The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-03-05

The Presidents Message VetOing the
Chinese Immigration Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The following is the
text of the Presidents message to the House of
Representatives, vetoing the bill to restrict
Chinese immigration:
To THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES: After
very careful consideration of House bill
2.433. entitled San act to restrict immigration |
of Chinese to the United States" l herewith |
return it to the House of Representatives, in |
which it originated, with my objections to its
passage. The bill as it was sent to the Senate
from the House of Representatives, was con-
fined in its provisions to the object named in
it's title which is that of IAN act to restrict the
immigration of Chinese TO the United States"
The only means adopted to secure the proposed |
object was limitation in the way of the number
of Chinese passengers which might be brought
to this country by any one vessel to fifteen,
and as this number was not fixed in any pro-
portion to the size or tonnage of the vessel, or
by any consideration of safety or accommoda-
ton of these passengers, the simple purpose
and effect of the enactment was TO repress this
immigration to an extent falling but little
short of its absolute exclusion.
The bill as amended in the Senate, and now
presented to me, includes an independent and
additional provision, which aims at and in
terms requires the abrogation by the govern
ment of articles five and six of the treaty with
China, commonly called the "Burlingame
| treaty." of which ratification was exchanged at
Picking, Nov. %, 1869.
This act recites as the occasion and motive OF
it's negotiation by the two governments, that
since the conclusion of the treaty between the
United States of America and Ia Using, empire
| of China, of 18th of June, 1858, circumstances
off, d6
| articles thereto, and proceeds to an agreement
| as to such additional articles. These negotia-
| tions therefore, ending by signature of addi-
tional articles, July 20, 1868. had for their OBJ
| ject the completion of our treaty rights and
| oblig ations towards the government of China
bv the incorporation of these new articles as
| thenceforth parts of the principal treaty, to
which they are made supplemental upon Set
tied rules Of Interpretation applicable to such
supplemental negotiations.
! The text of the principal treaty and of these
additional articles thereto, constitute one
treaty.. from the conclusion of the new negotia-
tions In all parts of equal and current force and
obligation between the two governments, and
! to all interests and purposeses as IT embraced
| in one instrument.
The principal treaty of which notifications
| was exchanged August l6, 1859, recites that
ssthe United States of America and the Using
Empire, desiring to maintain firm, lasting
and sincere friendship, have resolved to renew
in manner clear and positive, by means OF a
treaty or general convention OF peace. amlty
and commerce, the rules winch snall IN future
be mutually observed in the Intercourse of
their respective countries, y and proceeds in its
aOth article to lay out careful and comprehen-
sive system for commercial relations OF our
people with China.
The main substance of all provisions of this
treaty is to define and secure the rights of our
people in respect of access to, residence and
protection in and trade with China. The
actual provisions in our favor III those respects
we're framed to be and have been found ade
quate and appropriate to the interest of oul
commerce, and by the concluding article we re-
ceive the important guaranty that should al
any time the Ia Using empire grant to any ma
tion, or merchant or citizens of any nation, any
right, privilege or favor connected either will
navigation, commerce. political or other inter
course, which is not conferred by this treaty
such right, privilege and favor shall at ono
freely inure to the benefit of the United States
2 it's public officers merchants aud citizens.'
] Against this body of Populations IN GU
f favor, and this permanent engagement o
= equality in respect of all future concessions t.
foreign nations, the general promise OF Del
manent peace and good Offices on our part
g seems to be the only equivalent, for this, tn
. first article, undertakes as follows: 'Ther
h shall be, as there always have been, peace an
J. friendship between the United States Q
8 America and the Ia Using empire, and betwee
|
Il suit or oppose each other for any trihing caus
Is SO as to produce estrangement between then
T and if any other nation should act unjustly {
oppressively, the United States will exert the
good offices, on being informed of the case
II bring about an amicable arrangement of tt
j. question, thus showing their friendly feelings.
80 At the date of the negotiation of this treat
Y, our Pacific possessions had attracted consider
"a bic chance immigration, and the advantag
10 and inconvenience felt or feared therefrom hi
,o become more or less manifest, but they dictate
- no stipulation on the subject to be Incorporate
es in the treaty The year 1868 was marked
the striking event of spontaneous embas
Of from the Chinese empire, headed by an Anne
-. can citizen, Arson Burlingame, who had reli
MT quished his diplomatic representation OF I
te, own country in China to assume that OF t
an Chinese empire in the United States, and 3
w. ropean nations. By this time the facts of C
III nese immigration, and it's nature and influen
10 present and prospective, had become mt
he noticeable and were more observed by the POI
re- lation Immediately affected, and by the govel
an ment. ...
oil The principal feature of the Burlinga
treaty was it's attention to and it's treatment
ret Chinese immigration, and the Chinese as fol-
80 ing or as they should form, part OF our POI
VI lation. Up to this time our uncovenanted
The pirality to emigration, our fearless liberty
ent citizenship, our equal and comprehensive
na- tice to all inhabitants, whether they abju
foreign nationality not, our civil freed
na' and our religious federation, had made all &C
nor ers welcome and under these projections
and Chinese in considerable numbers had m
for their Judgment upon our soil. 49,.
orr The Burlingame treaty undertakes to {
~ with this situation, and it's fifth and sixth
'ne cles, emil brace its most important provision
this regard, and the main stipulations in WI
use the Chinese government has secured an obi
~, tory protection of its subjects within our tt
> vi ~, tory. They read as follows: ...
nail Article Five-The United States of Anne
fore and the emperor of China cordially recog
ing the inherent and inalienable right of mar
hail change his home and allegiance, and also
o". mutual advantage of free emigration and
nis' migration Of their citizens and subjects
With spectively, from one country to the other
int the purpose of curiosity or trade, as per
,ose nent residents. The high contracting par
, w therefore, join in Reproduction of any other
IT, entirely voluntary emigration for these
sum poses. They consequently agree to pass
ted, making it penal offense for citizens of
zen. United States, or Chinese subjects, to
Chinese subjects either to the United Stat.
to any other foreign country, or for a Chi
ana subject or citizen Of the United States to
Wit citizens of the United States to China or to