The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-07
John Nag Come and stay.
MR.. HAYES PUTS HIS VETO on THE ANTI
CHINESE BILI.


bill providing for the restriction of Chinese
immigration, was delivered to the Speaker
/ of the House on Saturday evening by Mr..
Hayes assistant private secretary, Mr..
Pruden. Followingris a synopsis of tie
message
The bill as It was sent to the Senate from
the House of Representatives was confined
in its provisions to the object named in Its
ti.le, which is that of "an act 10 restrict
/ the emigration of the Chinese to the Uni
ted States" The only means adopted to
secure the proposed object was the limit
alton on 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 proportion to
the size or tonnage of the vessel, or by
any consideration of the safety or accom-
mediation of these passengers, the simple
purpose and effect of the enactment was to
repress the emigration to an extent falling
but little short OF its absolute exclusion.
Tho bill as amended in the Senate and
now presented to me, includes an indie
pendent and additional provision which
aims at and in terms requires the abrOga-
tion by this Government of Articles 3 and
6 Of the treaty with China, commonly
called the Burlingame Treaty, through the
action Of the Executive, enjOined by this
provision of this act. The main substance
of all the provisions of :he treaty is to de-
fine and secure the rights of our people
in respects of access to residence and pro-
lection in trade with China.
The actual provisions IN our favor in
these respects were framed to be, and have
been found to be, adequate and appropri-
ate to the interests of our commerce, and
by the concluding article we receive the
important guaranty ''that should at any
time the Ia Using Empire grant to another
nation or the merchants or citizens of any
nation any right, privilege or favor con-
nected either with navigation, commerce,
political or other intercourse which is not
conferred by this treaty, such right, pTivi-
lege and favor shall at once freely inure
to the benefit Of the United States, its Off
GERS, merchants and citizens"
Against this body of stipulations in our
favor, and this permanent engagement of
equality in respect of all future concessions
to foreign nations. the general promise of
permanent peace and good offices on our
part seems to be the only equivalent. Re
ference is then made to the visit of Mr..
BurliGgame, and there are quotations from
articles and of the treaty.
The message continues
An examination of these two articles in
the light of experience, then influential in
suggesting their necessity, will show that
the fifth article was framed in hostility to
what seemed the principle mischief to be
guarded against, 10 wit The intTOduC-
tion Of Chinese laborers by methods which
should have the character of forced and
servile importation, and not q voluntary
emigration of freemen, seeking our shores
upon motives and in a manner cOusOnant
with the system OF our institutions and ap-
proved by the experience of the nation.
Unquestionably the adhesion of the
Government Of China to these liberal priu-
ciples of freedom in emigration, with which
we were so familiar and with which we
were so well satisfied, was great advance
toward opening that empire to our civiliza-
tiOn and religion, ndsgave promise in the
future Of greater and greater political re-
suits IN the diffusion throughout that great
population of our arts and industries, our
manufactures, our material Improvements
and the sentiments of Government and re-
ligiOu which seem to us so important TO the
welfare of mankind.
The first clause Of this article secures
this acceptance by China Of the American
doctrines of free migration to and fro
among the peoples and races Of the earth.
The second clause, however, in its repro
baton of ''auy other than an entirely vol
untaTy emigration by both the high con-
tracing parties, and in the reciprocal
obligations whereby we secured the solemn
and unqualified engagement on the part
of the government Of China '.to pass laws
making l. a penal offence for a citizen of
the United States or Chinese subjects TO
take Chinese subjects to the United States
or any other foreign country without their
free and voluntary CONSENT" constitutes
the great force and value of this article
It's Importance, both in principle and in
its practical services towards our prOtec-
tion against sorvile importation in the guise
of emigration, cannot be ovcr-estimated.
1t commits the Chinese Government to act
i've and efficient measures 20 suppress this
iHiquitOus system where those measures
are most necessary and can be most effect
ual. 1t gives to this Government the foot
ing of a treaty right to such measures, and
the means and opportunity of insisting
upon their adoption, and Of complaint and
/ resentment at their neglect. The fifth ar
.iclC, therefore, if it falls short of what the
pressure of the later experience OF our Pa
citic States may urge upon the attention
of this Government as essential to the pub
lie welfare, seems % be in the right drec-
/ ton and to contain impor ant advantages,
/ which, once reliHquished, cannot be easily
| recovered.
The lapse Of ten years since the uego-
tiatiou of the Burlingame Treaty has ex-
hibIted to the notice Of the Chinese Gov
eminent, as well as to our own people, the
working of this experiment of immigration
in great numbers of Chinese laborers to
this country and their maintenance here
of all the traits of race, religion, manners
and customs and habitatiOu. mode of life,
segratiOn here and the keeping up Of the
ties Of their original home, which stang
them as strangers and sOjOuTners, an d not
es incorporated elements of our national
life and growth
This experience may naturally suggest
the reconsideration of the subject as dealt
with by the Burlingame treaty, and may
properly become the occasion of more di
rect and circumspect recognition in re.
newed negotiations Of the difficulties, sur
rounding this political and social problem
1t may we'll be that to the apprehension o
the Chinese Government no less than ouI
own, the simple provisions of the Burliu
game treaty may need to be replaced :, by
more careful methods securing the Chimes,
and ourselves against a larger and more
rapid infusion of this foreign race than on
system of industry and society can take "
and assimilate with ease and safety.
| regard the very grave discOEtents o
the people of she Pacific States with tht
present working Of the Chinese emigration
and their still graver appreheusiOus there
from in the future, as deserving the mos
serious attention ef the people of the who'll
country and a solicitous interest on the par
Of Congress and the Executive.
IL this were not nv own Judgment, tht
passage of the bill by both houses of Con
gress would impress upon me the serious.
ness of the situation, when a majority o
the representatives of The people of tn
whole country thought it to justify so seri
Gus a measure of relief An argumen
Is then entered into to show that Congress
by legislative enactment, cannot obrogat
a treaty.
The bill before me does not eniOin upOI
the President the abrOgatiou of the entir
Burlingame treaty. much less of the prin.