Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-06

1
regulation, Limitation or suspension oi
immigration.
The first section Of the act provides
that from and after the expiration OF &C
days next after the passage of this act
and until the expiration of 20 years nexl
after the passage of this act, the com.
ing Of Chinese laborers b and the same
il hereby suspended, and during such
time Of suspension it shall not be law
full for any Chinese laborers to como, OF
having 90 come after the expiration OF
said GO days, to remain within tho Uni
tod States.
The examination which:.I have made
Of the treaty and of the declaration
which its negotiators have left on rec
ord Of the meaning Of its language,
leaves no doubt in my mind that neith-
er of tho contracting parties in conclud-
ing the treaty of 1850 contemplated the
placing of an act prohibiting immigra-
tion for 70 years, which is nearly gen.
GRAFTON, or thought that such a period
would be reasonable suspension, or
intended change in tho provisions of
the Burlingame treaty TO that extent.
l regard this provision of the act as a
breach Of our national faith, and bein q
unable to bring myself in harmony
with the views of Congress on this
vital point, the honor of the country
constrains mo to return the act with
this objection to its passage.
Deeply convinced of tho necessity Of
some legislation on this subject, and
concurring fully with Congress, with any
objects which arc sought to he
accomplished, l will avail my
self Of tho opportunity to point
out some other feature Of the act.
which in my opinion can be modified to
advantage. Glasses of Chinese who
still enjoy the protection of the Bur
linRame treaty are entitled to the priv
ileges, immunities and exemptions &C
corded citizens of the most IA
vored nations. We have relations
with them, many of which permit
their citizens and subjects to reside
within the United States and tarry on
business under the same laws and reg
ulations which are enforced against
citizens. ! think it may be doubted
whether the provisions requiring per-
sonal registration and taking of pass
ports, which are not imposed Oh
natives, can be required on, The
Chinese. Without expressing an 6p!i-
ion on that point, 1 may invite
the attention of Congress to the fact
that the system of personal registration
and passports is undemocratic and hos
tile to the spirit of our institutions, i
doubt the wisdom of putting an inter-
vening wedge of this kind into our laws.
A nation like the United States, jealous
of the liberties of its citizens, may we'll
hesitate before it incorporates into
it, policy or system . policy w1ich
is fast disappearing in Europe before
the progress of liberal institutions.
Wide experience has shown how futile
such precautions, and how easily pass
ports may be borrowed, exchanged or
even forged by persons interested to do
80. II it il, nevertheless, though the
passport is the most convenient way for
identifying Chinese entitled to tho pro-
lection Of tho Burlingame treaty, it may
still be doubted whether thcy ought to
be required to register. II 10 certainly
our duty under the Burlingame treaty
to make their stay in the United States
in the operation Of general laws upon
Them as nearly like that of our own cit
ixsns as We can consistently with our
right to shut out laborers. No good
purpose is served in requiring them to
register. Ny attention, by the Chinese
Minister, has been called to tho fact
that tho act a. it stands makes no pro-
vision for the transit across the United
States of Chinese subjects now residing
in ioreign countries. think this point
may we'll claim the attention of Con-
grsas in lsgislating on this subject.
have said that good faith requires the
United Statesso suspend the immigra-
ton Of Chinese laborers for less period
than 70 years. l now add that good
policy points in the samc direction
Our intercourse with China is of recent
date. Our first treaty with that power
il not yet forty years old. It is only
since We acquired California and estab-
hahsd great seat Of commerce on the
Pacific coast that We may be said tc
have broken down tho wall which fenced
that ancient monarchy. The Burlin.
game treaty naturally followed, the
spirit Of which inspired many Thousand
Chinss laborers TO como to the United
6ta&ss. No ono can say tho country has
| nok pso6tsd BY their work. They wers
| lafRily instrumental in constructing ths
| railroads which connect the Atlantic
| ana Pacific slopes. The States Of ths
PA6tilo are full Of evidences Of their in
dus1Sy and enterprise. profitable to cap
litalists and to laborers Of Caucasian
origin that would have been dormant
| but for thsm. The time has now coml
when it ID supposed they are not needed