I present the petition of Thomas Ashby and 52 other citizens of Massachusetts. who call upon Congress in the name of the intelligent workers of the United States to enact "such amendments to the Chinese restriction acts as are satisfactory to the Pacific coast delegation in Congress." They represent that such is the administration of the law on the Pacific coast by the officials there at this time as to break down .all barriers. and every class of Chinese. whether merchants. laborers. mendicants. or criminals. may enter our ports under the name of business men. students. or travelers. and they demand. they say. therefore. in the name of American artisans." that Congress shall enact such amendments to the Chinese restriction acts as will make it a criminal offense to bring to this country such hordes of degraded beings. who are a worse blight to the country than ever was the slave power of the South." Mr. President. I recognize the right of all my constituents to petition Congress at all times upon all subjects when they deem it their duty or their inclination so to do. and I shall present such petitions. but whether I could support such amendments to the Chinese immigration law as would be "satisfactory to the Pacific coast delegation in Congress" would depend altogether upon the character of those amendments. While I shall be the organ of my constituents to the extent of presenting their petition. I withhold my assent to amendments until I shall know the character of such amendments.
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Hordes of degraded beings who are a worse blight to the country than ever was the slave power of the South.