Huntsville gazette., 1893-05-20
he court to interfere. What congress

vlded that the persons in question
should be sent out of the country
to the place from whence they came;
1T provided, not for the adjudication OF
crime, but simply for the removal Of
persons whose presence congress con-
siders inconsistent with the public
| welfare. 1t must be rememb bered that
Chinese can not be naturalized. Doubt
less they are entitled to the security
and safeguard guaranteed by the con-
stitution and the laws in such measure
as they provide, but there was nothing
in the constitution or laws which i'm
pugned the power of congress to COM
pei them to leave the country.
At the conclusion of Justice Gray's
opinion Justice Brewer announced that
he felt compelled to dissent from the
view of the majority of the court. He
read his views at some length, declaring
in substance that the act of 1892 was
unconstitutional, and that if it were
upheld there was no guarantee that
similar treatment might not be ac-
corded to other classes of our popula-
ton than the Chinese.
Justice Field, who delivered the
opinion of the supreme court OF the
United States in the first case un-
der the exclusion act, also read
a dissenting opinion. He held
that there was wide difference
between exclusion of immigrants
and the deportation of alien residents,
and he characterized the act in the
strongest language as inhuman and
brutal; and as violative of the constitu-
ton in every section. He regretted to
say that the decision of the court was.
to his mind, fraught with the gravest
dangers to the priceless constitutional
liberties of the people.
Chief-Justice Fuller also dissented
from the opinion of the court.
After the court had concluded the an
nouncement of opinions, Mr.. J. Hubley
Ashton, of counsel for the Chinese,
moved for a rehearing of the case and
an argument before full bench at the
next term.
The court took short recess to con-
slider the motion of Mr.. Ashton, for a
rehearing of the case before a full
bench at the next term of court. After
the recess the court denied the motion
for rehearing, SO the opinion stands
as announced.
Surprise Among Government Of1ccrs.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-Government
officers express surprise at the decision
of the United States supreme court in
the Chinese cases, but refrain from
venturing opinions as to the future ac-
tion in carrying out the law. 1t is un
derstood that the subject will come up
for consideration at the meeting of the
cabinet to-day. Until more definite
plan of procedure shall have been de-
cided upon, the instructions issued by
Secretary Carlisle and Attorney-Gen-
eral Olney to treasury officials and
United States marshals respectively
hold good.
1t is estimated that there are 110, 900
Chinese in the United States. Re-
ports from thirty-four districts show
that 4, 100 have registered. The twen-
ty-nine districts not yet heard from it
is estimated will increase the number
to $4,000. which is regarded to be the
maximum registration.
During the present fiscal year $50
Chinese subjects have been deported.
The cost of deportation from San Fran
cisco is s35 per head. Only s16,s06.os
of the appropriation for the enforce
ment of the Chinese law remains un-
expended This amount will go but
small way towards paying the expen-
ses OF deporting the 1o4, 900 Chinese who
have not registered.
1t is not known at the treasury de-
partment that any other fund can be
drawn upon to provide for the expense
of carrying out the requirements OF
the law.
Intimations are heard that congress
may be convened to consider the matter.
In any view of the case the treasury
officials expect to experience great diff
ficulty in carrying out the mandate of
the law that the Chinese must 60"
They look to the cabinet to solve the
problem at it's meeting to-day.
The Removal of Mr.. Sturtevant.
WASHINGTON, May 1e.-The Washing
ton Post ascribes the following Ian
guage to Secretary Carlisle on Satur-
day in an interview as to the removal
of NJ S+urtevant head of the treas