Speech #530022836

If passed. it will save millions of dollars to the United States. and meet a widespread demand for legislation that will prevent the further coming of the Chinese to the United States. The pending bill was ordered to be reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. with but one dissenting member. Itamends the Chinese exclusion act passed May 5. 1892. known as the Geary act. by extending the time from the passage of this bill six months. in which Chinese persons now in the United States may register and obtain certificates of residence. It also amends that act so as to require "one credible witness other than Chinese" to prove that the applicant for a certificate was a resident of the United States on the 5th of May. 1892. instead of "one credible white witness." It also requires that the word "laborer" or "laborers." wherever used in this act or in the act to which this is an amendment. shall be construed to mean both skilled and unskilled manual laborers. including Chinese employed in mining. fishing. huckstering. peddling. laundrymen. or those engaged in taking. drying. or otherwise preserving shell Qr other fish for home consumption or exportation. The treaties between the United States and China. and the subsequent legislation adopted by Congress to prevent the immigration of Chinese laborers into this country. terminating in the exclusion act of May 5. 1892. are too well known to require lengthy discussion at this time. I will only refer briefly to the treaties and to the acts of Congress. The first treaty between the United States and the Empire of China was concluded on the 3d of July. 1844. and ratifications exchanged in December of the following year. The next treaty was negotiated with the Chinese Government in June. 1858. and ratifications exchanged in August of the following year. Both of these treaties were in the interests of peace. amity. and commerce between the two nations. and renewed the promise of protection to all citizens of the United States in China peaceably attending to their affairs. and stipulated for security to Christians in the profession of their religion. but neither the treaty of 1844 nor that of 1858 referred to the emigration of the citizens and subjects of the two nations. respectively. from one country to the other. It was in 1868 that a new treaty was negotiated by Anson Burlingame and others. called a "treaty concerning trade. consuls. religious toleration. and emigration." This was the harbinger of a new era in the history of China. because it opened a country to free intercourse with other nations that had for ages been isolated and closed to all foreigners. i read article 6 of that treaty to show how broad and cordial our relations with China were at that time: ARTICLE 6. Citizens of the United States visiting or residing in China shall enjoy the same privileges. immunities. or exemptions in respect to travel or residence as may there be enjoyed by the citizens or subjects of the most favored nation. and. reciprocally. Chinese subjects visiting or residing inthe United States shall enjoy the same privileges. immunities. and exemptions in respect to travel or residence as may there be enjoyed by the citizens or subjects of the most favored nation. But nothing herein contained shall be held to confer naturalization upon the citizens of the United States in China. nor upon the subjects of China in the United States. The large immigration of Chinese to our country which occurred after this treaty was made. their peculiar habits and their failure to assimilate with our people. the growing unpopularity of Chinese laborers. and the belief that their presence here was inimical to our institutions. ledto the treaty concluded in 1880. known as "the treaty regulating immigration into the United States." It provides in its first article. that 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 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. The limitation or suspension shall be reasonable. and shall apply only to Chinese who may go to the United States as laborers. other classes not being included in the limitations. Legislation taken in regard to Chinese laborers will be of such a character only as is necessary to enforce the regulation. ]imitation. or suspension of immigration. and immigrants shall not be subject to personal maltreatment or abuse. The second article of this treaty declares thatChinese subjects. whether proceeding to the United States as teachers. students. merchants. or from curiosity. together with their body and household servants. and Chinese laborers who are now in the United States. shall be allowed to go and come of their own free will and accord. and shall be accorded all rights. privileges. immunities. and exemptions which are accorded to the citizens and subjects of the most favored nation. Soon after the ratification of this treaty.