, Of the United States Supreme
Court, holding Circuit Court here, de-
clnes to admit him to naturalization on
the ground, seriously expressed in for
NAL judicial opinion, that he is an Indian.
| His oath as a witness is not taken in any
court, and he is robbed and beaten and
maltreated by anybody who chooses
without any possibility of redress And
yet it is the unanimous testimony OF ey-
erobody tina twithout this description OF
cheap labor California would go to the
dogs. As miner he is eminently sue.
cessful lie works over the worn out
discardep placers and obtain remunera.
ton that satisfies him. About four out
Of ten of the deposits Of bullion are made
by Chnamcn--usually in comparatively
small amounts, but reaching large sum
| ins lH,Ng THeSetso ,Nbc-teujbsaf uar dn-
portations from China are paid by the
natives Of that country. Half a million
of duties is paid on the single article OF
opium for smoking purposes The re-
ceips Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany to China, outside the Government
subsidy, come almost exclusively from
Cinnamon. Several wooden manufacto
tories, employing from one hundred to
three hundred hands each, are Fun nprotit'
ably by Chinese labor, and the tsstimo-
ny OF the superintendents is that the men
work not only for less wages, learn soon-
er and work with more faithfulness and
| ingenuity than any other class Of per-
sons. And the same is true Of them as
household servants, and as iaborcrs in
every capacity.
The second morning after our arrival
the Committee, by invitations, held an
interview with the six Presidents Of the
Chinese Emigration Companies through
whose auspices all Cinnamon come from
and go to their native country. Ben
Wade and Senator Conkling were also
present, and participated in the conver-
sation that followed. Fung Tang, who
speaks English fuently, made little
speech, setting forth the grievances and
wants Of his ceuntrymen, after which the
folio wing conversation occurred:
ITO what extent do your companies
exercise control over the Chinese emi
grants you bring here p
"Only to assist them. We advance
the meney to bring them here, furnish
them lodgings on their arrival; find then
places, send their money home to sup
port their families, and send them hons
when they want to 60 For this we only
require them to reimburse us and to pay
SlJ each in addition, to support the com
panies, when they leave the country. W.
exercise no control over them beyont
this"
"What relations do yonr companic:
have to each otherI'
Each company represents aprevinc'
in China, and persons desiring to smi
] crate from particular section or prov
ince do so through the agency of tn
company for that province
Have your people any religious re
quircments in consequence OF which the.
send home the bones of those who die il
: this country"
mo. In China there is custom 0
} twice year decorating aud by variou
ceremonies honoring the graves of tn
, dead. 1t is to secure this that when th
, bones of two or three hundred have &C
camulated here we send them to Chin
to he inferred. There is no religious re
quirement." ,"
"Why do your people not learn on
| language and conform to our customs
7 and habits?'
| "Ws are allowed in San Francisco on,
, English school. That is always full.
. we had three more, there are young mel
! anxious to learn, enough to fill them -
, We wish to learn your language and cor
= form to your customs If We had cncour
} agcment aud protection
t "Why do your people not bring thei
families her and become permanent citi
J zens r
A Most who CONS here are very poor
. 1t is true they go back to China, but the.
5 return here again and bring their friends
r A considerable number have returne
r with their families and more will do so
I The reason why more have not done s.
Y is because they have, under your law,
. no protection"