The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-05
FORTY-sEyENTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

F0RTY-sEyENTH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-Senator HILL
from the Foreign Committee reported ia
vorably with amendments, the bill to in-
corporate the Nicaraguan Canal Company.
Immediately after the reception of the
Presidents message vetoing the anti Chi
ncse bill, the President pro tenn suspended
operations of business to lay the coInmu
nication before the senate, and directed it
to be read. The reading of the message
was listened to with marked interest by the
entire senate. The vital objection of the
President is to the twenty years suspension
of immigration, which he construes as vir-
tually prohibitory, and therefore violative
of the spirit, if not the letter. of the nego-
tiations upon which the treaty was based,
and as a breach of national faith. The
message calls attention to the propositions
made by the United States commissioners
on this point, and counter propositions on
the part of China, to show that the under
standing of the latter country in the agree
ment which was ultimately made, was that
immigration would be limited or restricted
to reasonable period. The President
points out the other features of the act,
which, in his opinion, can be modified to
tration and passports is specifically men
toned as undemocratic and hostile to our
Constitution and he alludes to the omis-
sion of the act to make any provision for
transit to China of Chinese subjects now
settling in foreign countries, to which sub
ject the President adds, his attention has
been called by the Chinese Minister. The
message referred to the alleged benefits to
its industry derived by the Pacific slope
from the presence of Chinese heretofore.
He expresses apprehension of the injurious
effect upon American commerce with Chi
nese legislation of the character proposed.
In discussing the meaning of the word
"Laborers," as used in the treaty, the
President comedies that it includes 'Farte-
sions or skilled laborers" In regard to
the term of suspension, he says the exam
ination which have made of the treaty
and the declarations which its negotiators
have left on record of the meaning of its
language, leaves no doubt in my mind that
the contracting party in concluding this
treaty of 1880, contemplated the passage
of the act prohibiting immigration for
twenty years, which is nearly generation;
or thought that such period would be
reasonable suspension, or limitation, or in
tended to change the provisions of the
Burlingame treaty to that effect. [ regard
this provision of the act as breach of our
national faith, and being unable to bring
myself in harmony with the views of con-
gress upon this vital point the honor of
the country restraints me to return the act
with this objection to its passage, adding
that good policy, as well as good faith, re-
auires modification of the twenty years
suspension clause.
The President says our treaty with Chi
ma is not yet forty years old; that it is
only since we acquired California and es-
tablished great scat of commerce on the
Pacific that we may be said to have broken
down the barriers which forced in that
ancient monarchy. Under the spirit which
inspired the Burlingame treaty, many
thousand Chinese laborers came here; these
have been instrumental in building rail
roads, and the country has prospered by
their industry. There may be other sec
| tions of the country where this species OF
labor may be advantageously employed
without interfering with the labor of ouI
| own race.
The message speaks of the opening of
| China to the worlds commerce as having
enormously benefited the Pacific slope,
and deprecates policy which would drive
| Oriental trade and commerce from US. i
concludes to the effect that while protec
ton of our labor from Asiatic competition
may justify this policy, it is wiser now &c
make shorter experiment, with a view o.
maintaining permanently only such fea
lures as time and experience may com
mand.
The message and bill were temporarily
laid on the table and ordered printed.
The bill granting the right of wa,
through the Choctaw Indian country to
the St Louis & San Francisco railway
after much discussion, went over withou
action.
Senator Hoar intiHlated that unless i
was disposed of tomorrow, he would an
tagonize it with the Presidential Coun
bill.
Senator Teller asked presen considera
ton of the House bill, admitting free o
duty articles for exhibition at the coming
Colorado exposition.
Senator Anthony said he hoped the re
quest would be granted, in view of Senate
1'eller's probable immediate retiremen
from the Senate.
Senator Ingalls, (sotto voice. NThougl
lost to sight, to memory dear.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Chalmers introduced an amendmen
to the apportiOnment bill, that no Congress
sional district shall contain ten thousan
more people than another in the sam
state, unless to prevent subdivision o