Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-04-05

lowed to 60 in any one year in the future than
the greatest number which has gone ia any
year in the past, or that the total number
should never be allowed to exceed the num-
Der now there
AS to limitations of time, they meant, for
ample, that the Chinese should be allowed to
go in alternate years, or every third year; or,
for example, that they should not be allowed |
to 60 for two, three or five years. AT sub |
sequent conference the Americans said the |
Chinese commissioners have in their project |
explicitly recognized the right of the United |
States to use some discretion, and have pro-
posed limitation as to time and nu n5er. This |
is the right to regulate, limit or suspend. In |
one of the conferences the Chinese asked the
Americans whether they could give them any
idea of the laws which would be passed to
carry these powers into execution. The
Americans answered this could hardly be
done: that the United States government
might never deem it necessary to exercise this
power. 1t would depend upon circumstances.
II Chinese emigration concentrated in cities
where it threatened public order, or If 1t con
fined itself to localities where 1t was an injury
to the interests of the American people, the
government of the United States would I'M
doubleday take steps to prevent such accumu-
latiOns Of the Chinese. If On the contrary, there
was no large immigration, or if there were
sections of the country where such immigra-
ton was clearly beneficial, then the legislation
of the United States under this power would
be adapted to such circumstances.
For example, there might be demand for
Chinese labor in the South and such labor in
California, and congress might legislate in &C
cordance with these facts. In general, legis-
latlon would be in view of and depend upon
the circumstances Of the situation at the mo-
ment such legislation became necessary. The
Chinese commissioners said this explanation
tsofn 4l,%< Inxv xlal<
ask for draft of any special act, but for
some general idea of how the power would be
exercised. What had just been said gave them
the explanation which they wanted, with the
enti' e accord, as to the meaning of the words
they were about to employ and the object of
the legislation which might be had IN conse-
quence, both parties signed the treaty. In ar
ticle 81, to which the government of China
agrees, the government of the United States
may regulate, limit or suspend such coming
or residence, but may not absolutely prohibit.
The limitation or suspension shall be rea-
sonable, and shall apply only to Chinese who
may 90 to the United States as laborers, other
classes not being included in the limitation.
Legislation taken in regard to Chinese labor
ers will be OF such character only as is neces-
sary to enforce regulation, Limitation or sus-
pension OF immigration.
FIRING THEM BODILY.
The first section OF the act provides that
from and after the expiration of sixty days
next after the passage OF this act and until the
expiration of twenty years next after the rass-
age of this act, the coming of Chinese laLor-
ers shall be and the same is hereby suspended,
and during such suspension it shall not be
lawful for any Chinese laborers to come or
having so come after the expiration of said
sixty days, to remain in the United States.
The examination which / have made of the
treaty and of the declarations which its ne
gotiaters have left on record of the meaning
of it's language, leaves no doubt in my mind
that neither contracting party in the conclud-
ing treaty of 1880 contemplated the passage of
an act prohibiting immigration for twenty
years, which is nearly generation, or
| thought that such a period would be a
ed change of the provisions of the Burlin-
game treaty. To that extent regard this
provision of the act as breach of our nation
al faith, and being unable to bring myself in
harmony with the views of congress on this
vital point, the
HONOR OF THE COUNTRY
restraints me to return the act with this OBJ
lection to its passage. Deeply convinced of
the necessity of some legislation on this SUBJ
ject, and concurring fully with congress with
any objects which are sought to be accom-
plished, will avail myself of the opportunity
to point out some other features of the act
which in my opinion can be modified to ad-
vantage.
The classes of Chinese who still enjoy the
protection of the BurliDgame treaty are en-
titled to the privileges, immunities and ex-
emptions accorded TO citizens and subjects of
the most favored nations.
We have treaties with many powers which
permit their citizens and subjects to reside
within the United States and carry on busine SIS
under the same laws and regulations as are
enforced against citizens Of the United States.
l think it may be doubted whether the pro-
visions requiring
PERSONAL REGISTRATION.
Taking out passports which are not i'm
posed upon natives can be required of Chinese
without expressing an opinion on that point.
1 may invite the attention of congress to the
fact that the system of personal registration
and passports is undemocratic and hostile to
the spirit our institutions, doubt putting an
entering wedge of this kind into outlaws.
Another like the United States, JEALOUS of the
liberties of its citizens, may we'll hesitate be.
fore it Incorporates into the polity- system
which is fast disappearing in Europe before
the progress OF liberal institutions, Wide
experience has shown how fertile such pre-
cautions are and how easily passports may be
be borrowed, exchanged, or even forged by
persons interested in doing so. 1t is never
theless thought that the passport is the most
convenient way to identifying Chinese entitled
to the protection of the Burlingame treaty
1t may still be doubted whether they ought
to be required to register. 1t is certainly our
duty, under the Burlingame treaty, to make
their stay In the United States, in the opera
ton of the general laws upon them, as nearly
like that of our own citizens as We can con-
sistenlly with our rights, to shut out laborers.
No good purpose is served by requiring them
to register. My attention is called by the
Chinese minister to the fact that the act as it
stands makes no provisions for the transit
across the United States of Chinese subjects
now residing in foreign countries. 1 think
this point may well claim the attention of
congress in legislating on the subject. have
said that good faith requires us to suspend the
immigration of Chinese laborers for less
period than twenty years. Inow add that
YOUR POLICY,
Points in the gsame direction,
Our intercourse with Chaina of recent date,
our first treaty with that power is not yet
forty years old, 1t is only since we acquired
California and established great seat of COM
merce on the Pacific coast that we may be