The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-13

/ threatened PUBIC OrQer, or ii IL confined ltStl
to localities where it was an injury to the in
terests of the American people,the government
OF the United States would undoubtedly tax
steps to prevent such accumulations of Chi
nese. If, on the contrary, there were no lar
ger immigration, or if there were sections 0
the country where such immigration was clear
ly beneficial, then the legislation OF the Unite'
States, under this power, would be adapted t.
such circumstances. For example, there nigh
be demand for Chinese LABOR in the South
and as surplus, such labor in California, ant
Congress might legislate in accordance witt
these facts In general, the legislation woult
be in view of, and depend upon, circumstance
of the situation at the moment such Legislation
became necessary. The Chinese commission
ers said this explanation was satisfactory; tina
they had not intended to ask for draft of any
special act, but for some general idea how tn,
power would be exercised What had jus
been said gave them the explanation which
they wanted.
With this entire accord as to the meaning o
the words they were about to employ, and thu
object of the legislation which might be had il
consequence, the parties signed the treaty, il
article l.. of which "the government of China
agrees that the government of the United
States may regulate, limit or suspend sucl
se9ming or residence, but may not absolutely
/, prohibit 1t, The limitation or suspension
shall be reasonable, and shall apply only tc
Chinese who may go to the United States as
laborers, other classes not being included liz
the limitations. Legislation taken in regard
to Chinese laborers will be of such a character
only as is necessary to enforce the regulation
limitation or suspension of immigration"
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 20 years next after the pass
age of this act, the coming of Chinese labor
ers be, and the same is hereby suspended and
during such suspension it shall not be lawful
for any Chinese labOrer to come, or, haYing so
come after the expiration of said sixty days,
to remain within the United States" The ex-
animation which l have made of the treaty,
and of the declarations which Its negotiations
have left on record Of the meaning of its Ian
guage, leaves no doubt IN my mind that Meth
er contracting party in concluding the treaty
of 1880 contemplated the passage of an act
prohibiting immigration for twenty years,
which is nearly generation or thought that
such period would be reasonable suspen-
sion or limitation; or intended to change the
provisions of the Burlingame treaty to that
extent. regard this provision of the act as a
breach of our national faith and being unable
to bring myself in harmony with the views of
Congress on this vital point, the honor Of the
country constrains me to return the act with
this objection to its passage
Deeply convinced of the necessity of some
legislation on this subject, and concurring fully
with Congress In many of the objects which
are sought to be accomplished, Twill avail my
self of the opportunity to point out some other
features of the present act which, in my opin-
ion, can be modified to advantage
RIGHTS OF CHINESE RESIDENTS.
The classes of Chinese who still enjoy the
protection of the Burlingame treaty are en-
titled to the privileges, immunities and ex-
emptions accorded to citizens and subjects of
the most favored nation. We have treaties
with many powers which permit their citizens
and subjects to reside within the United States,
and carry on business under the same laws
and regulations which are enforced against
citizens of the United States. think it may
be doubted whether provisions requiring per-
sonal registration and the taking out of pass
ports, which are not imposed upon natives
can be required of Chinese. Without ex-
pressing an opinion ON that paint, may in
vite the attention of Congress to the fact that
the system of personal registration and pass
ports is undemocratlc and hostile to the spirit
of our institutions. l doubt the wisdom of
putting an entering wedge of this kind into
our law. A nation like the United States,
Jealous of the liberties of its citizens, may well
hesitate before it incorporates into its policy a
system which is fast disappearing in Europe
before the progress of liberal institutions. A
wide experience has shown how futile such
precautions are, and how easily passports may
be borrowed, exchanged or even forged by
persons interested to do So If it is, never
theless, thought that passport is the most
convenient way for identifying the Chinese en-
titled to the protection of the Burlngame treaty
it 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 general laws upon them, as nearly like
that of our citizens as we can consistently
with our right to shut out the laborers. No
good purpose is served in requiring them to
register. My attention has been called by the
Chinese minister to the fact that the bill as it
stands makes no provision Tor the transit
across the United States of Chinese subjects
now residing in foreign countries I think
that this point may well CLAIM the attention of
Congress in legislating on this subject.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF POLICY
have said that good faith requires us to
suspend the immigration of Chinese laborers
for less period than twenty years. I now add
that good policy points in in the same direc-
ton. 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 &C
quired California and established great seat
of commerce on the Pacific that we mayg be
said to have broken down the barriers which
fenced in that ancient monarchy The Burlng-
anne treaty naturally followed. Under the
spirit which inspired it many thousand Chi
nese laborers came to the United States. No
one can say that the country has not proflted
by their work. They were largely instru-
mental in constructing the railways which
connect the Atlantic with the Pacific. The
states of the Pacific slope are full of evidences
of their industry. Enterprises profitable alike
to the capitalist and to the laborer of Caucas-
ian origin would have been dormant but for
them A time has now come when it is sup
posed that they are not needed, and when it is
thought by Congress and by those most &C.
quainted with the subject that it is best to try
to get along without them. There may, how
eyer, be other sections of the country where
this species of labor may be advantageously
employed without interfering with. the labors
of our own race. In making the proposed ex-
pertinent, it may be the part of wisdom as well
as good faith to fix the length of the expert
mental period with reference to this fact.
Experience has shown that the trade of the
East is the key to national wealth and inf1u-
ence. The opening of China to the commerce
of the whole world has benefited no section of
it more than the states Of our own Pacific
Slope. The state of California, and its great
marintime post especially, have reaped enor-
nous advantages from this source. Blessed
with an exceptional climate, enjoying an un-
rvalled harbor, with the riches of a great agri-
cultural and mining state in its rear, and the
wealth of the whole Union pouring into it
over its lines of railway, San Francisco has be-
fore it an incalculabe future, if our friendly
and amicable relations with Asia remain I'M
disturbed. 1t needs no argument to show that
the policy which we now propose to adopt
must have direct tendency to repel Oriental
nations from us, and to drive their trade and
commerce into more friendly hands. 1t may
be that the great and paramount interests of
protecting our labor from Asiatic competition
justify US In permanent adoption OF this pol
icy. But it is wiser, in the first place, to make
shorter experiment, with view hereafter OF
maintaining permanently only such features
as time and experience may commend.
transmit herewith copies of the papers re-
lating TO the recent treaty with China, which
accompanied the confidential message of Pres
ident Hayes to the Senate of the 10th January,
1881, and also copy of a memorandum re-
speeding the act herewith returned, which was
handed to the Secretary of State by the Chi
nese Minister in Washington.
(Slgned) CHESTER A. ARTHUR
Elk. Mansion, Washington, 4th April, 1881.
AT the conclusion of the reading of the mes
sage, on motion of Senator Farley, of Califor-
MIA; it was ordered to lie upon the table and be
printed. -
A dispatch dated Warrenton, Va, April 2,
says: Mrs. Carneal died yesterday, her symp.