Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-04-06
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.
Arthur's objections to Signing the
Bill-fhe Senate Sustains the
Veto by q Vote OF II to 20.

BiIl-fhe Senate sustains tho
Veto by q Vote OF II to 20.
WASHINGTON. April 5.-Ths following
are the main points Of the Presidents
veto message on the Chinese bill:
To the Senate:
After o careful consideration Of Sem
ate bill No. II. entitled "An Act to exc
cute certain treaty stipulaiions relating
to the Chinese" I herewith return Il to
the Senate. in which 1t originated. with
my objections to Its passage.
A nation Is justified In repudiating its
treaty obligations only when they are in
conflict with great and paramount inter-
ssts. Even then oil possible. reasonable
means for modifying or changing these
obligations by mutual agreement should
be exhausted before resorting TO the su-
preme right Of refusal to comply with
them. These rules have governed the
United States In their past intercourse
with other Powers % one OF the families
OF nations. ! am persuaded that when
Congress can feel that this Act violates
the faith OF the nation, % pledged to
China, Il will concur and will endeavor
to find another which shall meet the sx-
pectations Of the people Of the United
States without coming in conflict with
the rights Of China.
The present relations between that
power and the United States sprung
from the a~ntaeonism which arose be-
tween our paramount domestic interests
and our previous relations. The treaty
commonly known - the Burlingame
treaty conferred upon Chinese subjects
the right Of voluntary emigration to the
United States for the purpose OF curios.
ity or trade. or ss permanent residents.
and wal in all respects reciprocal % to
the citizens OF the United States In
China.
A new treaty was concluded with
China without abrogating the Burlin-
game treaty. II was agreed to modify 1t
so far that the government Of the United
States might regulate or suspend the
coming Of Chinese laborers to the United
States or their residence therein; but
that II should not absolutely prohibit
them, and that the limitation or suspen.
sion should be reasonable, and should
apply only to those Chinese who might
go to the United States as lsborsrs-
other classes not being included In the
Limitation. This treaty is international.
not reciprocal. It is O concession from
the Chinese to the United States on the
limitation OF rights. which she wal en-
joyiug under the Burlipgame treaty. II
leaves the United States by Its own act
to determine when and how We will n
force these limitations. China may.
therefore, fairly have the right to expect
that in enforcing II va will take good
care not TO overstep the grant and take
more than has been conceded to us. 1t
Is but one year since this new treaty,
under the operation Of the Constitution,
became part OF the supreme law OF the
land, and the present Act Is the first at
tempt TO exercise the more enlarged
powers which 1t relinquishes to the
United States.
In Article / OF the treaty the govern.
mept Of China agrees that the govern
mept Of the United States may regulate.
limit or suspend such coming or resi-.
dence, but may not absolutely prohibit.
The examination which I have made
Of the treaty and Of the declarations
which its nsgotistors have left on record
Of the meaning OF its language leave
NO doubt In my mind that neither oon.
tracing 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 suspension, or intended to
change the provisions Of the Burlingame
Treaty to that extent. I regard this
provision Of the Act as o 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.
think Il may be doubted whether the
provisions requiring personal resistra-
ton and taking out passports, which are
not imposed upon natives, can be re.
quired OF the Chinese. Without express.
ing an opinion on that point I may in
vite the attention Of Congress to the fact
that the system Of personal registration
and passports is undemocratio and hos.
tile to the spirit OF our institutions.
My attention has been, by the Chinese
Minister. called to the fact that the Act,
as IL stands, makes nc provision for the
transit across Of Chinese subjects rssid-
ing in foreign countries. / think this
point may we'll claim the attention Of
Congress in legislating on this subject.
Under the spirit which inspired the
Burlineams Treaty many thousand Chi.
ness laborers came to the United States.
No one can say the country has not
profted by their work. They were
largely instrumental In constructing the
railways which connect the Atlantic and
Pacific slopes. and the States Of the Pa
ci6o are full OF the evidences OF their in.
dustry. Enterprises profitable to capt.
talists and to laborers Of Caucasion ORR
gin would have been dormant but for
them. The time has now come when IL
is supposed they are not needed. and
when It Is thought BY Congress and by
those most acquainted with the subject
that 1t Is best to try to get along without
them. There may. however, DO other
sections OF the country where this spe.
cies Of labor may DO advantageously en-.
ployed without interference with labor.
ers Of our own race. It may be the part
OF wisdom as we'll as good faith to fx
the length Of an experimental period.
With reference to this fact experience
has shown that the trade Of the East
IL the key to national wealth and
influence. In opening China the
whole world has been benefited; no sec
ton more than our own Pacific
slope. The State OF California and its
maritime ports especially have resped
aunrmaua advaptaoaa fxom th;o oonvos /