The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-05-17
The Chinese Must go.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Supreme
Court OF the United States to-day affirm
ed the constitutionality of the Geary Chi
nese Exclusion and Registration Act.
The opinion was announced by Justice
Gray. The announcement that the de-
cision in the case was expected attracted
large attendance of spectators, and the
fact that it was the last day of the term
accounted for the presence ofan unusual
ly large array of attorneys within the
bar, Including Attorney General Olney,
Solicitor General Aldrioh, Senators Pugh,
Dolph and Cockrell, ex-Justice Strong
and several members Of the diplomatic
corps were interested spectators.
Justice Gray said in announcing the
judgment OF the Court that the power Of
this nation to restrict or prohibit tho i'm
migration OF any aliens into the country
or to require such aliens already In the
country to remove herefrom was we'll
settled principle of international law and
was confirmed by an unbroken line OF
decisions in this Court. The legislative
power Of the Government had not tram
scended any of its constitutional limita-
ton in the Act under consideration. It
was within its power to determine the
regulations under which these aliens
should be permitted to remain in the
United States. For failing to observe
regulations they should be required to
leave The country.
The provisions of Section of the Act,
which are the part Of .he law particularly
at issue, were not inconsistent with the
relations and duties of the legislative and
judicial departments of the Government.
The modes of procedure set forth In the
section are similar to those in other we'll
established proceedings, such as habeas
corpus and naturalization, fixing the re-
quirements of citizenship and the like
in which the judicial branch Of the Gov
ernment accepted the determination of
the Executive upon the questions in
volved.
As to the requirements that Chinese
entitled to remain in this country shou
establish that right by the evidence y.
one creditahle white witness, Judge
Gray said that it was within the power Of
the legislative to determine the character
of the evidence that might be received in
a case at law and what force should be
given to the testimony so offered.
of the Act in question, which was beyond
the province OF the Judicial branch of
the Government, it remained only to say
that the judgment of the Circuit Court for
the Southern district of New York in
refusing to grant writs Of habeas corpus
to tho several petitioners was affirmed.
Justice Gray stated that it had been i'm
possible in the brief time elapsing since
the hearing of thu argument on the petit
tions to prepare in writing the opinion Of
the Court. It would be filed as soon as
possible.
Chief Justice Fuller and JUSTICES Field
and Brewer dissented,
After the Court had concluded the an
nounsement of the opinion ]. Hubley
Ashton, of counsel for the Chinese, NOV
ed for rehearing Of the case and an argu-
ment before a full bench at the next
term. At present the Court stands five
to three in support of the law, Justice
Harlan being absent. The Court took
recess to consider Mr.. Ashton's motion,
which was denied, so the decision stands
as announced,