The bill passed the Senate on February 15. 1879. by a vote of 39 to 2721 Democrats and 18 Republicans voting for the bill. The Republicans who voted against the bill placed their opposition on the ground that it was in violation ofthe trea ty. President Hayes vetoed the bill solely on the ground that it was in violation of the treaty and not because he was in favor of Chinese immigration. on the contrary. the evil was so apparent that the administration immediately opened negotiations to secure a treaty excluding Chinese. Acornmission was sent to China. consisting of Messrs. Swift. Trescot. and Angel]. to negotiate a new treaty restricting Chinese immigration. and succeeded in their mission and negotiated the treaty of 1880. The treaty provided that immigration might be restricted and regulated by the United States. but that the immigration of laborers should not be totally prohibited. Then. in 1882. came proposed legislation with a view of carrying the treaty into effect. Amendments were constantly offered to embarrass those who were perfecting the bill to carry the treaty into effect in good faith. The amendments of Grover. of Oregon. and Farley. of California. were of that character. These amendments had no tendency to restrict Chinese immigration or improve the bill. Farleys amendment. which General Harrison voted against. and for which vote the Senator from Missouri has so severely criticised him. was in the following words: That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit Chinese to citizenship. and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.Record. part 2. pages 1481. 17.19. The manifest object of this amendment vis to embarrass the bill. and Senator EDIUNDS made that fact very clear in the following remarks: Air.
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immigration