Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-05
F0RTY-FlRST CONGRESS.
Yesterdays Proceedings.
MONDAY, July 4, $50.

and referred to the Finance Committee, and
ordered to be printed.
MIR. Harris offered a resolution calling upon
the Secretary OF the Treasury for information
relative TO the removal Of James r. Casey, col
lector Of customs at New Orleans, rs 70 the
manner in which said Casey had discharged tn
duties OF his Office; the number of employees in
SSS apl Is. 70 Ths during each month from
II any persons were employed during said
time without authority OF law, the amount paid
nc, aisS, concerning the management of the
and the amount Of imports and exports at said
port during those years. Adopted.
The Atlantic and Pacific railroad bill was
briefly considered, and amended to make the
act conditional upon the completion OF the en-
tire road by 1858.
An amendment to prevent encroachments
upon Indian reservations by any land grants 20
the company, was discussed without acton.
At l220 O'Clock, the naturalization bill was
taken up. Mr.. Summers amendment. striking
the word ''white" from the naturalization laws,
making them apply equally 60 all foreigners,
having been adopted, the question REQUIRED on
Mr.. Williams amendment to exclude the Chi
ntse from the benefits Of the pending legislation
Mr.. Stewart continued his remsr Ks az sinst the
admission OF the Chinese to naturalization upon
an equal footing with all other foreigners While
he would protect the Chinese in their personal
rights, he would never sanction the introduction
Of asystem of slave labor in competition with
white labor In this country, which was the Ques-
ton at issue in the amendment. He would not
interfere TO prevent the immigration OF Chinese
who came voluntarily, but he would never agree
to invest with political power imported cooIie
slaves, brought here under contracts, and who,
as Pagans. could not take our oaths.
Mr.. Conkling appealed to Mr.. Sumner TO
withdraw his amendment, which could be done
by unanimous consent. He regarded 1t as jeop-
ardizing the whole bill, the importance of
which to the country in preventing natursliza-
ton frauds i'm New York city and elsewhere
could not be overestimated.
Mr.. Trumbull said If the Chinese were to come
slOQll nOfC m as al huf
be Incorporated into the body polite. The
policy Of the Republican party having been to
make ireemen, he could not understand show
that party could refuse TO admit them 70 citi-
Zensbip.
Mr.. Sumner read number of letters from col
ored residents of the United States born abroad
complaining of their exclusion from naturali-
Zation. He argued that his amendment Was to
cover these cases as we'll those OF the Chinese.
Mr.. Williams contended that the Declaration
OF Independence did not mean that the wild
man Of South America, the0heathen, and the
oaBiba were to be allowed equal political rights
under the government with citizens OF the
United States. He regarded Mr.. Summers in
depreciation OF that instrument a. foolish and
absurd. Its author had declared all men created
equal; but they had alse declared that il was the
right and duty OF a nation so to organize the
powers Of government as should seem most
likely TO effect its safety and happiness III
it was the judgment Of the American people
that II was to their safety to exclude the
Chinese from participating in our government
il was their duty 50 to decide. The trainers OF
the Constitution had created political distinc-
from becoming President, and in regard to ell
Eligibility as Congressmen, but would the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts, assert that that distinc-
ton = was ~ violation Of the principles of the De-
Mr.. Sumner, in reply TO an inquiry on the
point, admitted that Congress could refuse 20
pass any naturalization law, but insisted that
any such law, If passed. must be in harmony
with the Declaration of Independence, that
there could be no distinction Of color.
Mr. Williams said he understood the Senator
to admit that Congress had jurisdiction over
the question OF naturalization, but that then
the Declaration of Independence came in and
controlled the Judgment Of Congress, and there
Mr.. Sumner explained that he meant no dis
elimination on account of color. He was not
the gates and refuse 10 nstursiize snyboay' bnt
If it did Daturalize them, the law must be in
harmony with the Declaration OF Independence
He considered that insuument as paramount nt 20
law, not TO be set aside or questioned i'm any
respect; but irreve rsible, and one which ali the
Senate were bound to respect.
s,tsnn MI, Williams argued that MI; Summers po-
ment Of the Senator when upon the floor had
been that all men we're equal, and therefore all
we're entitled to equal political rights and pri-
vileges, but nov he conced that Congress had
the power to exclude from naturalization every
person born in a foreign country.
Mr.. Williams maintained the power OF Coz
gress in this respect, and its right to discrimi-
nate for the best interests of the government in
admitting foreigners to political rights. Re
said when the BuIlingame treaty with China
to provide that nothing therein containe a should
be held TO confer naturalization upon Chinese
in the United States. The Chinese were not
aaaIS desirable population: The Monaghan never
scent; he never would lose his identity and we
would have a separate, distinct people among
us, an empire Of China within the republic
Of America; conflict and bloodshed between
races having no affinity, and, as in the case of
the Indian, gradual determination would be the
tate OF one Of the contending parties. With
what propriety could we talk about liberty, |
virtue and intelligence as the palladium Of our
liberties while opening the door to an over
whelning tide Of pollution and Paganism. The
opposition of MIR. Sumner to invite here q
O. nonse nse, and ds served the contempt il had
ceived. He sympathized with the efforts of
the workingmen Of the country 70 STAY this |
toe or penury and degradation now
Pacific. He would have the workingmen of |
Massachusetts, understand that their Senator |
lSumnerl was proposing to issue q I rJclsmstion |
them out Of employment He (Sumner) was
content TO dream of the triumph of his theory
although the workingmen OF his State were
When told that his theory would overrun the |
country with bigoted and degraded race, his |
answer was "no matter as to consequences or
practical erect this theory of mine must be fully
Mr. williams further argued that the effort,
or capital TO import cheap labor from abroad
Soms tse tor labor mot
the howell and its miseries. Referring to the i'm
mediate effects Of Summers amendment, he
said that so,ooe Chinamen on the Pacifc coast |
could ct once make themselves voters and that
one hundred millions OF Chinese could cross the
Pacfhc and dwell in this country without BEING
mined at home He predicted that the passage
Of the bin would unite the laborers OF the
country, white and black In a com mon e1lnrf 10