, 1892-09-21
TO FIGHT UNCLE SAM
A Formal Declaration by the Chi
neSe.
The President of the six Companies
Discusses the Merits of the Reg
tstraLIOn Law---He Calls It an
Insult.

SAN FRANCISCO, September 21.-Excite-
ment prevails here today over the attitude
assumed by the six companies relative to
the registration law. The president of this
formidable combination has informed In
ternal Revenue Collector John G. Quinn,
by letter, that they have issued circular
advising Chinese laborers that the law is
unconstitutional and cannot be enforced,
and that they have suggested to the labor
ers that they do not comply with the law.
The presidents say their circular was based
upon advice of their attorneys. and they
declare that the registration law is uncon-
stitutional and in violation of treaty rights.
In support of their assertion that the lawis
unconstitutional they say the law makes no
distinction between Chinese who are aliens
and Chinese who are citizens OF the United
States; that citizen of the Chinese race is
entitled to the same rights and privileges
as those of the Caucasian race, and that
no law can be passed which is intended to
to apply to one class of people and not to
another.
The letter states that all laws must be
equal and uniform; that congress has no
power to pass law inhicting the penalty
of deportation; that the law is against the
provisions of the constitution relating to
deprivation of life, liberty and property
and relating to
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNIsHMENIs.
The letter further states that the Chi
nese now residing here who came here un-
der existing laws are entitled to remain.
The letter then declares that the treaty be-
tween the United States and China pro-
vides that Chinese visiting or residing in
the United States shall have the same
rights and privileges as are enjoyed by cit
liens or subjects OF the most favored ma
tions. 1t says that while congress has the
right to abrOgate or nullify a treaty, the
supreme court Of the United States has de-
creed that such abrogatiOn or nullitication
must be in express terms and not by impli-
cation, 1t declares that congress has not
so abrogated or nullihed the treaty with
China, and it then quotes the provision OF
the constitution that all treaties as well
as the constitution and laws of the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the
land. The letter declares further that no
law is constitutional which imposes upon
Chinese subjects residing in the United
States burdens, restrictions and penalties
which are not imposed upon subjects of
other powers residing in the United States.
Besides giving the above reasons for their
belief that the restriction act is in violation
of rights guaranteed both by treaty and the
constitution, the presidents of the Six Com
panies say that the Chinese consider that
the law is unwarranted and unnecessary;
that it is an insult to the subjects of
friendly nations; that it is in violation of
the principles of justice, equity and fair
dealing between friendly powers, and that
III IS AN INSULT
which is not inflicted on citizens of any
other nation. The presidents declare that
if England or any other European nation
should pass such law in reference to citi-
zens of the United States, the government
and people of the United States would re-
sent it.
The presidents also assert that if the law
is enforced it will subject every Chinese
merchant to blackmail of the worst type;
that Chinese merchant residing in San
Francisco who may desire to travel to New
York may be stopped at every hamlet and
be arrested on charge of being a laborer
who has not registered.
In conclusion the presidents refer to the
fact that Collector Quinn, in his recent let
ter to them, said that the officers of the Six
Companies might be liable to the United
States government for melting the Chinese
TO DIsoBEY THE LAWS
of the United States. In response to this
the presidents say their attention has not
been called to any law which makes it a
crime for them to advise their fellOW-cOun-
trymen that they have a right to disregard
laws which are in violation of the constitu-
ton and treaty.