Chinese exclusion acts.
The immigration of
Chinese laborers to the
Pacific coast of the
United States began soon after the discovery of gold in
California in 1849.
Within a few years their influx became so great as to excite alarm.
As they were willing to work for very small wages, and as most of them were employed and controlled by contractors, it was impossible for American laborers to compete with them.
For these reasons, a strong anti-Chinese feeling was aroused, especially in
California, and this feeling increased in intensity as the years passed.
Many efforts were made to induce the national government to pass laws regulating or restricting the immigration of
Chinese laborers, but it was not until 1879 that Congress began to take any decisive action.
In that year a bill was passed forbidding any vessel to bring into American ports more than fifteen Chinamen at a time.
This bill was vetoed by
President Hayes, on the ground that it conflicted with existing treaty relations between this country and
China.
In 1881 a treaty was effected and ratified between the
United States and
China, which provided that the government of the former should have power to limit, suspend, or regulate, but not prohibit, the importation of
Chinese laborers.
Chinese merchants, travellers, and their servants, teachers, and students in this country were to enjoy the same rights as those vouchsafed to the citizens of the most favored nations.
On May 6, 1882, however, Congress passed an act suspending
Chinese
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immigration for a period of ten years. To enforce this law a heavy fine was ordered to be imposed upon any captain or shipowner who should bring
Chinese laborers to any part of the
United States, and each laborer so coming was liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months. Other
Chinese persons—as students, travellers, merchants, scientists, diplomatists, etc.—were to be provided with an official certificate or passport from their home government.
The effect of this law was at once felt in the decreased immigration of
Chinese laborers, which was now practically prohibited.
Notwithstanding this exclusion act, many Chinamen still found entrance into the
United States by first landing in
British Columbia, whence they were systematically smuggled across the border.
It was estimated that the number of laborers thus surreptitiously introduced into the
United States averaged not less than 1,500 per year for several years after the passage of the law.
The feeling against the Chinese was especially strong on the
Pacific slope.
A bill promoted by
Representative Geary, of
California, and known as the
Geary Act, became law May 5, 1892.
By this measure the previous exclusion acts of 1882, 1884, and 1888 were re-enacted for ten years; all Chinamen were required to obtain certificates of residence, in default of which they were to be deported at the expense of the
United States.
Only about 12,000 out of 100,000 complied with the law. The question of its constitutionality was settled by a decision of the United States Supreme Court, May 15, 1893.
