Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-06
The PRESIDENTS 5 VETO.
Full Text of the Message Sent to
the Senate.
THE OBJECTIONABLE SECTIONS.
Analyzation of Former Diplomatic
Relations with China.
INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER SARGENT.
Continued and Increasing Indignation of
the People
Continued and Increasing Indignation o
the People

Continued and Increasing Indignation of
the People
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THB REcoRp-uNI,S.l
WASHINGTON, April 5th.-The following is the full
text of the Presidents message yesterday, vetoing
the anti Chinese bill:
To THE SENATE: After careful consideration Of the
Senate bill, No. II, entitled :" An Act to execute
certain treaty stpulations relating TO the Chinese
herewith ieturn it to the Senate, in which it
originated, with my objections to its pas age
nation is justified in regulating its treaty obi.
cations only when they are in conflict with great
and paramount interest Even then, all possible
and reasonable means for modifying or changing
these obligations, by mutual agreement, should be
exhausted before resortnS to the supreme right of
refusal TO comply with them These rules have
governed the United States in their past intercourse
with other powers as themselves one OF the family
OF nations.
am persuaded that when Congress can feel that
this Act violates the faith OF the nation as pledged
to China it will concur with this view, and will en-
deavor to find another Act which shall meet the
expectations Of the people of the United States
without coming in contact with the rights of China
The present treaty relations between that power
and the United States spring from the artagonism
which arose between our paramount domestic in
terests and our previous relations under the treaty
commonly known as the BurDgame Treaty. This
conferred upon the Chinese subjects the right of
voluntary immigration to the United States for the
purpose of curiosity or trade, permanent resi-
dents, and was in all respects reciprocal as to citi
zens of the United States in China 1t gave to
voluntary immigrants coming to the United States
the right to travel there or to reside there with all
the privileges, immunities or exemptions enjoyed
by tho citizens subjects OF the most favored
nations.
Under the operation of this treaty it was found
that the institutions OF the United States and its
people, and their means of obtaining livelihood,
might be seriously affected by the unrestricted in
PRODUCTION Of Chinese labor. Congress attempted
to alleviate this condition by legislation but the
Act which it passed proved to be in violation of the
treaty obligations, and. being returned by the
President with his objections, failed to become
law. Diplomatic relief was then sought. A new
treaty was concluded with China, without abroga.
ton Of the Burlingame Treaty II was agreed to
modify it so far that the Government OF the United
States might regulate suspend the coming Of Chi
aborers TO the United States their residence
therein but it was agreed that it should not abso-
lutely prohibit the and that the limitation or sus-
pension should be reasonable, and should apply
only to Chinese who might go to the United States
as laborers other classes not being included in the
limitation.
h;o tra,t 10, tio,, rntr
concession from China to the United States and is
q limitation OF the rights which she was enjoying
under the Burlingame treaty. 1t leaves the United
States, by its own act, to determine when and how
will enforce these limitations China may, there
FORE fairly have the right to expect that in enfOrc
ing them will take good not to overstep the
grant and make more than has been conceded 10 US.
1t is but year since the new treaty, under the
operation OF the Constitution, became part OF the
supreme law of the land and the present Act is the
first attempt to exercise the more enlarged powers
which it reinquishes to the United States By the
first article the United States is empowered to de-
eide whether the coming of Chinese laborers to the
United States, their residence therein, a -cts or
threatens our interests, or endangers good der,
either within the whole country in any part of it.
The Act recites that in the opinion Of the Govern.
ment of the United States the coming of Chinese
laborers to this country endangers the good order
of certain localities thereof; but the Act itself is
much broader than the recital. It acts upon the
residents as well the imm grants. Its provis-
ions effective throughout the United States.
think it may fairly be accepted as an expression
of the opinion of Congress that the coming Of such
laborers to the United States. or their residence
here, affects interests and endangers good order
throughout the country.
On this point feel it my duty to accept the views
Of Congress.
The first article further confers the power upon
this Governu ent to regulate, limit suspend, but
not to actually prohibit the coming of such aborers
to or their residence in the United States.
The negotiators of the treaty have recorded with
unusual fullness their understanding of the sense
and meaning with which these words were used,
to the class of persons to be tected by the treaty
The Americans inserted in their draft provisions
that the words Chinese laborers" should signify
all immigration other than that for teaching travel
study and curiosity.
The Chinese objected to this, that it operated to
inc uie artisans in the class of aborers whose imm
grafton might be forbidden.
The Americans rep led that they could not con-
sent that artisans should be excluded from the class
of skill and labor in Cities where the Chinese labor
immigration concentrates, which has caused the
embarrassment and popular discomfort
A passport may be borrowed, exchanged even
forged by persons interested to do If it is nev
ertheless thought that passport is the most con-
venient way for identifying the Chinese entitled to
the protection Of the Burlingame Treaty, it may
still he doubted whether they ought to be required
to register. 1t is certainly our duty, under the
Burlingame Treaty, to make their stay in the Uni
ted States, in the operation of general laws upon
them. as nearly like that of own citizens as
consistently with our right to shut out the Ia
borers No good purpose is served in requiring
them to register.
My attention is called by the Chinese Minister to
the fact that the Act, it stands, makes provi
sion for the transit the United States Of the
Chinese subjects now residing in foreign countries.
think this point may well claim the attention of
Congress in legislating this subject.
I have said that good faith requires that the
United States suspend immigration of Chinese
laborcrs for less period than twenty years. now
add that good policy points in the direction.
Our intercourse with China is Of recent date. Our
first treaty with that power is not yet forty years old
1t is only since We acquired California and estab
lshed eat seat OF commerce on the Pacif; coast
that we may be said to have broken down the wall
which fenced that ancient monarchy. The Burlin-
game treaty naturally followed. Under the spirit
which inspired it, many Thousand sof Chinese labor
ers came to the United States. No one can say the
country has Lot proAtsd by their work. They
were largely instrumental in constructing the rail-
ways which connect the Atlantic and the Pacific
slope. The States of the Pacific full of evidences
of their industry and enterprise, profitable to capi
talists and to iaborers OF Caucasian origin, and
would have been dormant but for them. The time
has now came when it is supposed that they not
needed, and when it Is thought by Congress and by