The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-10-04
CHINESE EXCLUDED.
THE PRESIDENT SIGNS TIE
ELL
His Reasons for Approving II Made
the Subject of Message
to Congress,

20 Congress in relation TO the Chinese Exclu.
sion bill, which he has signcl;
IL seems to mo that some suggestions and
recommendations may properly accompany
my approval Of this bilL It's object is to
more efrcctualy accomplish by legislation
the exclusion from th s country OF Chinese
laborers. The experiment Of blending the
social habits aud mutual race idiosyncracies
of the Chinese lat oring classes with those of
the great body Of the PEOPLE Of the United
States has been proved 10y the experience of
twenty yesrs and ever since the Burlingnme
treaty of 1865 10 lie in every sense unwis,.
impOlitic and injurious 10 both nations. With
the lapse Of time, the necess ity for its an
donment has grown in force until those hav-
ing in charge the government OF the respec-
tive countries have resolved to modify and
sufficiently abrogato all those features Of
prior conventional arrangements which per
mitted the coming OF Chinese laborers TO tho
United States.
In modification Of prior conventions the
treaty Of November IL, 1880 was concluded,
whereby, in the first article thereof, il was
agreed that the United States should at will
Chinese la orers to the United States, but
not absolutely prohibit IT. and under this ar
ticle an act Of Congress, approved on May
9th, 1852 (see VOL &i p. -, States at largel
aud amended July 8, 1854 Vol %. p. llj,
States at large, suspended for ten year tho
coming OF Chinese lnborers TO the United
States and regulate the going aud coming of
such Chinese latorers as were at that time in
the United States. IL was. however, soon
made evident that the mercenary greed OF
the parties who were trading IN the lnbor
OF this class of the Chinese population, was
proving too strong for the just execution of
the law, and that the virtual defeat OF the
object and int mt OF both law and treaty was
being fraudulently accomplished by false
pretense and perjury, contrary to tie ex-
pressed will Of both governments.
To such an extent has the successful viola
tion Of the treaty and the laws enacted for
its execution progressed that the courts in
the Pacific States have Eeen for some time
past overwhelmed by the examination OF the
cases OF Chinese laborers who are charged
with having entered our ports under fraudu-
lent certificates of return or seek TO establish
by perjury the claim Of prior residence. Such
demonstration Of the imperative and ineiii-
cient condition Of the treaty aud law has pro-
duced deep seated and increasing discomfort
among the people Of tho United States, and
especially with those resident on the Pacific
coost. This has induced me to omit no effort
TO finish an effectual remedy for the evils
complained of, and TO answer the earnest
popular demand for the absolute exclusion of
Chinese laborers.
In August, 1856, our Minister to Peking re-
ceived from tho Chinese Foreign Office a
communication announcing that China, of
her own accord, proposed to establish a sys-
TEN of strict and absolute prohibition Of her
laborers, under heavy penalties, from comm.
10 the United states, aud likewise TO prohibit
the return tl the Unitei States of any Chi
neso laborer who had at any time gone back
to China. "in order,n lin tho words Of the
communication 'that the Chinese laborers
may gradually he reduced in number aud
causes of danger avertel aud lives pre-
served
This view of the Chinese Government, 50
completely in harmony with that OF the
United States, was by my direction speedily
formulated in treaty draft between the ma
tions, cmbodying the propositions ~ present.
cd by the Chinese Foreign Office. The delib-
eratious, frequent oral discussions and CORE
spondencc on the general questions that EN-
sued have been fully commune tod by mo
To the Senate ut the present session, and, ms
contained in Senate executive document,
part, and ., and in Senate executive Gccu.
ment No. @,2, may he properly refcrrei To
as containing complete history of the
transaction. It IS thus easy to learn how the
joint desires anl unequivocal mutual
understanding of tho two governments were
brough, into articulntoi form in the treaty,
which, after mutual exhibition of plenary
powers from the respective governments, was
signed and concluded by the plenipotentia.
res Of the United States and China ut this
capital on March 18th last.
Being su' mittcd for the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate, its confirmation, on the
seventh day OF May last, was accompanied
by two amendments, which that body en-
grated upon IL. On the twelfth day OF the
same month the Chinese a..nstcr, who was
the lenipotentiary of his government in the
negotiation and the conclusion OF tho tr, atty
in no'e to tho Secretary Of State gave his
approval of ia So amendments, as they did
not n ter the terms of the treaty. and the
amend ents were at once te!eIraphcd to
China, whittier the original treaty had pres
viously been sent immediately alter its signa~
ture on March II.
In the course of his message the President
recommends that Congress by joint resolu,
tion, or in some other manner, provide that
such Chinese laborers as have actually ems
barked on their return TO this country before
the passage of this bill may be permil ted to
land. He also recommends the appropriation
of the amount named in the rejected treaty
10 indemnify certain Chinese subjects for
damages suiferet through violence in the re-,
mote aud comparatively unsettled portiors
OF our country.
Paupcr Mormons Imported.