The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-02
The President Tells Why He Affixes
His Signature.
The American People Cannot be
Subjected to Contamination.
A Message That Harrison Wishes
He Had Written.
An Appropriation of $27e, Gle. rs Recon-
mended as Indemnity For All
Losses and Injuries Sustained
by Chinese Subjects.


sent the following message to Congress to-
day:
have this day approved House bill No.
1885, supplementary TO an act entitled
IAN act to execute certain treaty sipula.
hons relating to Chinese" approved the
9th day Of May, 1882.
1t seems to me that some suggestions
and recommendations may properly ac-
company my approval Of this bill. Its OBJ
lect is to more eTectually accomplish by
legislation the exclusion from this country
OF Chinese laborers.
The experiment Of blending the social
habits and mutual race idiosyncracies Of
the Chinese laboring classes with those OF
the great body OF the people of the United
States has been proved by the experience
OF twenty years, and ever since the Bur
hngame treaty OF 1868, to be in every sense
unwise impolitic and injurious TO both ma
lions. With the lapse of time the neces.
sity for its abandonment has grown in
force, until those having in charge the
government of the respective countries
have resolved TO modify and sufficiently
abrogate all those features of prior conyen.
ton arrangements which permitted the
coming Of Chinese laborers to the United
States.
In manifestation Of prior conventions
the treaty of November IL, 1880, was con-
Guided, whereby, in the first article
thereof, 1t was agreed that the United
States should at will regulate, limit or sus.
pend the coming Of Chinese laborers 10
the United States, but not absolutely pro.
hibit it, and under this article an act of
Congress, approved on May q, 1882. (see
volume %, page So, statutes at largel and
amended July 8, 1854, volume %, page
lilo, statutes at large) suspended for ten
years the coming OF Chinese labores TO
the United States, and regulated the going
and coming OF such Chinese laborers 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 labor 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 intent OF both law and treaty was be.
ing iraudulently accomplished by false
pretense and perjury, contrary TO the ex.
To such an extent has the successful
violation Of the treaty and the laws en-.
acted for It's execution progressed, that the
courts in the Pacific States have hso. Co.
some time past overwheimed by the ex-
animation OF casesof Chinese laborers who |
are charged with having entered our ports !
under fraudulent certificates OF return or
seek TO establish by perjury the claim OF |
prior residence. Such demonstration OF |
the imperative and inefficient considera. |
ton OF the treaty and law has produced |
deep-seatcd and increasing discomfort
among the people Of the United States. and !
especially with those resident on the Pa. |
cic coast This has induced me 10 omit !
no effort 10 find an eilcciual remedy for |
the evils complained Of, and 20 answer
the earnest popular demand for the ALSO |
Lutte exclusion Of Chinese laborers, hay-
ing objects aud purposes unlike our own
and wholly disconnected with American
citizenship.
Aided by the presence OF this country Of
able and Intelligent diplomatic and consu.
lar officers Of the Chinese government, and
the representations made from time 90 time
by our minister In China, under the in
struciions Of the Department Of State, the
actual condition Of public sentiment and
the status Of Affairs in the United States
has been fully known TO the government
OF China. The necessity for remedy has
been fully appreciated by that government,
and In August, 1856, our minister at Pckin
: received from tho Chinese foreign Office
n communication announcing that China,
Of her own accord, proposed TO establish
system Of strict aud absolute prohibition
OF her laborcrs, under heavy penalties,
from coming 10 the United States, aud
likewise 10 prohibit the return 10 the
United States Of any Chinese lnboror who
had at any time gone back 30 China, Tin
ORDER IN the words Of the cOmmunica-
ton, "that the Chinese lahoreB may
gradually be reduced in number, aud
causes Of danger aycrtcd and lives pre-
served
This view Of the Chinese government. 10
completely in harmony with that OF the
United States, WIS by my direction speed.
Nv formulated In treaty draft between
the two nations cmbodying the prupo-
siions 50 presented by the Chinese foreign
Office.
The deliberations, frequent oral discus
sions and correspondence ON the general
questions that cnsucd have been fully
communicated by me 10 the Senate at the
present session, and ns contained In State
executive document o, parts aud 2, and
In Senate executive document No. 272,
may be- properly referred 10 rs containing
complete history Of the transaction.
II is thus easily 10 learn how the Joint
desires and unequiyocal mutual under.
standing Of the two governments were
brought into articulated form In the treaty,
which, ailora mutual exhibition Of plonary
powers from the respective governments
was signed and concluded by the plenipo-
tcntiaries oi the United States and China
OF this capitol on March " last. Being
submitted for the advice and consent OF
the Senate lis confirmation, on the seventh
day Of May last, was accompanied by two
amendments, which that body engraited
upon It.
On the i2,h day Of tho same month the
Chinese minister who was the plenipoten-
tiary a his government, ia the negotiation
and the cone isinn NJ tic treaty, In note
60 the Spcr ury u state, gave his appro.
val of tho anpulmrnts.
"As they diJ NOT alter the terms Of the
treaty" aud ,hc amendments were at
once Photographed 70 China, whittier the
original lfva,y nad previously been sent