The Portland daily press., 1882-03-02
XLVIIth Congress LIST Session.
SENATE.

Mr.. McDill presented the resolution of the
Iowa legislature praying that the patent laws
be so amended as to prevent unjust actions.
Mr.. Mcpherson presented petitions for COR
rections of the tariff laws.
Mr.. Vest introduced a bill to prohibit the
issue OF bank notes or currency by national
banks, that may be organized or re-organized
after the first of July, 1882. Referred to the
committee on finance.
On motion of Mr.. Window the resolutions
reported from the committee on foreign rela-
tions for the investigation of the loss or abstrac
tion from the State Department OF diplomatic
correspondence relating to Chill and Peru and
as to any improper connection of diplomatic
or other officers or members of Congress with
contracts or arrangements in regard to claims
against or grants derived from those countries
were taken up.
Mr.. Bayard said the point to which the reso-
luton introduced by himself referred, and the
one he considered the most important, was
whether or not the intervention of the United
States in the affairs of neutral governments
had been impliedly or expressly pledged. The
war making power rested in the Congress and
it was to the Senate of the gravest moment
that there should be no implication of this
great power by way OF mediation by any in
dividual or in any manner other than in ac-
cordance with the grave execution OF powers
under the constitution. He therefore moved
to amend by adding as specific subject of
inquiry the following:
Whether any promiss or stipulation by which
the intervention by the United States in the
troversies existing between Chill and Peru Chilli
and Bolivia has been expressly impliedly given
by any person or persons officially connected with
the government of the United States whether its
intimated 10 connection with or in relation to the
said contracts by any one officially eeonnected with
the government of the United States.
The amendment prevailed without objection
and the resolutions as amended were adopted.
After the morning hour the unfinished busi-
ness-the Chinese bill-was temporarily laid
aside for speech by Mr.. Voorhees, upon the
urgency of better accommodations for the
library of Congress, the new library bill being
taken up informally for this purpose.
At the close of Voorhees, remarks the SEN
ate resumed consideration of the Chinese bill.
Mr.. Hoar opposed the BILL His first propo-
sition was that our people hundred years ago
| founded their nation upon the moral law, af-
firming that all men equally derived from
their Creator the right to the pursuit of happi-
ness and that equality, in that light, is fund.-
amental rule of divine Justice in its application
to mankind He set forth how the nation has
grown, and said the existence of the principle
Just stated had attracted immigration from all
countries to our own shores, rather than to
South America or Mexico; that every new
state affirmed it in its constitution, and that
California herself in the original constitution
declared it was meant to include thelright of ex
patriation. This was delared in 1868 by an act
of Congress. and on the persistent effort of Mr..
Couness, California senator of Irish birth.
1t was urged upon this country that right of ex-
patriation is indispensable to the en-
ioyment of life and pursuit of happiness.
The doctrine was solemply reiterated in the
Burlingame treaty. We have made treaty
and now we propose this legislation which un-
dertakes to deny and overthrow that declara-
tion and to strike blow at men by reason of
their race and occupation. China offered to
modify the Burlingame treaty SO as to permit
the exclusion of prostitutes, criminals, diseased
persons and imported coolie laborers. This Of
fer was rejected by our government and a
treaty substituted which does not permit the
exclusion of the three frst-named classes, but
only permits the exclusion of laborers The
purpose of the trainers of the treaty and of the
bill is to strike blow at labor without re-
gard to character.
For myself and for Massachusetts,, Mr.. Hoar
continued, refuse to consent to a denial by
the United States of the right of every man
desiring to improve his condition by honest Ia
labor, his labor being no mans property but
his own, to go anywhere on the face of the
earth he pleases But the bill violates the pro-
vitions of the treaty which it processes to exc
cute The treaty permits a reasonable suspen-
sion of immigration only; the statute totally
prohibits it for twenty years and confers on
every petty officer of customs authority to
seize and forcibly remove from the country
persons without trial. What has happened
within thirteen years that the great republic
should strike its flag? Citing statistics to show
the decrease of Chinese immigration for the last
half decade and that this diminution became
greater when compared with the rapidly in
creasing numbers from other countries, Mr..
Hoar argued that the outcry against the Chi
nese was the same which has been made in
the past against the Irishman, the Negro, In
dian, and Jew, and that each of those races in
turn had vindicated its capacity for freedom
and subdued over large part of the world the
prejudice it had encountered. He admitted
that there were great abuses and dangers grow
ing out of the coming of these people but much
of these, he thought, might be remedied by
State or municipal legislation.
The real motive of the attack upon the Chi
nese was the fear not of the inferiority but of
the superiority of the Chinese in most of the
occupations of life. 1t is said they will not
assimilate with US, but our treatment of them
has made this impossible. The most serious
argument Mr. Hoar said, was the claim that
the introduction of Chinese labor reduces the
alb sha MOI n syo loh95er and mon This
the wages of eny American IaDorer. On the
contrary believe maintenance and increase of
| purchasing power of wages of American work
ingmen should be the one principal object of
our legislation. The share in agricultural and
manufacturing products which goes to
labor ought and believe will, steadily
increase. For that only our protective system
exists. The acquisition of wealth, national or
individual is to be desired only for that and
believe the Chinese laborer will learn very
soon to insist on his full share of the product
of his work; that whether he does or not the
wealth he creates will make better, not worse,
the condition of every higher class of labor.
Proceeding with abundant illustrations of
treatment OF the Chinese of California and to
show the cheapness of Chinese wages and of
living had been greatly exaggerated, Mr.,
Hoar concluded by asserting that the right of
every human being to go wherever on the sur
face OF the earth he may get an honest living,
without interference by the government, came
from the same authority as the golden rule
and the sermon on the mount and that that
authority would make it safe for the govern
ment and people which obey this law. Not by
injustice, exclusion or caste but by reverence
for the individual soul can we aid in the great
object OF Gods moral government on earth
the rescue of humanity from degradation. 1t
is not by Chinese policies that China is to be
civilized. After amplifying this idea Mr..
Hoar yielded the floor at 4.45, having been
attentively heard for over two hours.
The bill was then laid over as unfinished
business for tomorrow.
Mr.. Kellogg introduced resolution setting
forth it was the duty of the general govern
ment to educate the people and instrqcting the
committee on education to report bill making
necessary appropriations. Tabled.
Adjourned
HOUSE.
Saturday March 25th, was set apart for the
consideration of the bill enlarging the powers
OF the department of agriculture.
A message was received from the President
transmitting copies of letters from the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and the chairman of the
civil service commission, from which the Pres
ident states it will be seen that the appropria-
tion of $4,000 made by the last Congress for
the promotion of efficiency in the civil service
was still unexpended, and that in order to exc
cute the provisions of section 1853 of the re-
vised statutes an annual appropriation of $685.
600 would be necessary. Referred.
Among the bills introduced were the follow
ing:
To provide for organizing, arming and dis
ciplining of the militia of the United States.
Referred to the committee of the whole.
Bills for the erection of public buildings at
Detroit, Mich, and Lancaster, Pa, were re-
ported to the committee of the who'll.
Mr.. Pound of Wisconsin introduced bill to
establish board of review of pension and
bounty land warrant claims which have been
disallowed. and to prevent frauds in the grant
ing of pensions. Referred
Mr.. Desendorf, of Virginia, introduced bill
appropriating $500,000 lor the purchase of tor
pedoes by the Secretary of the Navy. Referred.
The Speaker laid before the House mes
sage from the President transmitting letter
from the superintendent of the United States
naval observatory enclosing the draft of bill
with estimates of appropriations necessary for.
the observation of the transit of Venus on the
9th of December. The bill appropriates $685.
600.
Mr.. Wait, from committee on elections, re-