Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-10

General Miles, who was sent to Califor-
MIA by the Memphis Convention 10 ex.
anime tho character of Chinese labor. has
! returned. He will speedily make O report
of his observations. Tho character of that
report may be inferred from the following
statement from the New Orleans Times,
whose editor has seen and converted with
General Miles
We can state that the General confirmed
tho opinions of all intelligent and impar-
tial persons who have visited California as
| to the great value, superiority and cheaD-
ness of Chinese labor. An active. sa-
gaciOus and inqniaitive gentleman, he
made a thorough and minute examination
into the manners, habits and customs of
| the Chinese. He visited the various es-
attachments in which they are employed,
| the wOollen factories, the machine shops.
| the fonndries, the farms, the minca. and
| on railroads in fine, In every department
Of industry AMI manufactures and he
| found that in every relation and position
| they were regarded aa the cheapest, most
reliable and trustworthy labOrcrs in the
State. AS hOnse servants they are IS
teemed as lncomparahly superior to all
others in their cleanliness, doClllty and
| fidelity. Their labor can be obtained at
about 0ne-third the rate paid for other
| labor. 1t Is for this reason they are per
secuted and oppressed by certain classes in
California These classes, embracing a
large number of voters, political asplrants,
and party leaders, find it to their interest
| to sanction the deunnciatiOn of the Chinese
| bat even these admitted to Gen. M los that
tor the Southern plantation there cOuid be
no better labOlera. The want of l.rutcc-
tom iy tina law has some " hat discouraged
| Enumeration to California otherwise the
only limit would be the amount OF trans
pOrtatiOn which could be devoted to tile
business Of bringing them over This
bnSlness Is very different from the cOulie
! TIA lie, which has been prohibited ry the act
tfCongrtss. The contractors. who have been
extensively engaged Ill this business, and
are willing to embark Oh a still larger
scale, obtain their emlgrantS from the in
terror and agricultural districts of China,
and 80 far from employing any violence OIL
deceit to induce them to emlgrate, are an,
noyed by the opportunities of those WHO
beg to 60. There are fow indeed Of the
labOring class who would not leave that
country TO come to America if their pas
sage were secured They arc willing to
bind themselves, and the contractors vii
guarantee the fultillment Of their pledge tt
work, at a rate to be agreed on, until they
reimburse all tho advances made for then
transportation. In fine, the whole system
of the Chinese emigration Is aIranged IN
strict cnnslatencY with acts of Congress
which have been passed in regard to Enro
pean contracts. The right Of these parties
to bind themselves, and the validity of such
contracts Of labor, to reimburse parties at
fording them the means OF transportation
has never been questioned. So far from
requiring any special laws to protect them
from fraud and imposition IN such con
tracts, General Miles assures US that the
! Chinese are more than ordinarily shreWu
in making a bargain and taking care OF
themselves All that they ask is protec
ton when they coma into our country, and
the enjoyment of the rights which have
been promised to them under the Burlin
game treaty. Though the mission and pur
poses of Gen. Miles were seriously inter
fered with and discouraged by Boutwelps
letter to the Collector of New Orleans, he
had every assurance that if proper securi-
ty be afforded against any attempts on the
part of the government to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of these labOrers, the full de
mand of the South could be in a few years
! satisfied. at rates which would render il
| the cheapest and best labor in the world
and thus add enormously to the produc
tive wealth and Improvement OF our sec
ton