The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-21
No More Chinese.

The Senate on Saturday passed the
House bill restricting the immigration OF
Chinese to the United States, by the vote
of 80 ayes to 81 nays. In the aihrmatIVe
vo.e there were 81 Democrats and Is Re
publicans, and IN the negative y Demo
Gratis and 1S Republicans. The bill goes
back to the House for concurrence IN few
amendments made by the Senate, including
one excepting from its prohibitions Chinese
wLo come to this country for educational
purposes.
The bill is very simple in it's provisions.
1t prohibits any vessel bringing to the
ports OF this country "any number exceed
ing fifteen Chinese passengers, whether
male or female" The other sections i'm
pose severe penalties on the master or any
persou in charge Of vessels who violate the
provisions Of the law. The law goes into
effect on the first Of July, 1879, and the
President is directed to give notice 10 the
Chinese Government OF the abrogatlou OF
certain articles Of our treaties with China,
which were designed to encourage emigra.
ton.
The strongest objections made against
the law are that it is in conflict with our
treaties with China, which guarantees ''the
free migration and emigration OF the
citizens of the respective countries This
il true the law does so conflict; but the
cour,s have decided that an act Of Congress
treaty. The reasons for this are obvious.
Otherwise the executive and Senate, as the
treaty-making power might, impose intoler-
able burtEeus on the people, without the
consent and in direct opposition 10 the
wishes OF the elected representatives OF the
people. The Supreme Court, in discussing
this very point, has declared ''Uhat the
Constitution was designed to place our
country in this position is suppOsition,
in al ,,fssa hla IT rs not only inTOn-
sistent with the necessities of a nation, but
negatived by the express words Of the Con
stitution" !" The Court continues
That (the Constitution gives TO Congress in
so many words, power 10 declare war an act
which i1sg fIrt1 Tcpeals all treaties inCOnsls ent
ysith q state of war. To refuse TO execute n
treaty for reasons which approve the 'nselVes 10
the co1scfentious Judgment of nation is a
matter Of the utmost gravity but the power to
do so is prerOg8tiVe OF Whlch NO DallOn can
. he derived without deeply affecting its inde-
pencence, That the people Of the United states
ha We deprived their Government OF TINS power
where and be applicable to all eases an con
vinced asd feel no doubt that 1t belongs c
Congress.
The entire legality OF the action Of Con
gress in abrogating certain provisions o
the treaties with China having been estab
tabIishcd as within it's power, tue single
question remains whether j. is eIpedlen
to do so in This case. OF that We do no
think there can be any doubt on the par
of any one who has studied the present an'
prospective evils and dangers of unchecked
Chinese emigration. The law is a PFope
one The Chinese who are here may re
main until they voluntarily return or thei
bones are carried back to their native l2nG
but the flood of Chinese emigration viii b
stopped in the future, and American labo
thus relieved of crushing and IN SON
respects degrading oompetItion.-FVtSeHT
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