President. I do not wish to be for a moment misapprehended in regard to my own position. if that is of any importance to anybody but myself. I am as much opposedas my friend from California to the immigration of Chinese laborers. I do not want to see this element grow in our country. I wish -to see it steadily diminished in efficacy and in numbers until it shall cease to exist. But what I object to. and concerning which I have the clearest convictions of my duty. is the manner in which it is proposed to depopulate the country of those people. As I have said. the Burlingame treaty became unsatisfactory. and it was proposed about the year 1880 by this Government that the vast and generous terms of that convention. by which Chinese were permitted to come to this country ad libitim. should be modified by treaty stipulations of a new and restricted character. Accordingly the treaty of 1880 was concluded between the two governments. which in substance provided (I shall not attempt to state statutes or treaties literally) that whenever in the opinion of the United States injurious effects are threatened or caused by the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States. or their residence therein. such coming or residence may be regulated. limited. or suspended. but not absolutely prohibited. that the limitation or suspension shall be reasonable and shall apply only to laborers. and immigrants shall not be subject to personal maltreatment or abuse. That is the essence of that treaty so far as the immigration of laborers is concerned. Within four years after its ratification. and in the due course of legislation two acts of Congress were passed. the act of 1882 and the act of 1884. designed to carry into effect the stipulation of the convention to which I have just alluded. Without going into that legislation with any degree of particularity (for. as I have said. it is not my purpose to do so at any stage of this discussior) it must be sufficient to say that those statutes. by an elaborate system of registration and certificates. plainly sufficient.
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