The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-05
NOT BY THIS MEASURE,
BUT by SOME OTHER MEASURE
hu't the Chinese be Forbidden Oar shor,i-rh,
GrOnnd' Upon Which The rrs.Idsn, Ba..s
Ills Veto Of the CAlu,ss Hlu-s,a.
Op'I' Of the Document.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-In in the Senate
to-day Immediately after the reception Of
the Presidents message vetoing the anti.
Chinese bill, tho President pro ten sus.
pended the operation OF business 10 lay
the communication before the Senate and
directed 1t to be read. The reading OF tho
message was listened TO with marked nj.
tention by all the Senators. The vital ob.
lection Of The President Is to the twenty
year suspension Of immigration, which he
construes as virtually prohibitory, and
therefore violation Of the spirit, II not Of
the letter, Of the negotiations upon which
the treaty wns based and as breach Of
National faith. The message calls atten-
ton TO the propositions made by tho United
States Commissioner OH this point, and
the counter propositions ON the patt az
China, to show that the understanding Of
the latter country, in the agreement that !.
was ultimately made, was that immigration
would be limited or restricted to a reason.
able period.
The President points out other features
oil the act which, in his opinion, can be
modified to advantage. The system Of per.
sonal registration and passport is specific
ally mentioned as undemOGSatic and hos.
tile to our institutions; and he allutles to
the omission Of the uCt to make any proyis.
ion for the transit to China Of the Chinese
subjects now residing in foreign countries.
to which subject, the president adds.
his attention has been called by the chi.
nese Minister. The message refers 10 the
alleged benefits 10 its industries derived
by the Pacific Slope from the presence Of
Chinese. The heretofore expressed au-
prehension Of injurious etIect upon
American commerce with China of iepis.
lation Of the character OF that proposed.
unless carefully guarded and withont
naming any specific period, the suspension
suggests that the length Of the term should
be experimental.
In discussing the meaning Of tho word
"iaborers," " as used in the treaty, the Pfesi.
dent comedies that it includes "artisans,n
or skilled laborers. In regard to the term
ot suspension he says "rhe examination
which | have made Of the treaty and Of
the declarations which its negotiations
have left on record Of the meaning Of its
language, leaves no doubt in my mind that
neither contracting party, in concluding
the treaty OF 1850, contemplated the passage
OF Nh net prohibiting immigration for
twenty years, which is nearly generation,
or thought that such period would be
reasonable suspension or limitation, O
indeed to change the provisions OF the Rur.
lingame treaty TO that effect. regard this
provision OF the act as breach OF national
iAilb, and being unable to bring myself In
harmony with the views Of Congress upon
this vital point, the honor OF the country
constrains me to return the act with this
objection 10 its passage" adding that good
policy as well as good faith requires mod
iiicatlon OF the twenty years suspension.
The President says our first treaty with
the Chinese is not yet forty yeafs
old that It is the only source
by which we acquired California and
established great seat Of commerce
on the Pacific; that we may be said to have
broken down barriers which fenced in that
ancient monarchy under spirit which in.
spired the Burlingame treaty. Many thous-
and Chinese iaborers have come here, and
have been instrumental in building rail-
roads, and the country has prospered BY
their industry. There may bc other
sections Of the country where this species
ot labor may be adVantageously employed
without interfering with the laborers OF
our own race.
The message speaks Of opening China to
the worlds commerce as having enor-
nously benefited the Pacific slope, and )
dGprecatcs policy which would drive the
Oriental trade and commerce from the
United States. 1t concludes 10 the effect,
that while the protection OF our labor from
Aslatlc competition may justify this policy,
il is wisGr'now to make u shorter experi.
ment with view OF maintaining perma-
nently only such features as time and ex-
PeFieRce commend.
The messNge and bill were temporarily
laid on the table and ordered printed.
There will be no attempt 10 override the
Presidents veto OF the Chinese bill, and It
is not ut all probable that any modified bill
vii! be passed. The Democratic members
are entirely satisfied to let the onus Of de-
teating the anti.Chincse legislation rest
upon the President, and there are not
enough Republicans favorable to the ideas
OF the vetoed bill to bring new bill 10 a
vote. Mr.. Page expresses hlmscIf disap-
pointed and dshearteRed. He had pre.
pared himself for qualified veto, but lie
document is scarcely that
Page docs not expect to pass the bill
over the veto, because the Democrats will
nov refuse their help. He means, how
ever, to put them on record. He Is snre
that all the Republicans in the House who
voted for 1t originally will vote 10 pass Il
over the veto il they have chance.
Senator Miller, Of California, thinks the
President made grave political mistake,
which will weaken the administration ali
over the country by arraying the labor in
terest against the Republican party.