The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-09
SHORT AND TART
WAS THE ANSWER OF PENNOYER, OF
OREGON,
To the Presidents Request About tho Chi
nese-Secretary Gr-sham's Statement
In Regard to the Dispatch Sent.


Portland, Oregon, May 4.-The follow
ing telegraphic correspondence today pass
ed between Secretary of State Gresham
and Governor Pennoyer:
Washington, May Ex-Governor Pennoyer,
the Capitol, Salem, Ore: Apparently reli-
able reports indicate danger OF violence to
the Chinese when the exclusion act takes eff
feet. and the president earnestly hopes you
will employ all lawful means for their pro-
lection in Oregon w. Q. GRESHAM
Governor Pennoyer Immediately sent the
following reply:
Salem. Ore, May $40 W. O. Gresham,
Washington, ID. g.: L will attend TO my
business. Let the president attend to MS
SYLVESTER PENNOYER, Governor
Governor Pennoyer, speaking TO Inc
Southern Associated Press reporter salu:
1.-The Gresham telegram IS an insult 10
Oregon l will enforce the laws Oh the state
and the president should enforce the laws
of congress. 1t was with poor grace 1or inc
president to ask me to enforce the state
laws, while he, without warrant, suspends
the exclusion law"
Cleveland and Pennoyer.
Washington, May 4.-Secrctary Gresham
reaiiirmed today his statement OF yesterday
that he had sent two kilograms to the gov
eruors of the western states asking them 10
take precautiOh against violence TO ChlneSe.
He did not care to state how many and
what governors had been asked TO take &C
ton, but said that the text of the dispatch
over his Signatur given out tor publication
by Governor Iennoyer, of Oregon, was cor
rect. The Secretary declined to comment
Oh the answer sent him by Governor Fen
noyer.
''1'he kilograms speak for themselves,
he said. Il sent Il perfectly respectful mes
sage to Governor Pennoyer, and received III
reply the dispatch which has been given to
the press The representation had been
made to the department that violence might
be done Chinese subjects when the law went
into effect and dispatches were sent as
precautionary measures. l do not believe
there is any prospect of trouble, but the
dispatches were sent. nevertheless, to allay
apprehension. ;"
The serious trouble in which the United
Safes became involved in the conflict be
tween state laws and treaty stipuations
over the killing of the Italians in New Or
leans and also the killing of several Chinese
and wounding of many others at Rock
Creek. Wyo.. for which the United States
made reparation, induced the administers
tior to take every precaution to avert vlo-
lence towards Chinese citizens over the en-
forcement of the exclusion law. Foreign
governments have already required ex-
plantations from the United States with ref
ercncc to the paramount authority OF
state in regard TO crimes committed within
its border in seven cases where the crimes
were not in violation Of the treaty stipuia-
tions. The state department decided to
give the Chinese government, In the event
of trouble the assurance that every precau-
ton had been taken for the protection OF
Chinese subjects. SO far as the advice and
authority of the general government could
do
It will be remembered that President Har-
rison strongly recommended to congress TO
pass n law giving the United States courts
jurisdiction over offenses against treaty
stipulations committed in the states, hut
congress declined to adopt the recommended
ton.
Ores hams WARNING.
As soon as Secretary Of State Gresham
returned here he gave his attention to i'm
portant and somewhat startling reports from
California; These reports were to the effect
an anti-ChineSe outbreak is almost certain to
occur in San Francisco and throughout the
Pacific country when the Chinese exclusion
act takes effect within the next few days.
The information which came to Secretary
Gresham was quite specin; and wholly relia-
bic. and II Indicated DANCE Of great violence
to the Chinese population, particularly through
California.
Within an hour after Secretary Gresham LEI.
the presidential train. bringing him back from
Chicago, he framing kilograms to the
governors of the far western states. appealing
to them to maintain order and to protect
the Chinese against assault One of these tel
w.
mento, Cal. 1t was quite lengthy, and Inform
ed the governor that the state department had
reliable reports indicating danger of violence
to the Chinese population when the Geary
exclusion act takes effect. Judge Gresham
added that President Cleveland earnestly hop
ed that the governor would employ all lawful
means for the protection of the Chinese in
California.
The nature Of the information which has
reached the secretary of state cannot be
certained, but it is evid@nt from his kilograms
to Governor Morrow End others that he re-
CARDS the subject as serious and the danger
threatening. 1t is quite unusual for the fed
era authorities t. appeal to the governor
of state regarding police affairs within the
jurisdiction of the state. 1t will be
recalled that when the New Orleans atrocity
occurred and Italy demanded redress for thr
lynchng of Il number Of her cOuntrymen, Mr..
Blaine the secretary of state, insisted that
the subject was one wholly within the juris-
diction Of the governor Of Louisiana and that
the federal government had nothing to do
with the case. Judge Gresham's kilograms in
dicates a departure from the OLD rule, and a
desire the part Of Mr.. Cleveland and his
associates to maintain order and protect the
Chinese without wasting words over a con
struction of the constitution as to the reSpec-
tive rights Of the state and federal govern
ment.
The Talk at Georgia's Capitol.
Governor Pennoyer's telegram to Secretary
of State Gresham was read with much III
terest at the statehouse. The comments on it
were interesting, too.
Governor fennOyer is popullSC ana WouIu
not 90 out to meet President Harrison when he
was on his trip. and he would not let the
states guns be fired i'll celebration OF Pres
ident Cleyeland'S election last fall.
"PennQyer is all right i'll his intentions of
maintaining the sovereignty of his state, but
he has Il gruff way of expressing his policy,
said one official. He might be more polite
and courteous i'll his tone, 1t is not Gus
tomary for one executive to be curt to Il CO.
ordinate. Here in Georgia our governors
have always resented interference by the ma
tional government in state affairs. There
was the case of Governor Rabun, who had
a tart correspondence with General Jack
son seventy-tive years ago. The governor
told the general to attend to his own bust
ness in very plain words, but the general was
not president then. He was i'll command OF
the troops in the field. Governor Rabun
had sent Captain Obed Wright with Il com
mand against some hostile Indian towns.
Wright came across Il village and he burned
it and several of the Indians We're killed.
They were hostile, and it was charged that
they had committed several murders. Cap
tain Wright had disobeyed orders and Cen
eral Jackson had him put in irons. Gov
ernor Rabun demanded his release. Wright
was afterward arrested by order of the gov
ernor, but finally escaped. In the CORE
spondence which grew out of the incident
General Jackson was tart and Governor RAJ
bun replied saltily to him.
"Governor Troup and Governor Gilmer
each had some spirited correspondence in