Speech #570040933

This treaty is still in force. excepting in so far as it has been modified by subsequent treaties and laws. On November 8. 1858. two supplemental treaties were signed. one pertaining to claims and the other providing specifically the rates of duty to be imposed on articles imported into China by the United States and containing certain rules pertaining to the importation of articles into China from the United States. Neither the treaty of 1844 nor the substitute treaty of 1858. with its two supplements. referred to the immigration of Chinese subjects into the United States. although there were quite a number of Chinamen here in 1858. as they commenced to come in considerable numbers shortly after the discovery of gold in California in 1848 and 1849. But 1868 marked the beginning of a new epoch in our relations with China. In that year a delegation of Chinese officials. headed by Anson Burlingame. a prominent American diplomat. who had resigned his post as minister of the United States to China to accept a mission from China to visit the United States and other countries. came to this country. This delegation was received with great enthusiasm in all parts of the country. and. as I now remember it. they were received on the floor of the House of Representatives here in Washington. of which body I then had the honor of being a member. We were anxious at that time to cultivate a close friendship with China. and we were perfectly willing that the Chinese should immigrate to and settle in the United States. Shortly after the arrival of the Burlingame commission. on July 4. 1868. a new treaty was signed. in the form of additional articles to the convention of 1858. The Senate ratified the new treaty or additional articles. and after much hesitation and urging on the part of the United States. under the administration of President Grant.