Speech #520037142

Is there any enlightened Representative in this House who will say that this was not a treaty of amity and concord entered into in a spirit of Christianity and enlightened civilization. which should be kept in good faith? The Chinese Government assented to every proposition you made in the BurlingameStanton treaty. Your special envoys and ministers plenipotentiary. sent expressly to China to negotiate this treaty. came back crowned with laurels and covered with glory. and now. after the passage of your bill of 1880. the Chinese Government again treated with you. giving you the right to interdict the immigration into this country of Chinese laborers or coolies who were diseased and who were criminals. In this way the BurlingameStanton treaty was amended in 1880. In 1881 China agreed to still further amend these treaties. and provided in section 1 of said treaty as follows: Whenever in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States. or their residence therein.affects or threatens to affect the interests of that country. or to endanger the good order of the said country. or of any locality within the territory thereof. the Government of China agrees that the Government of the United States may regulate. limit. or suspend such coming or residence. but may not absolutely prohibit it. First we negotiated the Burlingame and Stanton treaty. Then we said. "Why. we want to interdict the immigration of criminals." The Chinese said. "Very well. we will consent to that." and We made another treaty. Then we wanted to prevent the immigration of diseased men coming from China. They said. "Very well. we will agree to that." Then to come to the bill of 1882. introduced by Mr Page.then representing California. to prevent the coming in of Chinese for twenty years. I was then a member of this House. and rose in my place and said: "That is an unreasonable term." and read the section of the treaty Ihave just read. and further said. "But if you will limit it to ten years. the President will probably sign your bill." At that time the distinguished and honorable gentleman from New York.