Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-12
The Veto.

The Veto.
The veto of the anti. Chinese immigration
bill was briefly announced in our last issue.
The reasons given by the president for re-
turning the bill to congress are, that the
time fixed in the bill-twenty years-for
the suspension of immigration is " unreason-
able" The language of the first article OF
the treaty that laborers "shall not be abso-
lutely prohibited from coming to the United
States, and that the suspension shall be
reasonable" as well as the negotiations
which preceded the final signing of the treaty
indicate that brief period of suspension
was intended. In the opinion of the presi-
dent, the total prohibition of the immigra-
ton of Chinese laborers for twenty years
would be unreasonable, and violation of
the meaning and intent Of the treaty.
Secondly, the president believes that the in
olusion of skilled labor is an addition to
the words and intent of the treaty. 1t will
operate with harshness upon class of Chi
nese merchants entitled to admission under
the terms of the treaty. Chinese shoe and
cigar merchants in the United States manu-
facture at their places of business the goods
they sell, and to shut out the "skilled la
Dor" they need would practically shut them
out as well. The laundrymen and the mer-
chant tailors who keep their own shops and
have small capital, but who cannot be
Justly included in the class of " laborers "
would, under the act come in the same cat
egory. The third objection adduced by the
president should have peculiar force with
freedomloving Americans. The president
Justly maintains that the system of registra-
ton and passports by which the bill seeks
TO regulate the going and coming of the Chi
nese, is vexatious discrimination against
Chinese residents and immigrants, when ar
ticle two of the treaty explicitly provides
that they shall be entitled to all the privi-
leges conceded to the subjects of the most
favored nations. There is point and food
for reflection in the following language of
the veto message:
al think it may be doubted whether the provi-
sions requiring personal registration and the TAX
natives, can be required of Chinese. Without ex-
pressing an opinion on that point may invite the
attention Of congress to the fact that the system
of personal registration and passports is undem-
ocratc and hostile to the spirit of our institutions.
doubt the wisdom of putting an entering wedge
Of this kind into laws nation like the
United States, jealous Of the liberties Of its cit-
2ens, may well hesitate before it incorporates into
its policy system which is fast disappearing in
Europe beforet the progress of liberal institutions.
ba ;nptilitu # n ovotarn IF 10
prevent the violation of law and the injus-
tice of registration, the president clearly
exposes. AS fourth important objection,
the president reminds congress that if the
bill becomes a law it will leave the impression
in China that this government strangely
misunderstands the character of the treaty,
or that the national legislature has violated
some of its most essential provisions, and he
rightly maintains that this will tend to
prejudice the intelligent classes against the
United States government and people, whom
they now greatly admire. Some minor OBJ
jections to the bill are made, and the great
advantages which the country at large, and
especially California, has received from Chi
nese immigration are set forth in calm and
forcible language.
In this message the president his risen to
the full hight of conscientious and enlight-
ened craftsmanship. In language that is
dignifed, and with reasons that are con-
vincing, he has courageously but modestly
opposed himself against two-thirds of the
members of congress, among whom are
many men of eminence in his own political
party. Whatever Of advantage for himself
personally or for his party politically he
might have gained by signing bill passed
by an overwhelming majority he places un-
der his feet because the measure violates the
nations faith pledged to a friendly nation,
and erects on these shores to carry out the
attempted violation of the nations honor the
odious machinery by which absolute despot-
ism once enforced obedience to its will. The
treaty under which this action of congress was
alleged to have been taken was based on i'm
portant considerations of humanity and in
ternational comfy, as well as Of the develop
ment and the strengthening of intimate and
pTOutdult COuueTCldl ItldIlOuS Will Suludj
made possible by the extension of the power
of the United States to the Pacific coast.
The president does not believe the country is
willing by rash act to sacrifice advantages
which have been secured after years of pa
tient and determined negotiation, though he
recognizes the right and the duty of the ma
ton, by any reasonable measure, to protect
itself from any evils which might flow in
side by side with great benefits, and for
which the treaty itself permits the exercise
of the necessary remedy. The vetoed bill
failed to receive the requisite two-thirds
vote to pass it Notwithstanding the presi-
dents objections. A bill has been intro
duced in all material points the same as the
vetoed measure, except that the period of
suspension is changed from twenty to ten
years. 1t is difficult to see how this single
change can satisfy the objections to the bill.
and the country will demand that the presi.
dent continue to use his veto till measure
entirely reasonable in all its provisions shall
have been passed, if, indeed, it be necessary
to pass any measure at the present time.
The STAR ROUTE CAsEs-Judge Wylie
in his decision rendered on Monday sustains
the indictment against Dorsey and Brady
The decision the judge arrived at was thai