Speech #490064334

But that these provisions in any manner impose an obligation upon the United States to indemnify for losses sustained by reason of infractions of our local and domestic laws by lawless and irresponsible mobs. can not for one moment be maintained. Nor has there been any discrimination whatever of an unfavorable character against the Chinese. or which in any manner discriminates against them in any of the laws of this country. State. national. or Territorial. save and except such Federal laws as have been enacted by Congress relating to the restriction of Chinese immigration. and these. as we all know. were enacted in pursuance of treaty stipulations. while in other respects they are favored. not perhaps above other alien residents. but tibsolutely above citizens of our own country in the matter of the selection of those tribunals through which they may seek redress of private wrolgs or the enforcement of their private rights. The Chinaman who has suffered wrong in this country and desires to seek a remedy in the courts may select at his option a Federal or State court. whereas to citizens of our own country having controyersies with citizens in the same State the right to a remedy in the Federal court is denied except in special cases. and thus in the one case very frequently the alien has the right to have hie case reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States. while in a precisely similar case the citizen of this country must be content with the decision of the State court. Here. then. for the investigation and redress of injuries to the life and limb and property of resident Chinese subjects are established courts. judicial tribunalsFederal.