The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-14
HOUSE

WAsHISGroS, May 13.-Rice of MaSsa
chusetts, from the committee on for
eign affairs, reported back the resolu.
ton. requesting the President to inform
the House what steps had been taken
by him to have the seizure of the David
J. adams investigated and to communi,
cate at heearliest practicable day what
were the circumstances under which
the seizure was made. Adopted.
Worthington. of Illinois, from the
same committee, reported back the
resolution calling on the President for
copies of any correspondence with the
Mexican government, relative 70 the
claims specified in the fifth section OF
the act Of Congress of June 18th, 1878,
and for other Information on the sub
ject. Adopted.
In the morning the House in com nit
tee of the whole resumed the considera-
ton of the Chinese indemnity joint
resolution.
Rice, OF Massachusetts,. argued in sup
port of the proposition, contending tina {
the obligation of this government to
pay damages rested not on the good
will or spirit or beneyolence, bur on
precedents for this proposition. In lsi7
England had compelled the Greeks to
pay an indemnity Ior the III treatment
of the Jew, Don Paeifico, in Athens.
Lord Palmerston had been called
upon TO account for the position.
he had taken. on the ground that there
was no international law to sustain, but
after days debate the principle main
tanned had been fixed in England so
firmly that it had never since been
shakan. The United States itself had
demanded indemnity from China for
violence done its citizens by a mob, and
by the armament Of England lombard
ing the Chinese cities, and China had
paid the bills, though some Of the dam
age had been done BY the armed forces
of England. when England, through
her carelessness, had let loose tne
cruisers which had driven our COM
merce from the sea. The United
States had exacted indemnify. and
he trusted that there would be
now an arm as long and voice as strong
TO exact indemnity from England for
the injuries her subjects were now
perpetrating and seeking to perpetrate
on American fishermen. (ApplauseY
The President had assured Congress
that the outrsges at Rock Springs had
been committed by aliens, as bad the
outrages in Chicago. which had been
shocking the country, and he (Rice)
hoped that the murderers in Chicago
would be visited with that punishment
which had not yet been visited on their
fellow assassins In Wyoming. su5T
AcCreary. of Kentucky, was in favor
OF going as FAR as the treaty between the
United States and China would allow
in prohibiting Chinese lsbors from com.
ing to this country. The Questions Of
indemnity to the victims OF the violence
At Rock Springs was very important
II il stood alone, he did not know thar
he would support the resolution. but
when be remembered that Congress
had already passed q law 70 restrain
the immigration, and there was q bin
nov pending to extend the terms Of re-
striction, he was inclined to be in favor
OF the resolutions; but there was no
treaty stipulation and no law that com
PEELED the indemnity to be paid. II il
we're paid, il would be paid for the ben
efit OF the poor. helpless. unfortunate
men Who had been the victims Of the
assault -
Mr.. Phillips, of New Jersey. said he
believed Congress was going to DO what
the Administration asked il to do. and
what the resolution. proposed 10 do
pay the Cinnamon for the property
hat had been destroyed-not As an act
9f charity, but because ,itsas 50 sound
policy. because IL was reciprocity for
hundred acts OF indemnity performed !