The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-27
AN INSULT RESENTED.
How Commissioner Trcscott Answered a
Chinese Note.
\VAc,,1ScraN .Jan,,ory |

Chinese Note.
WASHINGTON, January IA.
The committee on Foreign Relations
has held one meeting to consider the Chi
nesc treaties, but has not decided upon its
report. There is little doubt entertained,
however, that both treaties will ultimate
ly be reported favorably. Accompany
ing the treaties, which were sent to the
Senate last Tuesday, was the correspond
cnce between the Commissioners who
negotiated the treaties and the Secretary
Of State. This correspondence embraces
the memorandum submitted by the con-
tracing Powers, the precis of con<erya-
tions between the Commissioners OF the
United States Government and the Com:
missioners of the Emperor Of China and
dispatches to and from the Stale Depart
ment. 1t seems that the American Com
missioncrs had very little difficulty in
securing the modification Of the Burlin'
game Treaty relating 10 immigration
The commercial treaty was negotiated at
the instance of the Chinese Commission
ers, who seemed to be more anxious to
restrict the opium trade than to secure
entire liberty for their subjects in the
United States. at the outset of the
negotiations the Chinese Commissioners
submitted memorandum on the subject
of immigration which was decidedly OBJ
iectionable to the Commissioners repre-.
senting this Government, and contained
certain filings at the people of this coun;;
try which were very promptly met and
decisively answered by the American
Commission. The following extracts
from precis of conversation between
the Commissioners of the two Govern
ments shows the manner in which the
American Commissioners upheld the
dignity of the United States Government.
In reply to an insolent memorandum
from the Chinese Commissioners, Mr..
Trescott said:
awe have received the communication
Of your Excellencies, with the request
that we would say how it strikes us.
We will do so with entire frankness, but
you must first allow us to correct some
misconceptions, which, we think. your
Excellencies will not be unwilling to
have removed. You say, referring to
immigration into the United States of
Chinese laborers: formerly, when
there was demand for these laborcrs,
the only fear was that they would not go
thither, and now, because of the inf1u.
ence of violent men their exists desire
that they stay away" Again, "But now,
because the Chinese do good work for
small remuneration, the rabble are max
ing complaint" Again, IF now, be-
cause of temporary competition between
the Irish and stranger guests, O. decision
is lightly taken to change the policy of
the Government, contradiction with the
Constitution of the United States and
existing treaties cannot be avoided"
Knowing as we do the well established
and traditional courtesy of the Chinese
Government in its relations with other
nations wc are sure that you did not mean
to give offcrse by this language, but we
feel it our duty both to ourselves and to
our Government to recall to your atten-
ton that we represent the Government
of the United States, and that any COM
municalion comes from it after careful
and most friendly consideration and is
entitled at your hands to the same
respect with which any communication
from you has been and will always be
received by US. YOU can scarcely mean
to say that the Government ofthe United
States is merely speaking the language of
"violent men," or that the great nation in
whose name it addresses you is "a rab-
BILE" or that "a competition between the
the Irish and stranger guests" is the
motive of it's conduct. You will GER.
tainly recognize that the government Of
the United States, like the Government
of China, has the right to appreciate for
itself the motives of its own policy and
that when it addresses to the Chinese
Government communication upon q
subject of grave interest in respectful of
and friendly language it cannot allow
the representatives of China to so behind
that communication and either criticise
its motives or deny the good faith of its
representations. Your Excellencies would
be Justly offended if we should-venture to
consider your language as anything less
than the authorized voice of your Gov.
ernmen and if we presumed to go beyond
your words and look for your motives
and reasons in the rumors of the streets
and in the public gossip of the people.
We trust, therefore, that your Excellence
will understand that we are speaking for
The Government of The United States,
and that we represent in all that we may
say the grave, wel-considered resolution
of that Government. and that while We
approach you in the most amicable spirit
and will give the most respectful atten-
ton to any views you Alay submit TO our
consideration, we cannot in any discus
sion accept as satisfactory language
which separates the Government of the
United States from its people, or claims
the right on the part of the Chinese
Government to question the sincerity OF
any communications which we may make
in its behalf"
Mr.. Trescotts vigorous reply to the
language of the Chinese Commissioners
seemed to have good effect. They hum.
bled themselves almost to the dust. and
virtually agreed to recommend modfi.
cation of the Burlingamc Treaty, and
expressed a desire to cooperate with the
United States in regulating immigration.
The Chinese Commissioners submitted q
treaty project giving the United States
the right only to limit the number of
actual laborers who might enter the
ports of California, but not absolutely TO
prohibit emigration to that State. 1t
provided that Chinese might 20 to any
other State in the Union but California
for purposes of labor, and made the
limitation upon immigration short as
regards the term of years and mot
small" regarding the number of Chinese
allowed to enter our ports. The Amerl-
can Commissioners submitted treaty
project which was virtually the one
finally adopted.
The I.aurens Railroad.
The Laurcns Herald is informed that a
/ Al.