Speech #470033390

Noesbcr 17. 1810. (Received January 5. 1811.) S it O inbrSi dispatea No. 12. we informed yo that we had on that day cutncludes f treaity with the Chinese Government. wich would be signed in a few days. and a cops of whici was inclosei o Oit Isovoinber I0 we telegraphed a brief summary of thle trea ty. (ioclosure 1.) atid have now the honor to inform yot tat Sc he 17th s adopeeber. this treaty tees signed in triplicate. in Cinese and Eiglish by t oe com missioners plenilsosotias1 of tise tsr1 gveruments. Osucier dispathes wilt have given yeu a sufficient history of se negotiations. hut we deem It oar duty to conclude wit a roese of the points which came untii tlictissieoi. After ore first interview with the Cishiswe coainfseioners we thaougt it clear SteS while the Chinese Covernent wul recognize te propriety of sooe reg lattiug Ciscretieot as to Chtinese istitigration on the part .sf cte Gos:erneont of Ste Unitet Slates. it wold not consent to its in rl s lprohihititi and theahbsolteabrogatioS of the provisions of the Bsrlngasm t oety re eatin So ite re ) intedcoire etweent the peonse of the tw o staris. o l snot thii th at tin t public opinion of the Unitedsi tarts wout reie so ext e Ceslath d isd we sonsidered out ist orctios as warning na net to sisregard the traditional poriey of the United Sties. and in yeor wn words to give due wight to "the widely dliffusd and. so to speak. natamal aenGitnea of omtpeople in feves of cte most liberal admision of foreign ioimigrtns who desire to incohtorate thonselves and their ftmilis with our society. and mingle the stream of their posterity in the swelling tide of native popuilationj." hileOtlherefore. we asked in our first proposition for a recognition of the right to prohibit. we were prepared at theproper tirieto withdraw tliisextroe Clain] in concession to a final advance on the part of the Chinese commissioners to such a degree of discretionary power ott theoart of the United States as we deied practicaly suflicient to secure the ceontrol of Chinese immigration. The statement of the wisls and purposes of the Government of iheUnited States was. at the opening of the negotiation. met by the Chinese commissioners with thie expression. in very friendly language. of their willingness to negotiate. provided no modification (if the BIuringam treaty was asked. and certain propositions forimally submitled by Mr. Seward in referenco to paupers. lawd wsomon. distased personus. anti contract laborers were taken as the basis of the negotiation. While acknowledging the amicable spirit in which their reply was node. we deemed it all important that the Chinese commissioners should understal that a proper modification of the Burlingame treaty was preciselv the thing we had come to obtain. and that Mr. Sewards pr positiolis in no way furnished .lie basis of any negotiation seirich e were willing toundertake.