Full text of Speeches of Hon. Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut, in the United States Senate, upon the Three Per Cent Funding Bill, the Anti-Chinese Bills, and upon the Bill for the Removal of Certain Disabilities : First Session, Forty-Seventh Congress

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S P E E C H E S
OK

HON.

JOSEPH

11.

HAWLEY,

.TANTJART 27, 31 ; F E U K C A R Y 2, 3; MAKCH 9; APRIL. 26: ASH M A X 3, 1882.

I N T H E S E N A T E OF T H E U N I T E D
January
ram

STATES,

27, 1882.

BBOCRMAN T H R K K P B B C K N T . F U N D I N G B I L L A N D
HANKS.

THK

NATIONAL

Tin- Senate, in Committee of tlie Whole, having under eoiisiihration the bill
presented by Mr. SHERMAN to refund at thr*«e per cent, the reduced sixes and lives,
rberwUe railed the " Wisdoms "—

Mr. HAWLKY said:
T h e a m e n d m e n t proposed by t h e S e n a t o r from Missouri [ M r . V K S T ]
been very m a t e r i a l l y i m p r o v e d by t h e a m e n d m e n t ottered by t h e
S e n a t o r from A l a b a m a , [Mr. I ' r c i i i , ] s t v i k i n g on* t h e second p r o v i s o ,
w h i c h b e h a s a c c e p t e d . " * * But' *2uVo st'II veirftisns in t h e bill
lie i o n o l u d i n g , a n d now t h e seecnd provf^Q w l ^ c h •>. p . a l s s e c t i o n
4 of t h e a c t of J u n e 20, 1874. a£fi? r« e n a c t s s e c t i o n s 51£9 v tic" MOO -»f
rli- Revised S t a t n t e s . Jn£*edJ MO! r e a d said section 4 of tl\e a d o''*
J u n e "2o. 1*74, w h i c h ke~d« $rf"es to repeal. I t p r o v i d e s t h a t any ;>.VBOciation o r g a n i z e d *xnd»rt h a t ae> or r i de~ any, act e o*" v-hich' if :£ '
a n a m e n d m e n t , dcsu' : ntf to w i t h d r a w Fti» .''r.'v^atAiV r: Nv ."may b r i n g / '
i n t o t h e T r e a s u r y legaT-tendm- not'- I I't ' i v e ' j r a : aiiuiiHt nltd deposit*
m, h a v i n g tKc'n'Vt 'security for i t s c i r c u l a t i n g notes, t a k e i t s b o n d s
w i t h the lit p e f - e e n t . mrrrgin. a n d go 1a \ y a y v ^Originally, i\ lien a
red to r e t i r e itsv:'Fi u f a ' f u i are ruV-e- up ' bo Vow iVwcV: r e q u i r e d t o b r i n g t o t h e Tr'as'.f;.'-~h'e bcHs it bnd. :>SU'HI. ' TJ**%
i as
• id t o bf n e x t to an impossibility. Kvcry in;iii''kno\VN f tiiat tlie
n a t i o n a l - b a n k notes h a v e now a free c i r c u l a t i o n all o v e r the c o u n t r y ;
t h a t the% go w h i t h e r t h e y will. 'I'lley h a v e n o t i e b r i n g i n g t h e m
back to ihe p a r e n t b a n k ; they are good e v e r y w h e r e for all possible
p u r p o s e s ; so t h a t a b a n k s e e s ' b u t a small fraction of its own b i l l s
• f t e r t h e y a r e once s e n t o u t ; t h e y fly a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d ; t h e y do not
• back like t h e birds of the field or t h e fishes of t h e sea to ( h e i r
p l a c e of b i r t h
I t Was found, I say. difficult t o w i n d u p t h e b u s i n e s s of a b a n k in
couKecjUencr. oi t h e original r e q u i r e m e n t . T h i s f o u r t h section w a s
D t h e interest of b a n k s t h a t were closing up business as well as in
t h e i n t e r e s t of those who desired to reduce t h e i r c i r c u l a t i o n . T h e
t i o v e r n m e u t was safe ; it h a d its own l e g a l - t e n d e r o b l i g a t i o n s to m e e t
tho.se b a n k bills w h e n e v e r t h e y should come in. It was more t h a n
s a f e ; it had the use ©f t h a t m o n e y ill the i n t e r v a l . It w a s m o r e t h a n







4

Kafe in a n o t h e r respect, b e a a n w n o t all of t h o s e b i l l s ever will come
in ; it h a s for a profit t h e difference b e t w e e n t h e legal-tender deposit
a n d t h e b a n k bills issued : t h a t is t o say, t h e w a s t e , for every lost
b a n k - b i l l is a profit t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t . No w r o n g w a s done to a n y b o d y b y s e c t i o n 4 of t h e a c t of J u n e 20, 1874, b u t t h e transaction ot
b u s i n e s s \\ as m a d e m o r e e a s y .
I t is said t h a t t h e c o n v e n i e n c e w a s a b u s e d , b e c a u s e it enabled a
b a n k t o come d o w n h e r e a n d in o n e d a y t a k e o u t a l a r g e number ot
b o n d s , b a v i n s a flcflOsJl far i t s b i l l s , a n d g o a w a y t o use the b o n d s
for s p e c u l a t i v e p u r p o s e s . It is s a i d t h e r e w a s o n e b a n k , I believe,
t h a t b r o u g h t d o w n s a y $500,000 of legal t e n d e r s a n d took out bonds,
a n d r e p e a t e d t h e o p e r a t i o n t w i c e in t h e y e a r . I d o not know t h a t
b a n k s n a v e n o t d o n e so.
B u t it is also said t h a t t h e p r i v i l e g e w a s a b u s e d a g a i n when t h e
c o u n t r y w a s a n t i c i p a t i n g t h e p a s s a g e of t h e :\ p e r c e n t , bill last y e a £
w i t h w h a t is k n o w n a s t h e C a r l i s l e a m e n d m e n t . A g r e e t outcry h a d
been m a d e before t h e p u b l i c , a n d m a d e h e r e a l s o , because a certain
n u m b e r of b a n k s c a m e in t h e n , a n t i c i p a t i n g t h i s r e s t r i c t i v e and w h a t
I c a l l c o m m u n i s t i c l e g i s l a t i o n , a n d t h e y b r o u g h t in t h e i r legal tenders
so a s t o get a n t of t h e w a y of t h e c o m i n g C a r l i s l e a m e n d m e n t . I t
h a s b e e n said t h a t it w a s a c o m b i n a t i o n a m o n g b a n k s t h a t b r o u g h t
t h i s a b o u t ; t h a t t h e y w e r e b a c k e d u p by o t h e r b a n k s , and they intended to bully Congress ami the E x e c u t i v e and depress the market.
T o t h e l a t t e r p o i n t first. If t h e b a n k s off New York C i t y or of t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s desire t o b r i n g a b o u t a n y t h i n g in t h e n a t u r e of a crisis,

a sadden depression, they nave the means perfectly in their power

a t a n y second of t h e d a y or of t h e y e a r , w i t h o u t r e s o r t i n g to a comp a r a t i v e l y c u m b e r s o m e p r o c e s s l i k e t h i s ; n o r is t h e r e a n y b o d y in t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s so t h o r o u g h l y i n t e r e s t e d in p r e s e r v i n g a perfectly equit a b l e a n d undirtturhe/1 ecmditipn of b u s i n e s s a s t h e s e b a n k s . W h y t
T h e s e n a t u m i t t naitks jtIoscA/£ve o u t $95,000,000 of call loans, 10 say
Nothing*
of .fl>e># ldAits/urftWtft*. Tfiey c a n s e c u r e t h e m s e l v e s more
ily c oU*ej£U3oans t l i a n ' t h e y s a V oVf jit ime l o a n s , b u t suppose t h e y
lire fo/br'mg a b o u t a c r i s i s i n t h e
ftwrlf^?
S u p p o s e it was t h e i r
iuie'i ,*sf t o be v i o l e n t b u l l s a n d b e a r s ?""Tl»ev*Heed o n l v t o call in, wo
r v H ' s a y , j u s t tgP.Oqfl.OOfl. i £ thai ^»5,000r00Q^^^all loans, a n d t h a t
w o u l d thrfji* iijt n/dfeie«r.ftiV?kg o t j t h e w h o r c c o j r n i r y i n t o confusion.
T h e r e is fiiililnljf <lfUmdrt W>l IMdinni • alinii^ft tji/ise m a t t e r s as t h e
g r e a t financial i n s t i t u t i o n s . Yon k n o w t h a t carpi Taj 1% fearful of d i s t u r b a n c e ; it cannot bear violent r e a c t i o n s
ThestfJbre it is w o r t h
w h i l e thitt chfejre 4hb\ild* beiijimii2al«2d 2f&iMi t h e d i s c u s s i o n a u y p r e tense* tliM t h o s e b a t i k s £ e i k \ : tcS ^ i t f i t r b J t h e m a r k e t a n d c r e a t e a
p a u i c hi t h e »-outury. T h e y simVly*fo'lfowed"au i n s t i n c t of self-preserv a t i o n i n g e t t i n g o u t of t h e w a y of t h e r e s t r i c t i v e a n d e x c e e d i n g l y
t r o u b l e s o m e p r o v i s i o n , t h e s e c o n d p r o v i s o in t h e C a r l i s l e a m e n d m e n t .
I s h a l l not w a i t t o d i s c u s s t h a t ; b u t it w a s t h e m o s t monstrouB a n d
r i d i c u l o u s p r o v i s i o n 1 e v e r s a w p r o p need for l e g i s l a t i o n , as I c o u l d
d e m o n s t r a t e in t i m e . It is g o n e , a n d I a n t g l a d of it. It w o u l d h a v e
c o m p e l l e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y t o p u t i n t o t h e h a n d s of a
r e c e i v e r a n d I n t o b a n k r u p t c y a b a n k t h a t c o u l d n o t collect in t h i r t y
d a y s i t s o w n bills, w h e r e a s t h e D i v i n e P r o v i d e n c e h i m s e l f could n o t
d o it w i t h o u t r e c r e a t i n g t h e d e s t r o y e d b i l l s . T h e bills of n o c o n s i d e r a b l e n a t i o n a l b a n k c a n be c o l l e c t e d s h o r t of s e v e r a l m o n t h s w i t h out paying a smart prcminm.
I say I a m in f a v o r of s e c t i o n 4 of t h e a c t of J u n e 20, 1874. I w a s
s a y i n g I did n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e p o w e r h a d b e e n used to d i s t u r b t h e
c o u n t r y willfully a n d m a l i c i o u s l y . I Mie h u u d r e d a n d f o r t y - o n e b a n k s

5
i n t w e n t y - f o u r S t a t e s in a v e r y few* d a y s b r o u g h t in t h e i r l e g a l - t e n d e r s t o t h e e x t e n t of e i g h t e e n millions. One of those b a n k s w a s t h e
T h i r d N a t i o n a l B a n k of New York, w h i c h redeemed a t t h a t t i m e
!$840,000 of i t s b o n d s , a n d n e v e r h a s replaced t h e m , a n d n e v e r e n t e r e d
i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n a g a i n to t h a t e x t e n t . I t w e n t n e a r l y o u t of t h e
"business of c i r c u l a t i o n . I t t h o u g h t it could m a k e more m o n e y otherw i s e , ox it w a s afraid of t h e Carlisle l e g i s l a t i o n . T h a t b a n k , I am
t o l d , is l a r g e l y o w n e d a n d c o n t r o l l e d b y Samuel J . T i l d e n . C a n you
c h a r g e h i m w i t h h a v i n g been in a R e p u b l i c a n b a n k c o n s p i r a c y t o
d e p r e s s t h e s e c u r i t i e s of t h e c o u n t r y ?
I s h o u l d h a v e m e n t i o n e d t h a t I w i s h t o offer an a m e n d m e n t t o p r e v e n t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of such a b u s e s as are said to h a v e o c c u r r e d u n d e r
t h a t , section. I w o u l d r e q u i r e t h a t a b a n k d e s i r i n g t o d e p o s i t l e g a l t e n d e r s a g a i n s t its c i r c u l a t i o n a n d t a k e o u t its b o n d s s h o u l d g i v e
t h i r t y d a y s ' notice of i t s p u r p o s e . T h e n t h e m a r k e t w o u l d foresee
a n y possible effect ; you could not h a v e a crisis p r e c i p i t a t e d in a n
h o u r , as some of t h e s e g e n t l e m e n fear m i g h t be d o n e . T h e r e is n o
o b j e c t i o n to m a k i n g t h i s process r e a s o n a b l y slow and c o n s e r v a t i v e
b y r e q u i r i n g t h e m t o g i v e s u c h n o t i c e , a n d r e q u i r i n g also, as I p r o p o s e in m y a m e n d m e n t , t h a t n o t more t h a n $5,000,000 s h a l l b e t a k e n
u p a n d de'posited in t h i s w a y in any c a l e n d a r m o n t h or in a n y t h i r t y
c o n s e c u t i v e d a y s . T h a t w o u l d meet v e r y largely I t h i n k t h e object i o n of t h e S e n a t o r from Missouri.
I a m w i l l i n g t o a d m i t , if you choose, t h a t t h e r e is a p o s s i b i l i t y of
a s p e c u l a t i v e a b u s e u n d e r section 4, b u t it is essential t o a n y sound
s y s t e m of free b a n k i n g if t h e w o r d " free " h a s a n y sense in it w h a t e v e r , a n d we are b o a s t i n g of a s y s t e m of free b a n k i n g . T h e l a s t p r o v i s o of t h e S e n a t o r ' s a m e n d m e n t would r e v i v e s e c t i o n s 5159 a n d 5160
o f t h e R e v i s e d S t a t u t e s . By t h e discussion w i t h i n t h e l a s t half h o u r
t h e effect of such a r e v i v a l h a s been p r e t t y clearly s e t forth.
M r . H I T J T J , of Georgia. I suggest to t h e Sen a t o r from C o n n e c t i c u t
-whether it would n o t be a d v i s a b l e before c o n t i n u i n g t h e d e b a t e t o

h a v e all the amendments printed.

M r . HAVVLEY, I will conclude v e r y soon, b u t I t h i n k S e n a t o r s
-will m o r e easily u n d e r s t a n d m y a m e n d m e n t ( I flatter m y s e l f t h e y
m a y ) if I a c c o m p a n y its p r e s e n t a t i o n w i t h a b r i e f e x p l a n a t i o n . T h e
S e n a t o r from Iowa [Mr. A r . i . i s o s ] h a s s h o w n w h a t t h e effect w o u l d
h e of t h e r e v i v a l of t h e sections j u s t n a m e d . B a n k s h e r e a f t e r o r g a n i z e d w o u l d be obliged to deposit solely t h e n e w IJ p e r c e n t , b o n d s ;
t h e y could p u t n o t h i n g else in. I do n o t say t h a t t h e r e is a n y t h i n g
i n t \ . e n a t u r e of c o m m u n i s t i c l e g i s l a t i o n i n t h a t . W h i l e it m a y b e
u n w i s e , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a v e a perfect r i g h t , feeding confidence in
t h e i r a b i l i t y t o n e g o t i a t e 3 p e r cent, b o n d s , t o say t h a t hereafter we
w i l l o r g a n i z e n o n a t i o n a l b a n k s w i t h o u t u s i n g t h o s e b o n d s . If these
c l a u s e s on b e i n g r e v i v e d shall not be r e t r o a c t i v e , t h e e x i s t i n g b a n k s
h o l d i n g t h e old b o n d s are pot r e q u i r e d t o r e p l a c e t h e m . T h e r e is no
d o u b t of o u r a b s t r a c t r i g h t t«» r e q u i r e t h r e e p e r e e n t s in f u t u r e org a n i z a t i o n s , b u t t h e r e is a serious objection to t h e w i s d o m of it,
w h i c h t h e g e n t l e m a n from Missouri will u n d e r s t a n d , as I s t a t e i t
briefly. T h e r e -will be no n e w b a n k i n g e x c e p t in sections of t h e
c o u n t r y w h e r e c a p i t a l is a b u n d a n t a n d w h e r e t h e common, ordinaryr a t e of" i n t e r e s t in commercial t r a n s a c t i o n s is l o w . B a n k s in his
c o u n t r y , b a n k s b e y o n d a c e r t a i n limit of t h e A l l e g h a n i e s , or somet h i n g l i k e t h a t , w o u l d n e v e r be o r g a n i z e d f u r t h e r — n o t a n a t i o n a l
b a n k . T h e effect of t h i s legislation would be in aid of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n
of t h e best a n d most beneficent s y s t e m of R a n k i n g t h e w o r l d ever,
s a w — a c k n o w l e d g e d t o be such.




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6
Mr. S H E R M A N . It would benefit New York a m i New England.
Mr. H A W L K Y . Tea. sir ; t h e Senator from Ohio is quite right. I
w a s a b o u t to say t h a t it w o u l d h e l p my section a n d h u r t that of t h e
Senator from Missouri. It would confine b a n k i n g hereafter, t h e
o r g a n i z a t i o n of new b a n k s , to New E n g l a n d . New York, and the few
money centers w h e r e c a p i t a l ia a b u n d a n t a n d m o n e y is cheap. During t h e last y e a r business was most e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y prosperous. T h e
h a n k s of New E n g l a n d , obliged to lend money upon lower rates,
m a d e 7.'A per c e n t , profit u p o n c a p i t a l a n d s u r p l u s . T h a t looks large,
b u t tin- b a n k s of the section of the g e n t l e m a n from Missouri, t h e
western section, as r e p o r t e d by t h e Comptroller, m a d e 11.u per eent.
profit upon capital and s u r p l u s ; being 4.'A g r e a t e r profit, or about 60
per cent, more t h a n our New E n g l a n d b a n k s m a d e . The reason is
obvious. T h e S e n a t o r g a v e it in t h e speech a d v o c a t i n g his amendm e n t . H e said t h a t in his section lenders got 10 p e r cent., or 9 p e r
cent., or at tlie lowest r a t e 8 p e r c e n t . He h a s in h i s own State over
$10,000,000 of S l a t e a n d p r i v a t e b a n k i n g c a p i t a l , which has over
§36.000,000 of deposits, m a k i n g a t o t a l of about $.77,000,000 of S t a t e
and p r i v a t e c a p i t a l a n d deposits t h e r e , a g a i n s t a b o u t one-third of
t h a t a m o u n t in t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s to-day. W i t h all lie says about
t h e profit of b a n k s in t h e E a s t , a n d t h e g r a s p i n g n a t u r e of these
eastern capitalists, the people of his S t a t e will not go into national
b a n k i n g , t h o u g h such b a n k s m a k e ll.;i per c e n t . , because they can
m a k e in p r i v a t e b a n k i n g more t h a n t h e y c a n u n d e r t h e national
system w i t h its wholesome provisions, i t s s t r i c t inspection, its freq u e n t p u b l i c a t i o n of b a n k s t a t i s t i c - .
The effect of t h e S e n a t o r ' s s m e n d m e n i a s i t s t a n d s w o u l d be, I say,
to restrict n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g to t h e E a s t , a n d g r a d u a l l y depress it.
More t h a n t h a t , t h e affect would be to drive m a n y b a n k s instantly
ont of t h e whole business into S t a t e h a n k i n g or p r i v a t e b a n k i n g .
W i t h i n the last t h i r t y d a y s a l a r g e b a n k , c r e a t e d in t h e last century
in. my own State, has g o n e back into S t a t e b a n k i n g , because it t h i n k s
it can do b e t t e r ; and cithers may do so, if too r e s t r i c t i v e legislation
shall be a d o p t e d .
I a m n o t t a l k i n g in t h e interest of n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g . I am talking for t h e United s t a t e s , which w a n t s to tend its money upon good
terms, and c a n n o t do this t h i n g a r b i t r a r i l y . It c a n n o t ; t h e r e is uo
use in p r e t e n d i n g it can. Von must consult t h a t w h i c h is t h e most
d e l i c a t e of all h u m a n m e c h a n i s m . T h e r e is not a s p r i n g , no instrument HO open to t h e Influences of tin very b r e a t h , to t h e least variat i o n in t h e t e m p e r a t u r e , to t h e h a s t violence, as c a p i t a l . You c a n not a r b i t r a r i l y l a k e it and lock it up h e r e ; it will slip t h r o u g h y o u r
ringers like q u i c k s i l v e r or like w a t e r t h r o u g h a sieve.
I t is a question of how much t h e money m a r k e t will t a k e , a n d at
what rate, of its own free will, and not a q u e s t i o n of w h a t restrict i v e ami thumb-screw legislation « e can devise to c a p t u r e a n d coerce
capital.
I s y m p a t h i z e w i t h the Senator from Ohio [ M r . S H K H M A N ] iu h i s
l a u d a b l e desire to m a k e , if possible, a loan u p o n as good t e r m s as
Great Britain. If w e could succeed—I am very doubtful a b o u t i t , I
:ini afraid I shall vote against the bill a n y h o w — i f w e should succeed
in g e t t i n g t h i s $200,000,000 on th« terms" he has supposed, he w o u l d
h a v e done s o m e t h i n g t h a t Great Britain never a t t e m p t e d ; ho w o u l d
have gone far beyond her.
Mr. H I L L , of Georgia. Ifay I a*k t h e S e n a t o r a q u e s t i o n !
Mr. H A W L E Y . Yes, s i , .

'I
Mr. H I L L , of G e o r g i a . H o w shaft w e e v e r k n o w t h a t we c a n float
s 3 per cent, b o n d u n t i l w e t r y f
Mr. H A W L E Y . T h e b e t t e r w a y t o t r y , if you choose—and you can
t h u s t e s t it t h o r o u g h l y — i s t o otter a bond a t 3.20 p e r cent., or 3.30
p e r c e n t . , a n d see w h a t p r e m i u m t h e m a r k e t w o u l d g i v e you on it.
You w o u l d Hell a bond at p a r or a b o v e p a r p e r h a p s ; b u t if you fix
t h e r a t e of i n t e r e s t a t 3 p e r c e n t , t h e m a r k e t will not b e l i k e l y to give
q u i t e 100 c e n t s on t h e d o l l a r . I h a v e n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t idea t h a t it
'would. I t n e v e r h a s d o n e so in t h i s e o u n t r y for a s i n g l e m o m e n t .
I t h a s come v e r y n e a r it, b u t u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s a l t o g e t h e r more favora b l e t h a n those* t h e S e n a t o r from Ohio gives. T h e b o n d s tvere4-£ pei
c e n t , b o n d s , p a y a b l e in 1891. a n d fours p a y a b l e in 1907, a n d t h e y
h a v e sold a t prices t h a t left t h e o w n e r sometimes only a l i t t l e more
t h a n 3 p e r c e n t . , b u t a l w a y s m o r e . T i m e is a g r e a t e l e m e n t in tin
p r o b l e m . T h e B r i t i s h consols are w h a t w e n e v e r h a v e a t t e m p t e d to
issue in t h i s c o u n t r y , b u t w h a t w e could h a v e issued more profitably
t h a n a n y bond w e h a v e p u t out : t h e y are a p e r p e t n a l a n n u i t y , an
i r r e d e e m a b l e b o n d . I k n o w t h a t t h e idea of a p e r p e t u a l d e b t sea i t s
people ; b u t a p e r p e t u a l 9 p e r c e n t , a n n u i t y would be such only in t h e
form of it, not in t h e s u b s t a n c e . If you should otter t o - d a y a b o n d
a t 3 p e r cent., a p e r p e t u a l a n n u i t y , I believe it m i g h t be possibly
t a k e n in t h i s e o u n t r y , because a man w h o w a n t e d somct h i n g good for
t h i r t y or forty years would s a y : " I can hold these ; t h e G o v e r n m e n t
c a n n o t d r a w t h e m ; " but all t h e while, t h r o u g h t h e s e t t l e m e n t of ins o l v e n t e s t a t e s , a n d t h e e s t a t e s of deceased persons, a n d in m a n y
o t h e r w a y s , those b o n d s w o u l d b e c o m i n g i n t o t h e m a r k e t . You can
b u y consols a n y d a y in t h e m a r k e t in L o n d o n , a n d a l w a y s c o u l d
h a v e b o u g h t t h e m , below p a r , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of a few d a y s in a
g e n e r a t i o n , and yon could a l w a y s b u y our t h r e e p e r c e n t s p e r p e t u a l
a n n u i t i e s a t p a r . T h e y would p r a c t i c a l l y be a b o n d at r a i l , a n d a t
t h e same t i m e would be a l o n g - t i m e bond t o those w h o w i s h e d t o
b o l d t h e m as such. If we were in any really serious t r o u b l e concerni n g o u r d e b t , if it were a real b u r d e n t h a t we desired t o d i s t r i b u t e
o v e r tifty years, t h a t would be t h e best form of n e g o t i a t i o n . B u t I
d o u o t t h i n k we need i t .
I see t h a t I am t e m p t e d into discussing t h e whole q u e s t i o n , b u t I
w i l l s t o p soon. I a m inclined t o t h i n k t h a t we m i g h t j u s t a b o u t as
w e l l l e a v e t h e s e $560,000,000of " W i n d o m s " as they are. Somebody
t h o u g h t , I believe it w a s t h e S e n a t o r from Colorado, [^lr. T E L L E R , ]
t h a t t h i s bill w a s in t h e i n t e r e s t of b o n d h o l d e r s a n d of b a n k s , or
s o m e such people w i t h c a p i t a l . T h e money power of m y l i t t l e t o w n ,
w h i c h has some t e n s of millions of c a p i t a l to control! a n d e a r s for in
t h e i n t e r e s t of poor people all over t h e c o u n t r y — t h e p e o p l e o f m y t o w n
a r e n e a r l y inditt'erent upon t h i s subject, and are r a t h e r inclined to
t h i n k t h a t t h e whole t h i n g m i g h t a b o u t as well s t a n d as it is, t h o u g h
some of t h e b a n k s a r e feeling very sore t h a t t h e Secretary of t h e
T r e a s u r y is c a l l i n g for t h e i r W i u d o m s e v e r y d a y , t h e i r old sixes t h a t
w e r e p a y i n g t h e m 6 per cent, a little while* ago* a n d a r e n o w p a y i n g
t h e m 31 per c e n t . 1 do n o t k n o w t h a t t h e y would r a r e nun h a b o u t
t h e c h a n c e to jret a 3 per cent, bond t h a t would be beyond t h e reach
of t h e T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t for only live y e a r s . Tliey t h i n k t h a t
t h e r e is no special a d v a n t a g e t o b e g o t in*it. W e have a position
t h a t g e n t l e m e n h a v e well described already—$550,000,006 a t call,
e i t h e r Si or t h e whole $550,1100,000 of it any d a y — t o t a k e care of d u r i n g t h e n e x t nine years. W i t h the t A p e r c e n t , b o n d s becoming p a y a b l e in 1891, I do not w a n t to pay t h e live h u n d r e d a n d fifty millions
in live years. I am opposed u> p a y i n g it in rive years. I t h i n k it is




•




s
o u r solemn d u t y , a s t h e S e n a t o r from Ohio h a s said, t o reduce the
t a x e s , ami I go a little f u r t h e r t h a n some of t h o s e gentlemen. I
w o u l d reduce t h e t a x e s to-day p r o b a b l y fc">0,000,000 if I had the
p o w e r . T h e e l a s t i c i t y of t h e c o u n t r y is such t h a t t h o u g h we should
reduce t h e s u r p l u s to s e v e n t y millions, we s h o u l d in t w o or three
y e a r s r u n u p to t h e present figure a g a i n . I desire to offer the amendm e n t of w h i c h I s p o k e . I move to s t r i k e out t h e l a s t proviso in t h e
a n i e u d m e u t of t h e S e n a t o r from Missouri a n d i n s e r t t h e following :
T h a t a n y national b a n k i n g association n o w o r g a n i z e d , o r h e r e a f t e r organized,
d e s i r i n g to w i t h d r a w i t s c i r c u l a t i n g n o t e s , n p o n a d e p o s i t of lawful money with
t h e T r e a s u r e r of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e * a s p r o v i d e d in section 4 of t h e act of J u n e "20.
1874, e n t i t l e d " A n act fixing t h e a m o u n t of U n i t e d S t a t e s n o t e s , providing for a
r e d i s t r i b u t i o n of national -bank c u r r e n c y , a n d for o t h e r p u r p o s e s . " shall be required
t o g i v e t h i r t y d a y s ' n o t i c e to t h e C o m p t r o l l e r of t h e C u r r e n c y of its intention to
deposit lawful money a n d w i t h d r a w its c i r c u l a t i n g n o t e s : 1'rovidrd. T h a t n o t m o r o
t h a n $5.00«l.000 of lawful m o n e y shall be d e p o s i t e d d u r i n g a n y c a l e n d a r month for
t h i s p u r p o s e : And provided furthrr. T h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h i s section shall not apX>ly to b o n d s called for r e d e m p t i o n fcy t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y .

Mr. H I L L , of Georgia. I believe it is u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e amendm e n t of t h e S e n a t o r from Missouri, a« it w o u l d r e a d as amended by
t h e S e n a t o r from A l a b a m a , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e sections of t h e Revised
S t a t u t e s t o he r e - e n a c t e d by t h a t a m e n d m e n t , will all he printed.
Mr. H A W L E Y . Ami my Amendment also.
Mr. H I L L , of Georgia. And t h e a m e n d m e n t now offered by the
Senator from C o n n e c t i c u t .
T h e P R E S I D E N T pro tempore. T h e C h a i r r e g a r d s t h a t as the und e r s t a n d i n g of t h e S e n a t e , a n d an order to t h a t effect will ho entered.
Mr. V E S T . Now, Mr. P r e s i d e n t , a w o r d in a n s w e r to t h e Senator
from C o n n e c t i c u t .
T h a t S e n a t o r w a s pleased t o say t h a t , in his
j u d g m e n t , t h i s a m e n d m e n t w a s c o m m u n i s t i c . I k n o w n o word in
all t h e v o c a b u l a r y of t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e more c o n t e m p t i b l e , more
violative of every i n s t i n c t of honor t h a n t h i s word " c o m m u n i s t i c . "
Yet t h a t h o n o r a b l e S e n a t o r saw p r o p e r in his place on t h i s door to
c h a r g e t h e S e n a t o r s w h o voted for t h e f u n d i n g bill when it passed
hist .spring, a n d t h e S e n a t o r s w h o propose t o Vote for t h i s amendment now, w i t h being c o m m u n i s t s , men w h o w a n t to s t r i k e down
all p r o p e r t y , all money r i g h t s in t h i s c o u n t r y , a n d parcel out.equally,
w i t h o u t r e g a r d to C o n s t i t u t i o n or laws, t h e p r o p e r t y a n d t h e money
of t h e c o u n t r y . If t h a t S e n a t o r sees p r o p e r to a p p l y t h a t l a n g u a g e
to his colleagues on t h i s floor I h a v e n o t h i n g t o say, e x c e p t t o call
a t t e n t i o n h e r e t o t h e simple fact t h a t he h a s m a d e t h a t s t a t e m e n t .
W h a t is t h e r e c o m m u n i s t i c a b o u t t h i s f
Mr. H A W L E Y . I t h i n k if t h e Senator will refer t o mv r e m a r k s
carefully h e will see t h a t t h a t a p p l i e d to t h e second proviso, w h i c h
he himself allowed to be s t r i c k e n o u t on t h e motion of t h e S e n a t o r
from A l a b a m a . I w a s s p e a k i n g w i t h reference to t h a t proposed act ion
w h i c h -would compel a b a n k w h e n its bonds w e r e called in t o e i t h e r
t a k e t h e 3 p o r c e n t s o r go a n d get all i t s o w n c i r c u l a t i o n w i t h i n t h i r t y
d a y s . T h a t was tho t h u m b - s c r e w i n g process t o w h i c h , I believe, I
did a p p l y the, t e r m " c o m m u n i s t i c : " a forcing process, to p r a c t i c a l l y
seize p r o p e r t y a n d inflict a great d a m a g e , unless t h e b a n k s will agree
t o t a k e t h e n e w b o n d s we otter. It w a s t h a t , n o t t h e whole section,
t h a t I h a d in view—just t h a t second proviso.
Mr. V E S T . I will r e a d t h e l a n g u a g e of t h e Senator.
Mr. H A W L E Y . I will say t h a t , w h a t e v e r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n m a y
be, I t h i n k 1 am r i g h t . I do not t a k e b a c k t h e word, h n t 1 w a n t to
b e d i s t i n c t l y u n d e r s t o o d as t o w h a t it w a s I a p p l i e d it to.

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J a n ua rif 3 1 , 1 882.
T h e S e n a t e , aw in C o m m i t t e e of t h e W h o l e , r e s u m e d t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e b i l l ( S . N o . 46) t o p r o v i d e for t h e i s s u e of 3 p e r c e n t , b o n d s .
T h e P R E S I D E N T pro tempore.
T h e q u e s t i o n is o n t h e a m e n d m e n t
o f t h e S e n a t o r from C o n n e c t i c u t , [ M r . O A W L E Y , ] t o t h e a m e n d m e n t
o f t h e S e n a t o r from M i s s o u r i , [ M r . V E S T . J T h e S e n a t o r from C o n n e c t i c u t is e n t i t l e d t o t h e floor.
M r . H A W L E V . I u n d e r s t o o d t h e S e n a t o r from M i s s o u r i t o s a y t o
m e p r i v a t e l y t h a t h e d e s i r e d to s u g g e s t s o m e m o d i f i c a t i o n s of h i s
a m e n d m e n t b e f o r e I p r o c e e d e d , b u t I d o n o t see h i m h e r e a t t h i s m o m e n t . I w i l l y i e l d t o h i m w h e n e v e r h e c o m e s in.
T h e P R E S I D E N T pro tempore.
T h e S e n a t o r from M i s s o u r i h a s j u s t
c o m e in.
M r . V E S T . I p r o p o s e t o modify t h e a m e n d m e n t I h a v e offered b y
s u b s t i t u t i n g w h a t I send to t h e Chair.
T h e P R E S I D E N T pro tempore.
T h e mover h a s a r i g h t to modify
h i s a m e n d m e n t before a v o t e is t a k e n . T h e a m e n d m e n t w i l l b e r e a d
a s modified.
T h e A c T i x i i S K O K E T A K Y . I t is p r o p o s e d t o a d d t o t h e b i l l a s a n
a d d i t i o n a l section :
SRC. 2. F r o m a n d a f t e r t h e 1st d a y of J u l v. 1882. t h e 3 p e r c e n t , b o n d s a u t h o r i z e d
b y t h i s a c t s h a l l h e t h e o n l y b o n d s r e c e i v a b l e a s s o e u r i t v for n a t i o n a l - b a n k c i r c u l a t i o n from n a t i o n a l b a n k s o r g a n i z e d a f t e r s a i d d a t e , o r from n a t i o n a l b a n k s t h e r e a f t e r a p p l y i n g for a n i n c r e a s e of t h e i r c a p i t a l to t h e e x t e n t of s u c h i n c r e a s e , o r a*
s e c u r i t y for t h e s a f e - k e e p i n g a n d p r o m p t p a y m e n t of t h e p u b l i c m o n e v d e p o s i t e d
•with s u c h b a n k s : Provided. T h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y s h a l l n o t h a v e i s s u e d
a l l t h e b o n d s h e r e i n a u t h o r i z e d , o r s h a l l h a v e i s s u e d so m a n y t h e r e o f a s t o m a k e it
i m p o s s i b l e for h i m t o i s s u e t h e a m o u n t of b o n d s r e q u i r e d :' A.nd provided
further.
T h a t s e c t i o n 4 of t h e a c t of J u n e 20. 1874. e n t i t l e d " A n a c t t i x i n g t h e a m o u n t of
U n i t e d S t a t e s n o t e s , p r o v i d i n g for a r e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e n a t i o n a l - h a n k c u r r e n c v
a n d for o t h e r p u r p o s e s , 1 ' bo. a n d t h e s a m e is h e r e b y , r e p e a l e d .

M r . H A W L E Y . Mr. P r e s i d e n t , I a m g l a d t o see t h e s e s u c c e s s i v e
m o d i f i c a t i o n s of w h a t I c o n s i d e r a b a d m e a s u r e . T h e S e n a t o r from
M i s s o u r i b y s u c c e s s i v e c h a n g e s Ira w h a t w a s k n o w n a s t h e C a r l i s l e
a m e n d m e n t h a s followed t h e e x a m p l e of t h e l a t e P r e s i d e n t of t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s in c o n d e m n i n g t h e m e a s u r e in t h a t v e t o for w h i c h tinl a t t e r h a s b e e n so m u c h censured* T h e S e n a t o r n o w l e a v e s , i n w h a t we
h a v e for c o n v e n i e n c e s a k e s a i l e d t h e Vest a m e n d m e n t , s i m p l y a p r o v i s i o n t h a t h e r e a f t e r t h e r e s h a l l b e r e c e i v e d a s a b a s i s of c i r c u l a t i o n
:J p e r c e n t , b o n d s o n l y , a n d a r e p e a l of s e c t i o n 4 of t h e a c t o f J u n e 20,
1874. T h a t is all t h a t is left of w h a t w a s o r i g i n a l l y c a l l e d t h e C a r l i s l e a m e n d m e n t , l a t e l y t h e Vest a m e n d m e n t . T h e m o d i l i c a t i o u s e l i m i n a t e v e r y m u c h from t h e d i s c u s s i o n . T h e t a r g e t a t w h i c h I w a s
a b o u t t o a i m h a s b e e n in c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t r e m o v e d . I a m o b l i g e d
t o t h e S e n a t o r , for it s h o r t e n s m y r e m a r k s s o m e w h a t . I a g r e e w i t h
t h e S e n a t o r from V e r m o n t [ M r . ElpMtUtlM] in w h a t h e s a i d y e s t e r d a y , t h a t if w e a r e g o i n g on w i t h t h i s g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n of a l l t h a t
p e r t a i n s t o t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s it w o u l d b e w e l l t o h a v e a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g on t h a t s u b j e c t . 1 a g r e e also t h a t it w o u l d n o t b e unprofi t a b l e . I h a v e n o t r e g a r d e d t h e t i m e t h u s far e x p e n d e d a s b y a n y
m e a n s w a s t e d , because before t h i s Congress are t h e v e r y g r a v e s t p r o b l e m s c o n n e c t e d w i t h o u r c u r r e n c y a n d o u r b a n k i n g . W e s h a l l iu




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large m e a s u r e decide t h e question w h e t h e r or not t h e national-hank
s y s t e m s h a l l c o n t i n u e , or, if it s h a l l n o t c o n t i n u e , w h a t s h a l l take i t s
p l a c e ; w h e t h e r w e s h a l l r e s t r i c t o u r s e l v e s t o t h e issue of g r e e n b a c k s
Holely o r - w h e t h e r w e s h a l l r e i n s t a t e t h e S t a t e - b a n k s y s t e m . To d o
t h e l a t t e r i t is o n l y n e c e s s a r y t o r e p e a l s o m e h a l f a d o z e n lines or less
in t h e s t a t u t e - b o o k , n a m e l y , t h e l i n e s i m p o s i n g a t a x of 10 per c e n t ,
o n S t a t e - b a n k c i r c u l a t i o n , W h i c h w o u l d b r i n g b a r k t o u s all the error
m o u s v i c e s a n d i n c a l c u l a b l e losses of t h e w o r s t s y s t e m or l a c k of syst e m w i t h w h i c h a n y c o u n t r y w a s e v e r afflicted.
I h a v e n o o b j e c t i o n , if it" b e t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t o e n t e r i n g o n
t h a t d i s c u s s i o n . So far a s t h e p a s t is c o n c e r n e d , I t h i n k t h e R e p u b l i c a n p a r t y s t a n d s r e a d y a n d m o r e t h a n r e a d y t o j u s t i f y itself a* h a v i n g f u r n i s h e d for t h e first t i m e t o t h e n a t i o n a n y t i l i n g t h a t could b e
c a l l e d a s y s t e m , a n d , s e c o n d l y , for h a v i n g f u r n i s h e d t h e b e s t system
e v e r k n o w n t o a n y c o u n t r y . * I a m n o t a b o u t t o o p e n t h e whole s u b j e c t ; it i s i l l i m i t a b l e : b u t I s h a l l m a k e t w o o r t h r e e p o i n t s a n d leave i t .
I n t h e iirst p l a c e , o u r s y s t e m f u r n i s h e d a n a b s o l u t e s e c u r i t y t o t h e
bill-holder. Not one dollar or d i m e has ever been lost to any human
b e i n g b y r e a s o n of t h e b i l l s o f t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s . T h a t e v e r y b o d y
k n o w s . W e h a v e given to those bills a u n i v e r s a l v a l u e throughout
t h i s c o u n t r y , for t h e first t i m e a safe b i l l , for t h e first t i m e a bill
t h a t WSfl g o o d i n a l l s e c t i o n s , n o m a t t e r w h e r e i t w a s i s s u e d . T h e r e
is p r o b a b l y n o t • p e r s o n in t h i s a u d i e n c e w h o , h a v i n g m o r e or less of
b i l l s in h i s p o c k e t , c a n t e l l m e . w i t h o u t t a k i n g t h e m o u t a n d e x a m i n i n g t b e m , w h a t t h e y a r e ; w h e t h e r t h e y a r e l e g a l t e n d e r s or w h e t h e r
t h e y u r e b a n k b i l l s ; or, if t h e y a r e b a n k lolls, from w h a t b a n k s t h e y
c o m e . I d o n o t b e l i e v a t h e r e is a p e r s o n in t h i s C h a m b e r , w h o m a y
h a v e $100 of n a t i o n a l - b a n k b i l l s i n h i s p o c k e t , w h o c a n t e l l m e
w h e t h e r t h e y are issued b y b a n k s in Maine, or V e r m o n t , or Kent u c k y , o r O r e g o n , or C a l i f o r n i a , or L o u i s i a n a ; a n d n o b o d y c a r e s .
N o b o d y c a r e s w h e t h e r t h e y a r e b i l l s of a n y p a r t i c u l a r b a n k , b e c a u s e
t h e y a r e e q u a l l y g o o d all o v e r t h e c o u n t r y . E v e r y b o d y is f a m i l i a r
w i t h t h e losses u n d e r t h e o l d s y s t e m ; e v e r y b o d y is f a m i l i a r w i t h
t h e f a c t t h a t in old t i m e s e v e r y g r o c e r k e p t u p o n h i s t a b l e T h o m p s o n ' s o l d b a n k - n o t e d e t e c t o r , a n d w o u l d n o t t a k e p a y for t h e m o r n ing's groceries u n t i l he h a d h a u l e d t h a t d o w n a n d e x a m i n e d t h e bills
p r e s e n t e d t o see w h a t t h e d i s c o u n t o n t h e m w a s , w h i c h d i s c o u n t r a n
from D{) p e r c e n t , u p o r d o w n ; a n d i n t h e old t i m e s o n e s c a r c e l y e v e r
c a r r i e d $1<H) t o a b a n k w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o s u b m i t t o a s h a v e b e c a u s e
of t h e d e p r e c i a t i o n nf souiu b i l l s .
All t h a t is d o n e a w a y w i t h , a n d w e h a v e , s e c o n d l y , g i v e n a l m o s t
p e r f e c t s e c u r i t y t o d e p o s i t o r s , t h o u g h t h a t w a s n o t "one of t h e p r i m a r y o b j e c t s of t h e n a t i o n a l - b a n k a c t . I t s p r i m a r y o b j e c t s w e r e to
furnish a place to put U n i t e d S t a t e s b o n d s , a n d t o g i v e a n absolutely
s e c u r e c i r c u l a t i o n ; b u t w e h a v e b y t h e w i s d o m o f t h e s y s t e m furn i s h e d a n a l m o s t e q u a l s a f e t y t o t h e d e p o s i t o r s . T h e s t a t i s t i c s of t h e
b a n k s s h o w , M r . P r e s i d e n t — a n d I a m v e r y g l a d t o see y o u o c c u p y
t h a t c h a i r , [ M r . V O O R H E K S in t h e c h a i r ] — t h a t t h e loss t o d e p o s i t o r s
h a s b e e n o n l y a b o u t o n e - t w e n t i e t h o f 1 p e r c e n t of t h e d e p o s i t s p e r
year. Indeed, 1 ask t h e g e n t l e m a n w h o said y e s t e r d a y t h a t t h e S t a t e
b a n k s w e r e t h e s a f e r t o m a k e a n y c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n t h o s e figures
a n d t h e figures of t h e a n c i e n t S t a t e b a n k s . It is p r a c t i c a l l y n o t h i n g ,
for o n e - t w e n t i e t h of I p e r c e n t , iu a y e a r c a n h a r d l y e n t e r i n t o a m a n s
c a l c u l a t i o n a s t o t h e v a l u e of a w h o l e S y s t e m .
T h e r e is a n o t h e r r e s p e c t in w h i c h t h a t s y s t e m is e x c e l l e n t , t h e e x t e n t of g o v e r n m e n t a l s u p e r v i s i o n a n d p u b l i c i t y , t h e s e v e r i t y of d i s c i p l i n e . N o t h i n g l i k e t h a t h a d b e e n k n o w n . Before t h e n a t i o n a l




•

11
s y s t e m wan a d o p t e d no t w o S t a t i c legislated alike. Some h a d a
s a f e t y - f u n d s y s t e m , s o m e h a d o t h e r p r o v i s i o n s for s e c u r i n g c i r c u l a t i o n ; b u t I t h i u k t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e S t a t e s h a d n e x t t o n o s y s t e m
a t all, s u b s t a n t i a l l y confuting themselves to c h a r t e r i n g a c o r p o r a t i o n
w i t h p o w e r to issue bills.
M r . INGAL.L.S. D o e s n o t t h e S e n a t o r t h i n k t h a t i n v i e w of t h e
r e c e n t e x p e r i e n c e in N e w a r k a n d B o s t o n t h e p r e s e n t s y s t e m n e e d s
some amendment t
M r . H A W L E Y . So d o e s h u m a n n a t u r e . I n v i e w o f t h e c r i m e s of
G u i t e a u a n d others, 1 think human nature needs a m e n d m e n t ; but
w e w i l l t a k e tin* p e r c e n t a g e of t h e w h o l e a n d c o n c l u d e t h a t h u m a n i t y
i s n o t so b a d . I f t h e p e r c e n t a g e is o n l y o n e - t w e n t i e t h of 1 p e r c e n t . ,
t h a t will answer.
W e a r e t r y i n g to m a k e it b e t t e r ; b u t I h a v e t h e
a u t h o r i t y of t h e C o m p t r o l l e r of t h e C u r r e n c y for s a y i n g t h a t i f w e
i n c l u d e t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s r e f e r r e d t o , t h e loss d o e s n o t e x c e e d t h a t
r a t i o this very year. I am sorry there was any failure ; I am sorry
t h e R e p u b l i c a n p a r t y c a n n o t say t h a t it did not save even t h a t one
t w e n t i e t h of o n e o n e - h u n d r e d t h .
T h e fifth a d v a n t a g e of t h i s s y s t e m is t h e r e v e n u e t h a t i s y i e l d e d b y
taxation.
Some S e n a t o r t h e o t h e r d a y . p e r h a p s it w a s t h e S e n a t o r
f r o m M i s s o u r i , g a v e f i g u r e s in g e n e r a l r e s e m b l i n g t h e s e ; a n y f i g u r e s
w i l l s e r v e t o i l l u s t r a t e . H e s u p p o s e d t h a t $152,000,000 w a s p a i d t o
t h e b a n k s as interest upon the bonds they had deposited, a n d t h e n
t h a t w e h a d c o l l e c t e d f r o m t h e b a n k s $'A,000,000 of t a x e s . H e p u t
d o w n t h e $9,000,000 a s a p r o f i t t o t h e b a n k s . B u t s u p p o s e w e h a d n o
n a t i o n a l - b a n k s y s t e m t o g e t t h e $11,000,000 o u t of, t h e e x p e n d i t u r e
- w o u l d h a v e b e e n $12,000.1 MM I, for w e s h o u l d h a v e h a d t h e i n t e r e s t t o
p a y a n d n o n e of" it t o g e t b a c k b y w a y o f t a x a t i o n . I t w o u l d b e q u i t e
a s f a i r , a n d a g r e a t d e a l f a i r e r , for m e t o c l a i m t h a t w h a t w e g o t o u t of
t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s , o u r o w n c r e a t u r e s , b y t a x a t i o n w a s so m u c h c l e a r
a i n , b e c a u s e o u r b o n d s w*ould h a v e b e e n i n s o m e b o d y ' s h a n d s a n y o w . T h e b a n k s were a n a d v a n t a g e to us because t h e y furnished
u s a m a r k e t for o u r b o n d s a n d also a v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e r e v e n u e f r o m
taxation.
T h e total t a x e s paid by the national b a n k s since their organizat i o n a r e $108,850,040.90, o n e h u n d r e d a n d e i g h t m i l l i o n d o l l a r s i n
r o u n d n u m b e r s . T h e t o t a l cost of t h a t s y s t e m from t h e b e g i n n i n g
l i u s b e e n o n l y $5,14^,049.01.
T o g i v e a n o t h e r f i g u r e of i n t e r e s t t o t h o s e g e n t l e m e n w h o a r e
d e n o u n c i n g t h e b u r d e n of t h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e l o s s u p o n b i l l s t h a t
w i l l n e v e r a p p e a r a g a i n h a s b e e n sufficient, t h a t o n e s i n g l e c o m p a r a t i v e l y i n s i g n i f i c a n t a n d o v e r l o o k e d i t e m h a s b e e n m o r e t h a n suffic i e n t t o p a y t h e e n t i r e e x p e n s e s of t h e n a t i o n a l - b a n k s y s t e m f r o m t h e
b e g i n n i n g — a l l t h e e x p e n s e s , n o t t h e e x p e n s e of r e d e e m i n g c i r c u l a t i o n
a l o n e , b u t t h e e n t i r e e x p e n s e o f t h e s y s t e m , for t h e c a l c u l a t i o n i s , I
b e l i e v e , t h a t i t is 1^ p e r c e n t , o u t h e a v e r a g e c i r c u l a t i o n , w h i c h i s
n o w 8360,000,000. S u p p o s e i t t o h a v e b e e n a n a v e r a g e o f $350,000,000,
a n d g e u t l e r u e n w i l l s e e t h a t i t d o e s a b o u t m a k e t h e $5,000,000 of t o t a l
expenses.
B u t I m u s t g i v e a f e w w o r d s t o s o m e c r i t i c i s m s of o u r f r i e n d f r o m
Missonri. I did not take t h e m as a n y t h i n g very severe. They did
n o t affect m e m a t e r i a l l y .
He w a s offended b y m y u s i n g t h e w o r d
" c o m m u n i s t i c , " p a r l i a m e n t a r i l y offended, n o t o t h e r w i s e , I Chink, b y
m y using t h e word " c o m m u n i s t i c " w i t h reference to the second prov i s o of t h e o r i g i n a l Carlisle a m e n d m e n t .
W e l l , sir, he h a s v e t o e d
t h a t , f o l l o w i n g t h e e x a m p l e of P r e s i d e n t H a y e s ; b u t h i s c o m m e n t s

g




oil mi1 w e r e s u c h t h a t 1 w i l l s a y j u s t a w o r d o r t w o a b o u t t h a t d e f u n c t
pet, wblch was this :
' • b a t n o b o n d u p o n w h i c h i n t e r e s t h a s c e a s e d shall be a c c e p t e d or s h a l l b e c o n t i n u e d on d e p o s i t a s • e o i u l l j tor c i r c u l a t i o n or for t h e s a f e - k e e p i n g of t h e p u b l i c
m o n e y : a u d in c a s e b o n d s "so d e p o s i t e d s h a l l n o t b e w i t h d r a w n , a s p r o v i d e d b y
l a w . w i t h i n thirty- d a y s a f t e r t h e i n t e r e s t h a s c e a s e d t h e r e o n , t h e b a n k i n g a s s o c i a t i o n d e p o s i t i n g t h e s a m e s h a l l b e s u h i e e t t o t h e l i a b i l i t i e s a n d p r o c e e d i n g " on t h e
p a r t of t h e C o m p t r o l l e r p r o v i d e d for i n s e c t i o n 5234 of t h e R e v i s e d S t a t u t e s of t h e

United States.
I w i l l follow t h e p r o c e s s e s p o i n t e d o u t for a few m i n u t e s , a n d t h e n
I w i l l l e a v e it t o h o n o r a b l e , fair, j u d i c i a l l y - m i n d e d m e n t o s a y
w h e t h e r t h e w o r d " c o m m u n i s t ic "' is s e v e r e e n o u g h for t h a t t r a n s a c t i o n . I will a p p l y no w o r d s t o it ; I w i l l l e a v e t h e good sense of all
f a i r - m i n d e d b u s i n e s s m e n t o c h a r a c t e r i z e it. A n d t h i s is n o reflect i o n on t h e m o t i v e s , p u r p o s e s , d e s i r e s , or c h a r a c t e r of t h e g e n t l e m e n
w h o offered it. or w h o m a y h a v e s u s t a i n e d t h a t a m e n d m e n t . I t is a
c r i t i c i s m u p o n t h e i n e v i t a b l e b e a r i n g s of i t , a n d if I c a n s h o w t o
t h e m t h a t it d e s e r v e d t h e e p i t h e t " c o m m u n i s t i c , " of c o u r s e t h e y will
c o n d e m n it. T h e S e n a t o r from M i s s o u r i h a s w i t h d r a w n it for some
good r e a s o n .
T h i s is t h e w o r k i n g of it. I will s u p p o s e a b a n k h a v i n g .$200,000
of b o n d s p l e d g e d to s e c u r e 90 p e r c e n t . , t h a t is t o sav *1S0,000 of it*
b i l l s . T h e s e £".00,000 of p l e d g e d b o n d s a r e c o m p o s e d of t h e r e d u c e d
sixes, or W i n d o m s , t h e t h r e e - a n d - a - h a l f s . I t h a s a call s e n t t o it b y
t h e C o m p t r o l l e r for §100,000 of t h e s e b o n d s , a m i it b r i n g s t h e m t o
t h e C o m p t r o l l e r . T h e o r d i n a r y p r o c e s s is t h a t t h e b a n k s h a l l e i t h e r
s u b s t i t u t e s o m e o t h e r b o n d s or r e c e i v e 10 p e r c e n t , of t h e s u m in
c a s h , a u d l e a v e t h e rest w i t h t h e C o m p t r o l l e r to r e d e e m i t s bills as
t h e y come in.
Jiut u n d e r t h i s second p r o v i s o of t h e C a r l i s l e a m e n d m e n t t h e b a n k
>resents itself t o t h e C o m p t r o l l e r a n d s a y s : •• Mr, C o m p t r o l l e r , w e
l a v e h e r e t h e $100,000 of S$ p e r c e n t , b o n d s w h i c h y o u h a v e c a l l e d
f o r ; w e w i l l b e g l a d t o t a k e 10 p e r c e n t , c a s h a n d l e a v e t h e o t h e r *Mt
w i t h you to redeem our bills." " N o . " says t h e Comptroller, " u n d e r
t h e C a r l i s l e a m e n d m e n t y o u a r e r e q u i r e d t o t a k e ;t p e r c e n t , b o n d s
in p l a c e of t h e t h r e e - a n d - a - h a l f s ; t h e o p t i o n is n o t o p e n t o y o u , " ( a s
ft w a s u n d e r t h e p r o c e e d i n g s of o u r d i s t i n g u i s h e d c o l l e a g u e , l a t e l y
Secretary W i s d o m , ) " t o t a k e y o u r choice b e t w e e n cash a n d a continu a n c e at :H p e r c e n t . , b u t y o u m u s t t a k e t h e 3 p e r c e n t s . "
"But,"
s a y s t h e ba.uk, " w e c a n n o t afford t o d o b a n k i n g b u s i n e s s oti t h a t
b a s i s ; w e w o u l d r a t h e r g o o n t of c i r c u l a t i o n so far a^ t h i s $100,000
s e c u r i t y for §90,000 of o u r bills is c o n c e r n e d . " T h e C o m p t r o l l e r t u r n s
a b o u t t h e n u n d e r t h i s p r o v i s i o n a n d s a y s : " Sir, I g i v e y o u n o t i c e t h a t
you a r e t o g o t o w o r k a n d w i t h i n t h i r t y d a y s c o l l e c t y o u r -whole
§1*0,000 of b i l l s a u d b r i n g t h e m h e r e : o t h e r w i s e w e s h a l l p u t you i n t o
b a n k r u p t c y . " " H u t , " s a y s t h e b a n k , " d o y o u n o t k n o w , Mr. C o m p troller?"
" A h , " says the Comptroller, " I know n o t h i n g ; I know
only t h e l a w . " " However, Mr. Comptroller, don't you k n o w t h a t no
b a n k in t h e w o r l d c a n e v e r collect nil i t s bills w i t h i n t h i r t y d a y s ; a n d
least of all c a n t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s d o i t . b e c a u s e b y r e a s o n of t h e
g r e a t m e r i t of t h e s e h i l l s a n d t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y of t h e i r c i r c u l a t i o n ,
t h e y are scattered all over t h i s land, a n d because no citizen k n o w s
w h a t b a n k i t is t h a t issued t h e b i l l s h e h a s in h i s p o c k e t , a n d t h o u g h
we i n a v e v e n offer a p r e m i u m of 1 o r *2 or 3 p e r c e n t , in t h e m a r k e t
for b r i n g i n g o u r b i l l s in w e c a n n o t get t h e m , b e c a u s e not one p e r s o n
in a h u n d r e d , n o t o n e p e r s o n in a t h o u s a n d of t h e p e o p l e r e a d s s u c h
n o t i c e s or k n o w s w h a t is g o i n g o u at t h e c l e a r i n g - h o u s e or a m o n g N e w
Y o r k b r o k e r s , a n d p e o p l e w i l l c a r r y a r o u n d m o s t of t h a t $100,000 of
o u r b i l l s m o n t h s before t h e y w i l l e v e r h e a r t h a t t h e r e is a 3 p e r c e n t .




13
p r e m i u m o t t e r e d for t h e m * D o y o u n o t k n o w , " s a y s t b e b a n k e r ,
* ' t h a t 1 positively cannot gel those bills into m y h a n d s witbin t h i r t \
days?
I m i g h t , if I o f f e r e d a h e a v y p r e m i u m , g e t 8 0 p e r c e n t , o f
t h e m ; w i l l y o u l e t m e off t h e n ! ** " N o , t h e r e is a b s o l u t e l y n o lost
m o t i o n (as t h e m e e h a n i e a call it) in t h e a m e n d m e n t .
I t is a b s o l u l e l y
rigid.
Y o n a r e required t o b r i n y ; t h e m b a c k , e v e r y d o l l a r o f t h e m . "
" B u t . " s a y s t h e b a n k e r . '• d o y o u n o t k n o w t h a t t h e r e i s f r o m £ t o 1A
p e r c e n t , o f t h e b i l l s o f e r t n b a n k t h a t n e v e r d o c o m e b a c k ; t h e y artb u r n e d a n d d e s t r o y e d , l o s t in e vMe r y w a y s o t h a t e v e n n o e v i d e n c e o f
t h e i r loss c a n be p r e s e n t e d f "
Yes. I k n o w t h a t , b u t t h e l a w h a s
n o t o n e p a r t i c l e o f e l a s t i c i t y or m e r c y i n it : y o u a r e r e q u i r e d t o b r i n g
b a c k t h o s e $ 9 0 , 0 0 0 o f y o u r b i l l s a m i d o it w i t h i n t h i r t y d a y s o r y o u
will be p u t into b a n k r u p t c y . " " W h y I " says the b a n k . " Because,"
s a y s t h e C o m p t r o l l e r , " t h e C o n g r e s s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s d e t e r m i n e d
t o e o m p e l y o u in t h a t w a y to t a k e 3 p e r cent, b o n d s ; t h e y d e t e r m i n e d t o p u t y o u t o a h e a v y p e n a l t y in t h e s h a p e of a p r e m i u m for
y o u r b i l l s , the* a l t e r n a t i v e b e i n g p u t t i n g y o u i n b a n k r u p t c y . "
That
i s t h e l a w o f C o n g r e s s , a n d a m a n is b l a m e d f o r c a l l i n g i t " c o m m u n i s t i c ! " I t t a k e s a w a y some of m y p r o p e r t y w i t h o u t a n y s h o w of
reason or justice. T l i e b a u k . s a y s " W e are ready to pay our bills."
" Y e s , " I k n o w it,*' s a y s t h e C o m p t r o l l e r .
" O u r c r e d i t is g o o d i n
e v e r y r e s p e c t " " Y e s . " " W e h a v e -.25 p e r c e n t , s u r p l u s a b o v e o u r
c a p i t a l , r e a d y t o m e e t all o b l i g a t i o n s . " " Yes, I k n o w i t . "
"What
is t h e m a t t e r , t h e n ?" T h e C o m p t r o l l e r says, " T h e G o v e r n m e n t w a s
d o u b t f u l of its p o w e r to n e g o t i a t e 3 p e r cent, b o n d s , a n d t h e r e f o r e
it said w e will put you into b a n k r u p t c y unless you t a k e the 3 per
c e u t . b o n d s or c o m p l y w i t h a n impossible c o n d i t i o n . " T h a t fairly
i l l u s t r a t e s anil d e s c r i b e s t h e s e c o n d p r o v i s o of t h e C a r l i s l e a m e n d ment.
T h e S e n a t o r from Missouri, I said, h a d d o n e a w a y w i t h t h e necess i t y of a l a r g e p o r t i o n of m y r e m a r k s by o m i t t i n g from t h e close o f
his amendment these words:
A n d uectioii* 5150 and 5160 of the Revised S t a t u t e s of the 1'iiitrd States he and
t h e s a m e are hereby, re enacted.
Therefore he does not insist upon r e q u i r i n g all t h e h a n k s to hold
o n e - t h i r d o f t h e i r c a p i t a l in t J c v e r n i u e n t b o n d s , a n y d e f i c i e n c y i n
t h e i r p r e s e n t s u p p l y t o be s u p p l i e d from t h e 3 p e r c e n t ' s .
H e confines
h i m s e l f n o w solely to t w o points w h i c h I h a v e m e n t i o n e d , b u t will
m e n t i o n again, t h e r e q u i r i n g that all b a n k s hereafter organized shall
t a k e 3 p e r c e n t , b o n d s , a n d r e p e a l i n g section 1 of t h e act of J u n e 20,
1H74.
N o w , t h e r e is n o m o r a l o b j e c t i o n , if I m a y so c h a r a c t e r i z e it, t o b e
urged against his requirement t h a t hereafter b a n k s shall t a k e 3 per
cent, b o n d s ; b a n k s o r g a n i s e d a n e w or increasing t h e i r c a p i t a l . As I
said the other day, the Government has a right to declare to the
w o r l d t h a t it i s a b l e t o s e l l b o n d s a t 3 p e r c e n t . , a n d b e i n g a b l e t o
d o s o , i t of n e c e s s i t y l e g i t i m a t e l y a n d p r o p e r l y r e q u i r e s t h a t "the b a s i s
of b a n k i n g a n d s e c u r i t y for bills hereafter shall be 3 per cent, b o n d s .
G e n t l e m e n t i u d it v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o a p p l y t h i s t o h a n k s a l r e a d y in
e x i s t e n c e , a n d I t h i n k t h e y a r e r i g h t in s a y i n g t h a t t h e y w i l l n o t d o
s o ; t h a t i t w o u l d b e a g r o s s i n e q u a l i t y a n d v e r y g r e a t i n j u s t i c e . But. i f
t h e S e n a t e should a d o p t t h i s a m e n d m e n t a n d r e q u i r e all n e w b a n k s
or h a n k s i n c r e a s i n g circulation to t a k e these 3 percent* as m basis,
w h a t w o u l d r e s u l t ? An e x t r a o r d i n a r y inequality still a m o n g the
banks.
T h e old b a n k s uot required to s u b s t i t u t e t h r e e s w o u l d b e
charged upon the stump and elsewhere—happily the Democratic party
w o u l d t a k e i t s s h a r e of t h e c h a r g e in t h a t c a s e — w i t h b e i n g m o n o p -




14

*

olies a n d h a v i n g c e r t a i n f a v o r e d p r i v i l e g e s . T h e y h o l d fours a n d
f o u r - a n d - a - h a l f s a n d t h r e e - a n d - a - h a l f s . T h e y g e t 4, 4£, a n d 3f per
c e n t , o n t h e b o n d s t h e y h a v e p u t u p t o s e c u r e c i r c u l a t i o n , while
a n o t h e r c l a s s of h a n k s g e t o n l y 3 p e r c e n t . T h e i n e v i t a b l e result
w o u l d follow t h a t I b e f o r e p o i n t e d o u t , a n d t h e r e w o u l d be no more
n e w b a n k s f o r m e d i n t h e w e s t e r n o r e x t r e m e w e s t e r n o r southern
p o r t i o n s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w h e r e c a p i t a l is less a b u n d a n t and
w h e r e t h e r a t e s of i n t e r e s t r u l e h i g h e r . T h e n e w b a n k s w o u l d all
b e f o r m e d i n t h e e a s t e r n s e c t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y a n d w e s h o u l d have
s t i l l m o r e s a i d a g a i n s t t h e g r a s p i n g c h a r a c t e r of t h e Kast and t h e
w i c k e d n e s s of t h i s g r e a t m o n o p o l y !
T h e r e w e r e s o m e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g figures on t h a t s u b j e c t jjiveu in
t h e v a r i o u s r e t u r n s . I c a l l a t t e n t i o n t o s o m e m o r e of t h e m a g a i n for
a m o m e n t . I w a n t t o r e a d t i n ' figures c o n c e r n i n g t h e S t a t e b a n k s
a n d p r i v a t e b a n k s on t h e o n e h a n d , a n d t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s on the
o t h e r , of t h e S t a t e of M i s s o u r i — I w i l l g i v e t h e m a c c u r a t e l y t h i s time
— a n d t h o s e of t h e S t a t e of K e n t u c k y a l s o , for t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of
t h e t w o S e n a t o r s from t h o s e t w o S t a t e s w h o h a v e d i s c u s s e d these
topics.
I n Missouri t h e r e a r e o n e h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y S t a t e b a n k s ami
ninety-two p r i v a t e bankers, t h o u g h we are informed t h a t the national
b a n k i n g s y s t e m offers s u c h ext r a o r d i n a r y a d v a n t a g e s for p r i v a t e capit a l . T h e t o t a l c a p i t a l of t h o s e t wo h u n d r e d a n d t w e l v e S t a t e b a n k s
a n d p r i v a t e b a n k e r s is £10,129,000 ; t h e d e p o s i t s $46,772,000, a n d t h e y
h o l d o n l y $447,:t62 of U n i t e d S t a t e s b o n d s . T h a t is t h e c o u r s e t a k e n
b y b a n k s a n d b a n k e r s w h o a r e a b s o l u t e l y a t l i b e r t y , w i t h o u t a n y of
t h e s e r e s t r i c t i o n s , t o d o a s t h e y p l e a s e a b o u t t h e i n v e s t m e n t of t h e i r
capital. I t h i n k they are m i s t a k e n ; I t h i n k t h e y w o u l d do well to
h o l d m o r e of U n i t e d S t a t e s b o n d s , w h i c h a r e a b e t t e r r e s e r v e b y
r e a s o n of b e i n g n e a r l y a b s o l u t e c a s h a n y d a y i n c a s e of a s t r i n g e n c y ,
b u t t h e b a n k s t h a t a r e r e l i e v e d from o u r s y s t e m d o n o t d o u s t h e
h o n o r or t h e c r e d i t or t h e b e n e f i t to h o l d o n r b o n d s t o a n y g r e a t e r
e x t e n t t h a n t h i s . W i t h o v e r $10,000,000 c a p i t a l in M i s s o u r i t h e v
h o l d b u t $447,362 of U n i t e d S t a t e s b o n d s . W h a t is t h e c o n d i t i o n o*f
t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s of Missouri f W i t h a c a p i t a l of o n l v $4,655,000
t h e y h a v e d e p o s i t s o f £10,255,000, s h o w i n g t h a t a s t o c a p i t a l t h e y
a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y less t h a n h a l f of t h e S t a t e a n d p r i v a t e b a n k s ; as to
d e p o s i t s , t h e y h o l d less t h a n o n e - q u a r t e r , b u t a s t o U n i t e d S t a t e s
b o n d s t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k s of M i s s o u r i h o l d §3,554,000, a g a i n s t t h e
$447,362 h e l d b y t h e S t a t e b a n k s a n d p r i v a t e b a n k e r * .
The S e n a t o r from K e n t u c k y g a v e u s t o u n d e r s t a n d , I t h i n k a t
l e a s t h e w o u l d g i v e a superficial a n d c a r e l e s s l i s t e n e r t o u n d e r s t a n d .
t h a t w e h a d p r a c t i c a l l y d e s t r o y e d all t h e a d v a n t a g e s of S t a t e a n d
p r i v a t e b a n k e r s , a n d t h a t w e h a d g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r h e r e in t h e
e a s t e r n s e c t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y a g r e a t m o n o p o l y , m a k i n g e n o r m o u s
profits. NOAV t h e s y s t e m is free, a b s o l u t e l y tree*. T h e S e n a t o r from
Ohio [ M r . I ' K N W . E T O X ] said t h e other d a y that to be sure, oh, yes,
i t w a s free l i k e r a i l r o a d s , b u t v e r y few p e o p l e h a d t h e c a p i t a l t o b u i l d a
r a i l r o a d . T h e a n a l o g ; will n o t w o r k e x a c t l y . F i f t y t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s
w o u l d m a k e a v e r y s m a l l r a i l r o a d , p e r h a p s it w o u l d ' b u i l d one a c o u p l e
of m i l e s l o n g , b u t it c o u l d n o t f u r n i s h it a n e n g i n e o r a c o a c h ; y e t
$50,000 c a n s t a r t a n a t i o n a l b a n k , a n d live m e n c a n d o i t a n d five
m e n c a n r u n i t . I f t h e r e b e a n y c a p i t a l for a n y k i n d of b a n k i n g
t h e r e is a l m o s t a n y w h e r e c a p i t a l e n o u g h for a U n i t e d S t a t e s b a n k ,
a n d y e t i n t h e S t a t e of K e n t u c k y , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g w h a t t h a t S e n a t o r
sayB a b o u t t h e r u i n of all o t h e r s t h a n n a t i o n a l b a n k s , t h e r e a r e s i x t y four S t a t e b a n k s a n d t h e r e a r e t w e n t y - s i x p r i v a t e b a n k e r s d o i n g




L5
_a, b u s i n e s s s o l a r g e a s to b e b r o u g h t w i t h i n t h e p u r v i e w of t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r of I n t e r n a l I J e v e n n e .
The n i n e t y S l a t e b u n k s a m i p r i v a t e
" b a n k e r s , w i t h a c a p i t a l of §11,197,000, h a v e d e p o s i t s of $15,633,000
« * u d b o l d U n i t e d S t a t e s b o n d s t o t h e e x t e n t of $421,000. T h e s e a r e
w h o l l y outside of our system, a n d yet they are a t perfect l i b e r t y —
t h e h o l d e r s of t h a t $10,000,000 c a p i t a l i n S t a t e b a n k s a n d p r i v a t e
" b a n k s are perfectly at liberty in a day, upon the association, in a n y
c a . s e , o f l i v e m e n , to o r g a n i z e n e w n a t i o n a l b a n k s . I n t h a t S t a t e
- t h e r e a r e fifty n a t i o n a l b a n k s , w i t h a c a p i t a l of $10,434,000, w i t h
c l e p o s i t s o f $10,674,000, h o l d i n g U n i t e d S t a t e s b o n d s t o t h e e x t e n t o f
3$11,357,000. T h e y b e n e f i t t h e G o v e r n m e n t b y f u r n i s h i n g h o l d e r s f o r
i t s bonds and by p a y i n g very considerable taxes.
T h e l a s t c l a u s e of t h e p r e s e n t form of t h e V e s t a m e n d m e n t r e p e a l s
• s e c t i o n 4 of t h e a c t of J u n e '.20, 1874 ; t h a t is t o s a y , it w o u l d r e q u i r e
t h a t b a n k s desiring to deposit lawful money in order to reduce circul a t i o n a n d t a k e u p b o n d s shall n o l o n g e r be a l l o w e d t o d o so, b u t b e
r e q u i r e d t o d e p o s i t o n l y t h e i r o w n b i l l s for t h a t p u r p o s e . T h e o b j e c t i o n t o t h e c o u r s e a l l o w e d s i n c e 1874 is t h a t it is l i a b l e t o a b u s e , a n d
a l l e g e d abuses h a v e been cited. They occurred last spring u n d e r t h e
p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e Carlisle a m e n d m e n t would be a d o p t e d — I h a v e
r e f e r r e d t o t h a t perhaps, sufficiently before—when t h e b a n k s w i t h o u t
c o m b i n a t i o n , from t w e n t y - l o u r S t a t e s , one h u n d r e d a n d f o r t y - o n e of
t h e m , i m p e l l e d b y t h e i n s t i n c t of self-preservation, d e s i r i n g t o m a k e
a c h a n g e f a v o r a b l e t o t h e m s e l v e s before t h i s a m e n d m e n t s h o u l d l o c k
t h e d o o r , c a m e i n w i t h $18,000,000 of l e g a l - t e n d e r s t o b e d e p o s i t e d
a g a i n s t so m u c h of t h e i r o w n c i r c u l a t i o n . T h a t , a n d t h e j > r o s p e c t o f
t h e t h e n p e n d i n g bill, afterward vetoed, m a d e some little c o m m o t i o n
i n t h e m a r k e t . I t h i n k it w a s o u r o w n f a u l t . N o r a r e t h e y t o b o
c h a r g e d with unlawful combinations or u n d u e hostility to the Gove r n m e n t or to the b a n k i n g system. It was inevitable t h a t they
s h o u l d do it.
I s a i d l a s t w e e k t h a t if t h e b a n k s d e s i r e d t o c r e a t e a n y d i s t u r b a n c e
w h a t e v e r i n t h e finances of t h e c o u n t r y , i t w o u l d b e q u i t e e a s y for
t h e m t o c a l l , in N e w Y o r k a l o n e , $20,000,000 of t h e $95,000,000 of c a l l
l o a n s t h e y h a v e o u t i n t h a t c i t y . T h e y h a v e a p e r f e c t l e g a l r i g h t l<»
d o i t ; a n d y e t every m a n k n o w s t h a t s u c h a call w o u l d s h a k e t h e
b u s i n e s s interests of t h e c o u n t r y from center to circumference.
The
S e n a t o r f r o m M i s s o u r i a n d t h e S e n a t o r from K e n t u c k y b o t h q u o t e d
t h a t i n n o c e n t p a r a g r a p h a s if I h a d c o n f e s s e d s o m e g r e a t e n o r m i t y
o f t h i s s y s t e m . W h y , sir, w o u l d i t n o t lie so if w e w e r e r e l e g a t e d t o
S t a t e b a n k s ? W o u l d n o t t h e S t a t e b a n k s l o c a t e d i n t h e S t a t e of
J$*iW Y o r k h a v e o n h a n d h e a v y d e p o s i t s a n d h e a v y e a l l l o a n s f
Imx i i e d i a t e l y u p o n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of t h e S t a t e b a n k s , t h o s e v e r y s a m e
f i g u r e s — n i n e t y o r a h u n d r e d m i l l i o n s of c a l l l o a n s — w o u l d b e r e p e a t e d . T h e s t a t e m e n t s w o u l d be p u r e l y v o l u n t a r y , h o w e v e r , f o r
w h e n you shall h a v e abolished y o u r n a t i o n a l system you will no
l o n g e r s e n d i n s p e c t o r s t o officially i n v e s t i g a t e , y o u w i l l n o l o n g e r
r e q u i r e frequent sworn returns, you will not be able to tell h o w
m u c h t h e y h a v e out on call loans and h o w m u c h on time loans,
b o w m n c h t h e y h a v e to secure circulation, how m u c h they h a v e t o
secure deposits. The State b a n k s would have the same power to
s h a k e t h e m a r k e t , b u t w o u l d b e o u t of y o u r r e a c h . I f i t w e r e p o s s i b l e for y o u t o g o still f u r t h e r in h o s t i l i t y t o t h e o d i o u s n a m e of
• ' b a n k " and abolish b a n k i n g u n d e r s t a t e laws, w h a t then ? Next
- w o u l d f o l l o w t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of p r i v a t e , b a n k s , for t h e r e m u s t b e
banking.
T h e S e n a t e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , I a m s u r e , is n o t a b o u t t o g i v e




1G
I t s e l f u p t o a n y s o r t of J a c k C a d e n o t i o n t h a t b e c a u s e t h e r e is $100,000
t o g e t h e r a n y w h e r e t h e r e is a n e n e m y u n d e r i t . H a n k i n g o f s o m e s o r t
is a n a b s o l u t e n e c e s s i t y , a s n e c e s s a r y a s a w h e e l b a r r o w , o r a c a r t , o r
a t r a i n o f f r e i g h t - c a r s , o r a c a n a l - b o a t . I t i s a m e t h o d of t r a n s p o r t ing property.
I t i s t h e s p i r i t u a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f t h e beef, p o r k ,
w h e a t , c o t t o n , a n d c o r n , a n d for e v e r y b u s h e l of t h a t m o v i n g , m o n e y
m o v e s , m o n e y c o r r e s p o n d i n g to it, t h r o u g h t h e b a n k s . B a n k i n g will
be d o n e , real b a n k i n g , w i t h o u t l a w s to i n c o r p o r a t e a n d r e g u l a t e it,
a n d a g g r e g a t e d c a p i t a l w o u l d b e a b l e t o e x c i t e t u i n u l ts in t h e m a r k e t ;
yet every m a n knows t h a t the most conservative and timid interests
i n t h e w o r l d a r e t h o s e o f c a p i t a l , a n d t h a t t h e r e is n o p o s s i b l e d a n g e r — i t i s b a r e l y i m a g i n a b l e — t h a t t h e b u n k s w o u l d e v e r t h i n k of c a l l i n g i n 20 p e r c e n t , o f c a l l l o a n s i n a d a y , o r t a k i n g a n y o t h e r v i o l e n t
s t e p w i t h a p u r p o s e t o injure p u b l i c or p r i v a t e c a p i t a l .
T h i s p r o v i s i o n i n t h e l a w o f 1874 w a s p u t i n , I m i g h t s a y , a s a m a t t e r of n e c e s s i t y , b e c a u s e of w h a t I h a v e p r e v i o u s l y p o i n t e d o u t .
It
is i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e b a n k s t o b r i n g i n t h e i r o w n ' b i l l s u n d e r y e a r s
really, a n d t h e y n e v e r do it perfectly. T h e r e are b a n k s in m y State
t h a t w e r e c r e a t e d fifty, s i x t y , s e v e n t y , e i g h t y y e a r s a g o . I t i l l wellu n d e r s t o o d t i l i n g t h a t o n e of t h e s m a l l a n d c o n s t a n t i t e m s of t h e i r
profit arises from bills t h a t n e v e r a p p e a r , b u r n t or lost, n o b o d y k n o w s
w h e n o r h o w . T h e r e f o r e , w e s a i d i n t h e l a w o f 1874 t h a t w h e n a
b a n k desired t o r e d u c e i t s c i r c u l a t i o n , or t o w i n d u p its business, it
m i g h t deposit t h e g r e e n b a c k s or a n y lawful m o n e y to m e e t those bills.
I s t h e r e a n y IOSB i n t h a t ? W h o l o s e s f T h e l u l l - b o l d e r i s s e c u r e .
D o e s a n y b o d y l o s e ? I f a n y b o d y , i t i s t h e b u n k , b e c a u s e i t fails* t o
get i n t o its o w n h a n d s t h a t profit from wasted bills t h a t n e v e r a p p e a r .
T h a t i s t u r n e d o v e r t o a n d a l w a y s h;is b e e n c l a i m e d b y a n d t a k e n b y
t lie U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t .
T h e G o v e r n m e n t t a k e s #90,000 o f
t h e $100,000, t a k e s i t i n l a w f u l m o n e y , a n d k e e p s a r e s e r v e a g a i n s t a l l
c a l l e d c i r c u l a t i o n . I t i s a r e s e r v e o f $20,000,000, m o r e o r l e s s , n o w
w a i t i n g for b i l l s t o b e p r e s e n t e d for r e d e m p t i o n , old b i l l s o f b a n k s of
r e d u c e d c i r c u l a t i o n o r t h e b i l l s of s u s p e n d e d h a n k s . I t p a y s n o i n t e r e s t o n t h a t m o n e y s o d e p o s i t e d . I t h o l d s , I w i l l s a y n o w , $20,000,000.
I t is s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h a t . N o t a c e n t o f i n t e r e s t d o e s i t p a y o n t h a t ;
y e t t h a t is m o n e y w h i c h t h e b a n k s p a r t e d w i t h a n d p u t t h e r e .
It
is h e l d t o m e e t t h e s e b i l l s . T h e y s t r a g g l e in ; t h e y w i l l b e s t r a g g l i n g i n f o r t w e n t y o r t h i r t y o r fifty y e a r n if w e s h a l l m a i n t a i n t h a t
r e s e r v e so lonjr. E v e r y n o w a n d a y a i n s o m e b o d y in m y S t a t e finds
a n old H a r t f o r d h a n k - n o t e t u c k e d a w a y in s o m e f a m i l y B i b l e o r old
c u p b o a r d , b e a r i n g t h e n a m e s o f t h e p r e s i d e n t a n d c a s h i e r o f 1H10 o r
1830, a n d b r i n g s i t i n a n d t h e b a n k r e d e e m s i t . S o t h e r e is n o p o s s i b l e h a r m , n o p o s s i b l e i n j u s t i c e t o a n y b o d y in p u t t i n g t h e m o n e y
i n t h e T r e a s u r y a n d l e a v i n g t h e G o v e r n m e n t t o fulfill t h e o b l i g a t i o n
t o r e d e e m t h e c i r c u l a t i o n , t h e G o v e r n m e n t h a v i n g t h e u s e of t h e
d e p o s i t a n d w a i t i n g , a n d w a i t i n g for t h o s e bills t o c o m e in.
G e n t l e m e n a s k , w h o p a y s t h e e x p e n s e s of r e d e e m i n g c i r c u l a t i o n o f
That s o r t ? These b a n k s , t h e y say, go out a n d leave it to be p a i d b y
t h e o t h e r b a n k s c o n t i n u i n g c i r c u l a t i o n . Y e s ; p e r h a p s t h e r e is souib
t r u t h i n t h a t , b u t t h e G o v e r n m e n t d o e s n o t p a y it, a n d if i t d i d ,
w a s t e o n t h e s e b i l l s i t s e l f r e p a y s t h e e x p e n s e s of i t , a s I h a v e s h o w n .
N o t o n l y is t h i s t r u e , b u t 1 h a v e s h o w n y o u t h a t it h a s p a i d s i n c e
n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g s t a r t e d j u s t a b o u t t h e entire not expenses of t h o
whole system.
T h e r e is s i m p l y a facility for d o i n g b u s i n e s s in t h i s section 4 of t h o
a c t o f J u n e 2 0 , 1874, n o t h i n g e l s e . T h e y s a y i t m a y b e a b u s e d .
Very
well ; I h a v e proposed an a m e n d m e n t w h i c h w o u l d p u t beyond pos-




i

17
«il>ility a n y serious a b u s e of t h a t section. T h e a m e n d m e n t I p r e s e n t e d is one t h a t p r o v i d e s t h a t if a b a n k desires t o w i t h d r a w c i r c u l a t i o n i t s h a l l g i v e t h i r t y d a y s ' n o t i c e of its i n t e n t i o n t o do so. T h e n
a n y l a r g e a m o u n t could n o t t a k e i n s t a n t effect t o t h e a l a r m a n d dLat u r b a n c e of t h e m a r k e t . T h e w h o l e m a r k e t w o u l d see w h a t w a s
c o r n i n g a n d w o u l d d i s c o u n t a n y u n f a v o r a b l e effect.
I p r o v i d e also in m y a m e n d m e n t t h a t n o more t h a n $5,000,000 s h a l l
l>e t a k e n n p in a n y one m o n t h ; p e r h a p s I m i g h t b e t t e r p u t i t in a n y
c o n s e c u t i v e p e r i o d of t h i r t y d a y s . T h a t d i s t r i b u t e s it a l o n g , g i v e s
n o t i c e of it, a n d will s u p p l y a n y n a t u r a l d e m a n d of t h e m a r k e t for a
- r e d u c t i o n of c i r c u l a t i o n , a n d p r e v e n t a n y possible c o m b i n a t i o n , or in
t l i e a b s e n c e of c e n s u r a b l e c o m b i n a t i o n , a n y s u d d e n s t a m p e d e of t h e
m a r k e t t h a t m i g h t d i s t u r b it. I see n o objection w h a t e v e r t o it.
B u t , Mr. P r e s i d e n t , I t h i n k I will w i t h d r a w it now* a n d l e a v e t h e
a m e n d m e n t of t h e S e n a t o r from Missouri t o s t a n d j u s t as i t is. I f i t
s h o u l d b e v o t e d d o w n , I m a y offer m y a m e n d m e n t as an i n d e p e n d e n t
s e c t i o n , or I m a y ask to h a v e it referred to t h e F i n a n c e C o m m i t t e e
t o b e b r o u g h t in as a s e p a r a t e lull or in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h some o t h e r
m e a s u r e s t h e r e p e n d i n g . I s h a l l hold myself at l i b e r t y w h e n t h e b i l l
i s r e p o r t e d t o t h e S e n a t e t o offer m y amendment, e i t h e r a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t s e c t i o n or a s a s u b s t i t u t e for a p a r t of t h e S e n a t o r ' s s e c t i o n ,
i f t h a t should be adopted.
February

2, l8&2.

M r . H A W L E Y . Mr. P r e s i d e n t , w h e n t h e S e n a t e w a s in c o m m i t t e e
I h a d an a m e n d m e n t p e n d i n g w h i c h is in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a recomm e n d a t i o n of t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y , i n t e n d e d t o m e e t or corr e c t a n y possible a b u s e s t h a t m a y a r i s e in t h e m a n n e r of r e d u c i n g
c i r c u l a t i o n . T h a t a m e n d m e n t I s a i d I w o u l d r e n e w as a n i n d e p e n d e n t section if t h e a m e i u l m e n t o f t h e S e n a t o r from Missouri [ M r . V E S T ]
w a s n o t a d o p t e d . 1 offer it n o w as a section of t h e bill, a n d 1 h a v e
n o p r i d e of o p i n i o n a b o u t i t . I s h a l l be q u i t e as w e l l c o n t e n t t o
r e f e r it to t h e C o m m i t t e e on F i n a n c e t o be i n c o r p o r a t e d w i t h o t h e r
l e g i s l a t i o n . I t iB e n t i r e l y g e r m a n e t o t h i s h i l l , a n d a p p l i e s p r e c i s e l y
£ 0 t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t m a y arise if t h i s bill s h o u l d p a s s .
T h e P E E S l D E N T j j r o tempore. T h e a m e n d m e n t of t h e S e n a t o r from
C o n n e c t i c u t will be r e a d .
T h e A C T I N G S K C K K T A R Y . T h e a m e n d m e n t is t o i n s e r t a s a news e c t ion ;
S E C . —. T h a t a n y n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g a s s o c i a t i o n n o w o r g a n i s e d , o r h e r e a f t e r o r
t r a n r z e d , d e s i r i n g to w i t h d r a w Me c i r c u l a t i n g n o t e s u p o n a d e p o s i t of lawful m o n e y
^ v i t b t h e T r e a s u r e r of this U n i t e d S t a t e s , a s p r o v i d e d in s e c t i o n 4 of t h e a c t of J u n e
2 0 , 1 K74, entitled " A n act fixing t h e a m o u n t of U n i t e d S t a t e s n o t e s , p r o v i d i n g for
jt r e d i s t r i h u t i o n of n a t i o n a l - h a n k c u r r e n c y , a n d for o t h e r p u r p o s e s , s h a l l b e r e
«jtiired t o give t h i r t y d a y s ' n o t i c e t o t h e C o m p t r o l l e r of t h e C u r r e n c y of i t s i n t e n
t i r i n t o d e p o s i t lawful m o n e y a n d w i t h d r a w i t s c i r c u l a t i n g n o t e s : l^rovidcd. T h a t
n o t m o r e t h a n $5,000,(100 of lawful m o n e y s h a l l he d e p o s i t e d d u r i n g a n y c a l e n d a r
m o n t h for t h i s p u r p o s e : And provided further.
T h a t tlie p r o v i s i o n s of tliis section
s h a l l n o t a p p l y t o b o n d s called for r e d e m p t i o n b y t h e S e c r e t a r y , of t h e T r e a s u r y .

M r . M O R R I L L . I h o p e t h e S e n a t o r from C o n n e c t i c u t will w i t h d r a w his amendment, because I have to-day introduced and had referred to t h e C o m m i t t e e on F i n a n c e t w o bills t o w h i c h i t will b e
e q u a l l v as a p p r o p r i a t e as it w i l l to t h i s bill ; a t l e a s t I t h i n k so.
M r . ' H A W L E Y . I e x p l a i n e d t h a t I promised t h e S e n a t o r from
M i s s o u r i w h e n I w i t h d r e w t h i s before in c o m m i t t e e t h a t I would offer
i t a g a i n i n t h e S e n a t e w h e n t h e bill s h o u l d h a v e been r e p o r t e d from
t h e C o m m i t t e e of t h e W h o l e to t h e S e n a t e . I said I h a d no p r i d e of
o p i n i o n a b o u t it. I b e l i e v e it is a n e c e s s a r y , a p r o p e r , a n d a wise
p r o v i s i o n . I could n o t s a y so m u c h if 1 h a d b e e n r e s p o n s i b l e for
d r a w i n g i t , b u t it comes from v e r y e x c e l l e n t a u t h o r i t y o u t s i d e of t h i s
Chamber.
I t conies from t h e T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t , a n d is s i m p l y
c a r r y i n g o u t a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y .
2 JIA



*

IS

Now I h a v e discharged my obligation by presenting a germane a n d
"wise a m e n d m e n t w h i c h I b e l i e v e t h r e e - q u a r t e r s of t h e S e n a t e w i l l
a p p r o v e . I f t h e S e n a t e choose t o reject it, I c a r e n o t h i n g . I s h o u l d
t h e n y i e l d t o t h e s u g g e s t i o n of t h e S e n a t o r from V e r m o n t a n d offer
i t a s a n i n d p e n d e n t m e a s u r e t o b e r e f e r r e d to t h e C o m m i t t e e o n
F i n a n c e I t is before t h e S e n a t e t o d o as it p l e a s e s .
T l i e P E E S I D E N T / H - O tempore.
T h e q u e s t i o n is on t h e a m e n d m e n t
of t h e S e n a t o r from C o n n e r t i c u t .
February :?, 1882.
T h e P R E S I D E N T pro tempore.
T h e S e n a t o r from A l a b a m a offers
a n a m e n d m e n t , w h i c h will b e r e a d .
T h e A C T I N G S E C R K T A R Y . I t is p r o p o s e d t o a d d t o s e c t i o n 2 t h o
following :
And provided further. T h a t any bank t h a t shall g i v e the notice required b y thi»
s e c t i o n for w i t h d r a w i n g its c i r c u l a t i n g n o t e s shall bo required to w i t h d r a w t h e
amount specified in s u c h n o t i c e and at t h e t i m e t h e r e i n d e s i g n a t e d , and tailing so
t o w i t h d r a w i t s circulation shall forfeit its charter and be put into liquidation.

M r . H A W L E Y . I h e s i t a t e v e r y m u c h to t r o u b l e t h e S e n a t e a f t e r
so l o n g a d i s c u s s i o n , b u t I s a y t h a t t h a t a m e n d m e n t is n o t n e c e s s a r y ,
in m y o p i n i o n , t o t h e safe a n d p r o p e r c o n d u c t of b u s i n e s s . I t h i n k
t h e S e n a t o r from A l a b a m a v e r y m u c h m i s t a k e s t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e
g r e a t f i n a n c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s of t h e c o u n t r y ; h e v e r y g r e a t l y u n d e r estimates the powers t h a t they already have. I have not the slighte s t i d e a t h a t i t w o u l d e v e r h a v e o c c u r r e d t o B b a n k i n g officer in t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s t h a t h e w o u l d t a k e t h a t p r o c e s s for affecting t h e m a r k e t s of t h e c o u n t r y w h i c h t h e S e n a t o r h a s d e s c r i b e d .
A s I s a i d t h e o t h e r d a y , a n d I t r i e d t o m a k e it e m p h a t i c — I m a d e
i t so e m p h a t i c t h a t s e v e r a l S e n a t o r s on t h e o t h e r side h a v e e n d e a v o r e d t o m a k e c a p i t a l a g a i n s t m e on i t — w i t h t h e i r $95,000,000 of c a l l
l o a n s , w i t h t h e i r h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s of m i l l i o n s of t i m e loans,
t h e b a n k s h a v e e v e r y i m a g i n a b l e facility for d e p r e s s i n g a n d e l e v a t i n g t h e m a r k e t or c r e a t i n g d i s t u r b a n c e fcf t h a t s h o u l d bo t h e i r d e s i r e .
N o r is t h a t in a n y w a y p e c u l i a r t o t h e n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g s y s t e m . It
i s s i m p l y t h e o b v i o u s a n d i n e v i t a b l e i n c i d e n t of t h e e x i s t e n c e of t h e
g r e a t c a p i t a l , w h i c h can do t h e s e t h i n g s w h e t h e r it e x i s t in t h e form
of n a t i o n a l b a n k s or S t a t e b a n k s or in t h e h a n d s of p r i v a t e b a n k e r s .
N o m a n s u p p o s e s t h a t s u r p l u s e a r n i n g s in t h e f o r m of c a p i t a l will
e x i s t in t h i s c o u n t r y a n d r e m a i n in t h e p o c k e t s of e a c h i n d i v i d u a l
c i t i z e n . T h e y Will DO d e p o s i t e d a n d a c c u m u l a t e d ; it is for t h e b e n e fit of c i v i l i z a t i o n t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e ; a n d w h e n t h e y a r e g a t h e r e d
t o g e t h e r m e n w i l l s o m e t i m e s b e led b y t h e i r sellishncss or t h e i r folly
t o u s e t h a t a g g r e g a t e d c a p i t a l in a w a y not w h o l e s o m e t o t h e g e n e r a l
i n t e r e s t . B u t w e h a v e t h i s g e n e r a l c o m p e n s a t i o n or c o n s o l a t i o n t h a t
t h o c a p i t a l i s t s w h o v e n t u r e u p o n t h a t c o u r s e of p r o c e e d i n g s u n i f o r m l y h u d t h a t t h e i r a c t i o n recoils t o t h e i r o w n g r e a t d a m a g e . T h o
n a t i o n a l b a n k s a r e u n d e r b o n d to t h e e x t e n t of all t h e i r l i a b i l i t i e s
to conduct themselves with temperance and with moderation. I
d i s l i k e t o see a s t a t u t e - b o o k c u m b e r e d w i t h h a r s h , a r b i t r a r y p r o v i s i o n s like, t h a t t h o S e n a t o r from A l a b a m a p r o p o s e s t o a d d a t t h o
close of m y a m e n d m e n t : if y o u do n o t w i t h d r a w , if y o u s h o u l d
change your mind within thirty days and do not actually make a
w i t h d r a w a l , y o u s h a l l b e t h r o w n i n t o b a n k r u p t c y . I t is too h a r s h ,
a l t o g e t h e r u n n e c e s s a r y , e x c e s s i v e l y p u n i t o r y , a n d goes t o t h e e x t e n t
of t a k i n g t h e m o n e y of i n n o c e n t s h a r e h o l d e r s a n d d e p o s i t o r s a n d
t h r o w i n g i t all i n t o confusion in t h e h a n d s of r e c e i v e r s . I s h o u l d b e
s o r r y t o see t h a t p r o v i s i o n a d o p t e d . I t h i n k it is u n n e c e s s a r y in tiny
regard.
[Tho amendment proposed by Mr. HAWLBT was adopted without a division.
The bill panned tho Senate, and'is now (May 15) pending in tho House.]



19

I N T H E S E N A T E OF T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S ,
Mare*

9, 1882.

C H I N E S E IMMIGRATION.
T h e S e n a t e , a s i n C o m m i t t e e of t h e W h o l e , r e s u m e d t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e b i l l ( S . N o . 71) t o e n f o r c e t r e a t y s t i p u l a t i o n s r e l a t i n g
t o C h i n e s e , t h e p e n d i n g q u e s t i o n b e i n g on t h e a m e n d m e n t of Mr.
F A R L E Y t o t h e a m e n d m e n t of t h e C o m m i t t e e o n F o r e i g n R e l a t i o n s ,
t o a d d as an additional section the following:
SEC. 16. That hereafter no s t a t e court or court of the United states Khali admit
Chinese to citizenship : and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.
Mr. H A W L E Y . Mr. P r e s i d e n t , w h e n I rose last n i g h t i t w a s w i t h
t h e p u r p o s e o f s p e a k i n g b u t • v e r y f e w m o m e n t s Upon t h e p o i n t s
s p e c i a l l y b e f o r e im. I c o n f e s s I r e g r e t n o w t h a t I d i d n o t s o o n e r e n tertain
a p u r p o s e t o s p e a k u p o n t h e h i l l , t h a t I m i g h t p u t in g o o d
s h a p e m y s e r i o u s o b j e c t i o n s To i t s g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r . B u t I s h a l l n o t
d e t a i n t h e S e n a t e l o n g , for I k n o w t h a t m e m b e r s a r e a n x i o u s t o d i s pose, o f t h e q u e s t i o n , a n d y e t i t i s o n e o f s n c h i m p o r t a n c e t h a t I feel
t h a t I a m not a t a l l g u i l t y o f a n y s e r i o u s w r o n g in i u s i s t i u g u p o n
deliberate consideration.
I a d m i t t h e doctrine t h a t h a s been set forth here, t h a t a n a t i o n is
i n s o m e SCUHC a f a m i l y , a n d t h a t t h e r e is a r i g h t a n d d u t y of n a t i o n a l
self-protection.
I t h i n k we all a s s e r t t h a t ! n o b o d y d e n i e s it.
No
d i s p u t e arises upon such a proposition until we come to t h e e x t e n t
o f t h a t p r i n c i p l e a n d t h e d e t a i l s of p r o p o s i t i o n s .
A n a t i o n h a s a r i g h t t o e x c l u d e p a u p e r s s e n t i n u p o n i t . T h a t is
n o t a "voluntary i m m i g r a t i o n ; it is an injurious o n e . I t h a s a r i g h t ,
o f c o u r s e , t o e x c l u d e i n s a n e a n d i d i o t i c p e r s o n s for t h e s a m e r e a s o n .
I t h a s a r i g h t t o e x c l u d e c r i m i n a l s , for t h e y a r e sent h e r e t o o u r inj n r y , a n d in o r d e r to r e l i e v e o t h e r n a t i o n s f r o m t h e i r o w n j u s t b u r dens.
I f t h e B r i t i s h ( J o v e r n m e n t . i n s t e a d of r e s o l u t e l y s e t t i n g a b o u t t h e
s u p p r e s s i o n of t h u g i s m , h a d offered a free p a s s a g e t o t h u g s t o c o m e
h e r e and settle with us, w i t h their religion teaching the d u t y of
m u r d e r , of c o u r s e w e s h o u l d h a v e h a d a r i g h t t o f o r b i d t h a t k i n d of
i m m i g r a t i o n , a n d we should h a v e been q u i t e justified in t a k i n g it as
o f f e n s i v e a c t i o n o n t h e p a r t ot < I r e u t B r i t a i n . S o i n a s t a t e of w a r o r
p r o s p e c t of w a r — t h a t j " s t ities t h e e x e r c i s e o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y p o w e r s ;
inter arma nilent fays*. L a w s n a t i o n a l o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e s e t a s i d e
if t h e r e b y w e can defend o u r s e l v e s , a m i a n y class of p e o p l e m a y ho
e x c l u d e d o r a n y f o r e i g n e r s m a y b e o r d e r e d t o d e p a r t , t h e m e a s u r e of
t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e p o w e r b e i n g o n l y t h e d e g r e e of the, n e c e s s i t y o f
eel f - p r o t e c t i o n .
B u t w e a r e l e g i s l a t i n g for t i m e s o f p e a c e . W e a r e l e g i s l a t i n g p r o fessedly u p o n t h e g e n e r a l a n d not t h e e x c e p t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s t h a t a r e
t o h e j u s t i f i e d b y o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n , h y t h e s p i r i t of o u r l a w s , tinn a t i o n a l spirit, c h a r a c t e r , a n d policy t h a t w e h a v e freely a n d b o a s t
f u l l y s e t f o r t h t o t h e w h o l e w o r l d for a c e n t u r y ; w h i c h h a v e e l i c i t e d




20
t h e a d m i r a t i o n a n d t h e p r i d e of all g e n e r o u s s o u l s ; w h i c h a r e wringi n g t o o u r s h o r e s t h i s v e r y y e a r n e a r l y a m i l l i o n of p e o p l e ; a n d w h i c h
a r e v e r y s e n s i b l y m o d i f y i n g t h e p o l i t i c a l a s p i r a t i o n s a n d possibilit i e s of a l l K u r o p e . I n t h i s m a t t e r w e a r e t o m a k e a c h a n g e .
A few "words in t h i s p r o p o s e d l a w m a y be q u o t e d for a c e n t u r y , n o t
a s t h e o p e n i n g l i n e s of t h e D e c l a r a t i o n of I n d e p e n d e n c e a r e q u o t e d ,
a s a c o m f o r t , a p r o p h e c y , a b a t t l e - c r y , b u t on t h e s a m e p a g e w i t h
t h e e d i c t of N a n t e s , t h e i n n u m e r a b l e d e c r e e s t o r m e n t i n g a n d b a n ishing a n d e x c l u d i n g t h e J e w s , t h e b e l a t e d hobgoblin idiocies t h a t
a r e n o w t o r t u r i n g t h a t r a c e i n s o m e p a r t s of K u r o p e , t h e b a r b a r i s m s
t h a t were once heaped upon the b a r b a r o u s negro, a n d more approp r i a t e l y s t i l l w i t h the. l a w s of J a p a n a n d of t h i s s a m e C h i n a , w h i c h
t r e a t e d a l l of u s , g e n t l e a n d l o v e l y b e a r e r s of r u m , o p i u m , a n d Test a m e n t s , a s " o u t s i d e b a r b a r i a n s . " O r it m a y b e t h a t t h i s hill w i l l
b e q u o t e d w i t h t h e a l i e n a n d s e d i t i o n l a w , tlie r e p e a l of t h e Missouri
c o m p r o m i s e , a n d t h e f u g i t i v e - s l a v e l a w , a s a n i l l u s t r a t i o n of t h e t r u t h
t h a t fifty m i l l i o n s o v e r e i g n s c a n he a s d e s p o t i c a s o n e s o v e r e i g n .
I f a g r e a t e m e r g e n c y h a s r e a l l y a r r i v e d , if t h e c o i n i n g of m i l l i o n s
of C h i n a m e n is so i m m i n e n t t h a t w e m u s t p u t u p o u r C h i n e s e w a l l ,
l e t u s t r y a n d m a k e t h e l a w a t least s p e a k p l a u s i b l y . L e t u s s a y :
F i r s t . T h e Chinese do not come here to s w e a r ailegiance#to t h i s
nation ;
Second. T h e y do not come desiring to learn our l a n g u a g e :
Third. T h e y do not come desiring to learn a n d u n d e r s t a n d our
Constitution and laws ;
F o u r t h . T h e y do n o t c o m e h e r e w i t h a d e s i r e t o b e a r a s h a r e of o u r
t a x a t i o n and general burdens ;
Fifth. T h e y do not come here to perforin m i l i t a r y d u t y ;
Sixth. T h e y do n o t b r i n g their wives and c h i l d r e n / a n d do not
s e n d for t h e m , n o r e x p e c t t o s e n d for t h e m ;
S e v e n t h . T h e y b r i n g t h e t r a i t s of a p e o p l e s u b m i s s i v e t o d e s p o t i s m
a n d a l i e n t o u s in r e l i g i o n , t r a d i t i o n s , a n d b e l i e f s ;
E i g h t h . They come t o establish a peasantry, a cheerfully-enlisted,
self-compelled, a n d c o n t e n t e d p e a s a n t r y a m o n g us, w h e n we w a n t no
p e a s a n t s a n d d e s p i s e t h e m a n w h o is w i l l i n g t o b e a p e a s a n t .
R e c i t e t h i s : 1 have, g i v e n s o m e r e a s o n s for e x c l u d i n g c l a s s e s o f
p e o p l e , n o t b e c a u s e of t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r c o l o r o r p a r t i c u l a r b i r t h p l a c e ,
b u t b e c a u s e of c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t u n f i t t h e m t o m a k e g o o d
A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n s , u n f i t t h e m t o b l e n d w i t h u s . T h e r e w o u l d bo
s o m e t h i n g of specific d e f e n s e of y o u r l a w i n t h e p r e a m b l e of it if
you would say t h a t .
M r . M I L L E R , of C a l i f o r n i a . D o y o u w a n t t o p u t t h a t in ?
Mr. H A W LEY. I a m not m a k i n g t h e bill. If t h e Senator will
p u t i t in I t h i n k h e w i l l h e l p h i s h i l l . S a y t h a t a r u s h of m i l l i o n s of
s u c h p e o p l e , if y o u c a n m a k e p e o p l e b e l i e v e t h a t m i l l i o n s a r e c o m i n g ,
w o i d d s e r i o u s l y i n j u r e t h e g r e a t R e p u b l i c a n d t h e e a u s e of g o o d g o v ernment the world over.
I a d m i t t h a t t o s a y t h i s w o u l d b e t o a d m i t a l s o t h a t if t h e C h i n a m a n w o u l d c o m e h e r e , t o t h r o w off a l l a l l e g i a n c e t o C h i n a a n d s w e a r
allegiance to t h e United States, to m a k e t h i s his home a n d t o b r i n g
his tamily, desiring to learn our laws a n d share our duties, he m i g h t
v e r y w e l l c o m e as o t h e r s d o , a n d I w o u l d s a y t h a t . I w o u l d s a y t h a t
ulso in t h e p r e a m b l e if neoeasajrj. B u t w e h a v e n o s u c h b i l l b e f o r e
us. T h e p r e a m b l e a i m s o n l y a t a l a b o r e r , a l a b o r e r of a p a r t i c u l a r
.race. I t d o e s u o t c h a r g e h i m w i t h a u y u n l a w f u l p u r p o s e . I t d o e s




21
n o t . d e s c r i b e a n y d a n g e r o u s t e n d e n c y i n h i n i w h a t e v e r . I t is n o t
a l l e g e d i n t h e b i l l t h a t h e comet* w i t h a b a d p u r p o s e , o r is l i k e l y t o
e x e r t a n y b a d i n f l u e n c e h e r e . T h i s is a l l t h e r e is of t h e p r e a m b l e :
"Whereas in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coining of
Chinese laborers— T h e y m i g h t b e d o v e s , for a l l t h e p r o p o s e d l a w s a y s . T h e y m i g h t
"be t h e m e s s e n g e r s o f p e a c e ; t h e m e s s e n g e r s of a n e w g o s p e l b e t t e r
t h a n ours. T h e y h a d s o m e t h i n g like t h e golden rule long before our
C h r i s t i a n p e o p l e s k n e w a n y t h i n g of it, or before t h e r e w e r e C h r i s t i a n
peoples. These men, I say, m i g h t he b r i n g i n g a n e w gospel here.
"Whereas in the opinion of* the (ioveiiinicut of the United States the coming of
Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities
•within the t e n i t o r v thereof.
T h i s is t h e w h o l e p r e a m b l e .
I t is n o t p r e t e n d e d t h e r e i n t h a t t h e y
c o u l d exercise a bad influence over t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y , t o poison o u r
p e o p l e a g a i n s t o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d beliefs, to d a m a g e us p o l i t i c a l l y , soc i a l l y , or c o m m e r c i a l l y , a» a n a t i o n at all, b u t t h a t t h e i r c o m i n g e n d a n g e r s t h e g o o d o r d e r o f c e r t a i n l o e n l i t i e s . W h a t is t h e o b v i o u s i m p l i c a t i o n ¥ T h a t if t h e C h i n a m a n c o m e s o u r c i t i z e n s m a y i n s u l t h i m .
t h a t they m a y raise tumults, trample upon law, t h a t perhaps they
m a y k i l l h i m , o r p e r h a p s t h e y m a y forcibly e x p e l h i m , o r t h e y m a y
so h e d g e h i m a b o u t w i t h fear t h a t he w o u l d r u s h d o w n in d e s p a i r t o
•the s e a - c o a s t a n d b e g t o b e t r a n s p o r t e d h o m e . T h a t is t h e i m p l i c a t i o n of t h e p r e a m b l e .
H i s c o m i n g h e r e is g o i n g t o t u a k e u s so a n g r y ,
s o f i e r c e t h a t w e •will r i s e u p i n r e b e l l i o n a n d t r a m p l e u p o n o u r o w n
l a w s a n d w r o n g t h i s m a n -who is n o t c h a r g e d w i t h a n y d a n g e r o u s
purpose whatever.
I do not enter upon the argument at length that this proposed law
i s i n v i o l a t i o n of t h e t r e a t y j u s t m a d e , a n d y e t I c o n s i d e r i t t o b e so.
M y colleague [Mr. PI.ATT] has done ample justice to t h a t subject;
b u t a t t h i s m o m e n t , g l a n c i n g o v e r t h e p a p e r s in t h e c a s e , I c o m e
a c r o s s a significant p a r a g r a p h t h a t 1 have not heard quoted in the
d e b a t e . P e r h a p s it h a s b e e n . I f i t w i l l n o t t r o u b l e t h e S e n a t e I
-vvill r e a d b r i e f l y t w o p a r a g r a p h s , o n e f r o m t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n front
o u r commissioners, Messrs. Angell and others, announcing' their succ e s s f u l u e g o t i a t i o u of t h e t r e a t y , a n d t h e o t h e r f r o m t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n
o f Mr. Kvarts announcing the treaty. The commissioners said:
A f t e r our first interview with the Chinese commissioners—
I s h o u l d l i k e a t t e n t i o n t o t h i s , i f it h a s n o t b e e n r e a d , b e f o r e —
After o a r first interview with the Chinese commissioners we thought it clear
t h a t while tlie Chinese Government would recognize the propriety of some regul a t i n g discretion as to Chinese bnmigrstioa »>n the part of the Government of the
"United States, it would not consent to Its formal prohibition and t h e absolute abrogation ol" Hie provisions of the BnrHngama treaty relating to the free intercourse
between the people of the two eonntries. W e d i d not think, that theptihlic opinion"
of t h e United States would require so extreme • demand, and we considered out
i n s t r u c t i o n s as warning ns not to dlaregaxd the traditional policy of the United
S t a t e s , and in your own words—
T h i s i.s a d d r e s s e d to t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e —
to >{ive due weight to " t h e widelv diffused, and. so to speak, natural sentiment
of o u r people in favor of the most liberal admission of foreign immigrants who deniro to incorporate! themselves and theft families with oar society, and mingle the
s t r e a m of their posterity in the swelling tide of native population."
So t h e commissioners w e n t there to C h i n a d i s a v o w i n g a desire t o




22

prohibit, because it would not be in accord with our "traditional
policy." When Mr. Evarts came to announce the treaty lie said :

The, t r e a t y s u b m i t t e d s e t t l e s t h e q u e s t i o n s r a i s e d b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s in a
m a i m e r a l i k e h o n o r a b l e a n d s a t i s f a c t o r y to b o t h . W h i l e p r e s e r v i n g to t h e subject •
of C h i n a e n g a g e d i n m e r c a n t i l e p u r s u i t s , i n s t u d y , in t e a c h i n g , or in travel tor
c u r i o s i t y , t h e r i g h t of free i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h t h i s c o u n t r y , t h e C h i n e s e G o v e r n m e n t
h a s r e c o g n i z e d m t h e G o v e r n m e n t of t h e IT nit ed S t a t e s t h e r i g h t t o r e g u l a t e , limit,
a n d s u s p e n d t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n i n t o i t s t e r r i t o r y of C h i n e s e l a b o r w h e n e v e r , in i t s
d i s c r e t i o n , s u c h i n t r o d u c t i o n shall t h r e a t e n tfie good o r d e r of a n y locality or end a n g e r a n y i n t e r e s t s of s o c i e t y .

It is not put into the preamble here, as it might have been from the

t r e a t y , t h a t t h e i r c o m i n g h e r e w o u l d e n d a n g e r , w o u l d affect i n j u r i o u s l y t h e i n t e r e s t s of s o c i e t y . T h e t r e a t y s a y s a n y t h i n g t h a t w o u l d
" a f r e e t t h e i n t e r e s t s of s o c i e t y , " b e i n g an o h v i o u s i n e l e g a n c e , when
t h e w r i t e r s Intended to say "affect injuriously," & c , h u t even t h a t
is n o t i n s e r t e d in t h e p r e a m b l e .
T h i s p a m p h l e t s h o w s also h o w c a r e f u l l y t h e C h i n e s e d e s i r e d t o
g u a r d a g a i n s t a n a b s o l u t e p r o h i b i t i o n , h o w c a u t i o u s t h e y were t h a t
a s u s p e n s i o n s h o u l d be o n l y s u s p e n s i o n . T h e s e official p a p e r s of t h e
c o m m i s s i o n e r s t o t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e s h o w 1 h a t n o t h i n g in t h e
n a t u r e of p r o h i b i t i o n w a s i n t e n d e d . B u t s u s p e n s i o n for 1 w e n t y y e a r s
is p r o h i b i t i o n , a n d is i n t e n d e d sis s u c h .
T h e b i l l before u s is v e r y c l e a r l y a h a r s h a n d a n e x t r a v a g a n t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h a t t r e a t y , j u s t w h a t t h e C h i n e s e c o m m i s s i o n e r s feared
m i g h t be m a d e , a n d w h a t o u r c o m m i s s i o n e r s a s s u r e d t h e m t h a t o u r
j u s t a n d magnanimous a n d generous nation o u g h t to be trusted p o t
t o do.
T h e civilized world jeered a t China and J a p a n while they applied
t h i s I d e n t i c a l p o l i c y t o all t h e w o r l d o u t s i d e t h e i r b o r d e r s , a n a Hie
Civilized w o r l d g r a d u a l l y g r e w r e a d y t o b o m b a r d b o t h C h i n a a n d

Japan Into international comity a n d good fellowship.

The United

S t a t e s w a s p r o u d t h a t o n e of o u r c i t i z e n s , • g a l l a n t a n d e l o q u e n t
c i t i z e n of M a s s a c h u s e t t s , b e c a m e t h e a g e n t a n d e m b a s s a d o r in u n l o c k i n g h e r d o o r s a n d s h a k i n g h a n d s w i t h t h e reel of m a n k i n d .
In
t h e s u p p l e m e n t a r y t r e a t y of J u l y 28, 1868, i t wan Will mm I I . S e w a r d , s p e a k i n g for t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d Anson A. B u r l i n g a m e , s p e a k i n g for C h i n a , w h o s a i d :
ARTKLK

V.

T i m U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a a n d t h e K i n p c r o r of C h i n a c o r d i a l l y rOeoguize t h e
i n h e r e n t a n d i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t of m a n t o c h a n g e iiis lupine HIM! allegiance, a n d a l s o

the mutual advantage of the free migration and emigration of their citizens and
tmbjects, respectively, from'the one country to the other, for purposes of curiosity,
of trade, or as permanent residents.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
ARTICLE

VI.

Citizenn of the United States visiting or residing in China shall enjdy the same
privileges. Immunities, or exemption* in respect to travel or residence as may there
EM enjoyed by the eittzens or subjoets of the most favored nation. And, reciprocally, Chinese subjects visiting or residing En the United Estates shall enjoy the
same privileges, immunities, and exemptions En respect to travel or residence ss
may there be enjoyed by the citizens or Mubjocts of the most favored natiou.
To gain these t h i n g s the civilized world b o m b a r d e d China, and it
g r a n t e d t h e m ; a n d t h e c i v i l i z e d w o r l d , t h i s p a r t of it, a p p e a r s t o be
sick of i t s b a r g a i n .
Singularly enough, I accidentally discovered this morning that
t h e 2 8 t h of J u l y , 18o8, w a s t h e v e r y d a y on w h i c h t h e
fourteenth
a m e n d m e n t of t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n w a s d e c l a r e d a d o p t e d , w h i c h for t h e




23
f i r s t t i m e r e a l l y m a d e e v e r y one b o r n in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s or n a t u r a l i z e d t h e r e i n a citizen n o t o n l y of his S t a t e b u t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
I t w a s a f t e r t h a t i n d e e d t h a t w e o u r s e l v e s b y t h e fifteenth a m e n d m e n t , a d o p t e d M a r c h 30, 1870, d e c l a r e d that, n o person s h o u l d be for1>idden t o v o t e b y r e a s o n of r a c e , color, or p r e v i o u s c o n d i t i o n of s e r v itude.
O u r z e a l o u s a n d r a d i c a l r e p u b l i c a n i s m is fading. O u r a p o s t l e s h i p
o f a g e n e r o u s h u m a n i t y is t o b e a b d i c a t e d . I t w a s before t h e w a r
t h a t a Massachusetts man declared the Declaration "glittering gene r a l i t i e s . " H e d i e d , sir. I do n o t r e m e m b e r w h e n lie w a s b u r i e d ; h e
t l i e d the day h e said t h a t .
I t is s e v e n t e e n y e a r s a f t e r a g r e a t w a r for u n i o n a n d l i b e r t y a n d
t h e freeing of four million slaves, fourteen y e a r s after t h e a s s e r t i o n
o f n a t i o n a l c i t i z e n s h i p , a n d some t w e l v e y e a r s a f t e r a d e c l a r a t i o n
t h a t n o m a n s h a l l b e forbidden t o v o t e by reason of race, color & c ,
t h a t w e a r e a s k e d to d e n y t o t h e C h i n a m a n t h e r i g h t he w a s b * m o a r d e d i n t o a c c e p t i n g ; a n d u p o n t h a t solemu a c t of l e g i s l a t i o n -we
p u t o n l y t h e w o r d s I n a v e r e a d , s a y i n g t h a t his c o m i n g as a l a b o r e r
i s d a n g e r o u s t o good o r d e r h e r e .
I t h a s b e e u a s s e r t e d t h a t w e h a v e t h e r i g h t to e x c l u d e a n y m a n
f o r a n y l e n g t h of t i m e , or all m e n for all t i m e , a c c o r d i n g t o o u r o w n
J u d g m e n t . I t h a s been s a i d t h a t t h e r i g h t to fix t h e l i m i t of n a t u r a l i z a t i o n a t all g i v e s t h e r i g h t t o tix i t a t a t h o u s a n d y e a r s ; v i r t u a l l y
t h e r i g h t t o r e g u l a t e is t h e r i g h t t o forbid all i m m i g r a t i o n a n d a l l
e n t e r i n g u p o n c i t i z e n s h i p . P e r h a p s so ; p e r h a p s n o t . P e r h a p s w e
a r e "confounding r i g h t a n d p o w e r . W e h a v e in one sense a r i g h t t o
d o a l l t h a t w e c a n defend u n d e r a r m s . W e h a v e a r i g h t in a c e r t a i n
s h a l l o w , t e c h n i c a l sense of t h e w o r d t o do a g r e a t m a n y foolish t h i n g s ,
a n d a g r e a t m a n y w r o n g t h i n g s . Mr. RANDOLPH TDCKBR, of t h e
H o u s e , in t h e l a s t C o n g r e s s felicitously p u t w h a t I t h i n k is t h e corr e c t d o c t r i n e in t h e form of a n a l g e b r a i c e q u a t i o n : " R i g h t e q u a l s
F o w o r JJIUS d u t y . " W e carelessly a s s e r t a r i g h t t o do w r o n g t h i n g s ,
d e n y t h a t we h a v e a r i g h t , b e c a u s e w e l i m i t v o t i n g t o t h o s e w h o
a t t a i n t w e n t y - o n e y e a r s , t o m a k e it s i x t y - t h r e e y e a r s , or t o m a k e i t
n i n e t y years.
M r . J O N E S , of N e v a d a . I s h o u l d l i k e t o a s k t h e S e n a t o r i f o n e
f a c t o r i n t h e e q u a t i o n , " d u t y " is n o t an unlniowii q u a n t i t y f
M r . H A W L E Y , Yes, it is. T h a t d e p e n d s ujHin <mr j u d g m e n t a n d
c o n s c i e n c e , for w h i c h w e a r e r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e w o r l d a n d t o p o s t e r i t y
f i n d t o Qoa, b u t t h e e q u a t i o n r e m a i n s t r u e n e v e r t h e l e s s ,
I d e n y , because we c a n fix t h e l i m i t a t t w e n t y - o n e y e a r s , t h a t it is
o r m a y be or can be o u r d u t y t o fix it a t a h u n d r e d . I d e n y t h a t
d u t y can ever come in t o fix it a t o n e h u n d r e d y e a r s , b e c a u s e wo h a v e
a r i g h t t o fix it. I s a y it is not t r u e , as h a s been a s s e r t e d h e r e , t h a t
t h e r i g h t t o l i m i t t h e c i t i z e n s h i p of a foreigner to five y e a r s i m p l i e s
t h e r i g h t t o m a k e i t one h u n d r e d y e a r s or five h u n d r e d y e a r s . T h e r e
i s n o s u c h r i g h t , because w h i l e t h e r e is t h e p o w e r , the, o t h e r e l e m e n t
o f t h e e q u a t i o n , d u t y , is l a c k i n g t h e r e ; a n d on t h a t I a p p e a l t o t h e
j u d g m e n t of t h e c o u n t r y , t h e j u d g m e n t of all h o n o r a b l e a n d fairm i n d e d m e n e v e r y w h e r e . So t h a t i t is n o t fair t o say t h a t h a v i n g
t h e r i g h t t o l i m i t we h a v e t h e r i g h t a b s o l u t e l y t o p r o h i b i t . W e h a v e
. ft r i g h t t o say t h a t t h e o r d i n a r y s t a t u t e of l i m i t a t i o n s s h a l l a p p l y
a f t e r s i x y e a r s . I d e n y t h e r i g h t t o s a y t h a t i t shall a p p l y a f t e r s i x
h o u r s . l > u t y c'omes in t h e r e to forbid ; t h e e q u a t i o n is n o t b a l a n c e d .
T h i s bill is a p a r t of a c e r t a i n r e a c t i o n a r y policy. M a k e y o u r c o n d i t i o n s w h a t y o u please for i m m i g r a t i o n a n d for a t t a i n i n g c i t i z e n -




24
s h i p , h u t m a k e i h o m such t h a t t h e m a n can o v e r c o m e t h e m . Do not
b a s e t h e m u p o n t h e a c c i d e n t s of h u m a n i t y . If you say t h a t a man
s h a l l n o t come i n or shall n o t b e c o m e a c i t i z e n u n t i l he can read
a u d w r i t e o u r l a n g u a g e , u n t i l h e can p a s s an e x a m i n a t i o n upon t h e
C o n s t i t u t i o n , or u n t i l h e shall h a v e a c c u m u l a t e d a t h o u s a n d dollar**,
or a n y one of m a n y q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a n d l i m i t a t i o n s t h a t easily suggest
t h e m s e l v e s , y o u s t i l l l e a v e it open t o a n y m a n in t h e world to overcome t h i s a n d come in ; b u t if you say he s h a l l not h a v e thiH, that, or
t h e o t h e r r i g h t b e c a u s e h e is y e l l o w , or b e c a u s e h e is black, or bec a u s e he w a s born in a c e r t a i n place, I h o l d t h a t i t is a d e p a r t u r e
from t h e r e p u b l i c a n d o c t r i n e . I hold it to b e t h e sound doctrine ot
a r e p u b l i c a n g o v e r n m e n t t h a t you h a v e no r i g h t to base your limita t i o n s u p o n t h e m e r e a c c i d e n t s of h u m a n i t y .
If we a r e t o t a k e a s t e p b a c k w a r d in t h i s t h i n g , I bog you to be
p a t i e n t . I do n o t t h i n k it is n e c e s s a r y t o fear t h a t before we pass the bill
a n o t h e r s h i p m a y come in w i t h t w o or t h r e e h u n d r e d more Chinamen,
o r t o fear t h a t a n o t h e r i n d i g n a t i o n m e e t i n g m a y be held. I beg
g e n t l e m e n t o be a l i t t l e p a t i e n t w i t h u s . If it is only an a p p a r e n t
s t e p b a c k w a r d , b u t r e a l l y a n e e d e d a d v a n c e of freedom and free
g o v e r n m e n t , s t r i p from t h e bill s o m e t h i n g of i t s h a r s h n e s s and sava g e r y . G i v e i t a p l a u s i b l e p r e a m b l e a t least, if t r u t h will permit it.
I t is a painful q u e s t i o n , sufficiently t r o u b l e s o m e t o C h r i s t i a n i t y a n d
t o s t a t e s m a n s h i p , b u t s u c h a bill as t h i s , in m y j u d g m e n t , is not ind i s p e n s a b l e t o t h e R e p u b l i c . I f o u r t r a d i t i o n a l policy referred fcO by
o u r c o m m i s s i o n e r s to C h i n a , if o u r gospel of t h e D e c l a r a t i o n of Indep e n d e n c e and all o u r professions a n d regard for h u m a n i t y despite
i t s a c c i d e n t s a r e t o be set a s i d e , a r e to be d e p a r t e d from in a bill
t h a t I for one shall d a r e to be a s h a m e d of, be a little p a t i e n t w i t h
t h o s e of u s w h o a r e old-fashioned.

IN T H E S E N A T E OP T H E UNITED STATES,
Airil

26, 1882.

Tbe Senate bandog-mi < ir-r consUleratlon thobill (II. K. No. 5804) to execute e*rtaiQ
treaty »tipul;itions rotating to CliineHQ—
M r . I1AVVDEY s a i d :
Mr. P R E S I D E N T : I supposed t h a t t h e S e n a t e w a s d o n e , a n d ' c e r t a i n l y t h a t I w a s d o n e , d i s c u s s i n g t h i s l u l l ; but h a v i n g listened t<>
some of t h e r e m a r k s in favor of t h e bill, l am Impelled to submit a
few myself, in opposition. I propose to m a k e only some few points
a n d not to e n l a r g e upon t h e m . I c a u g h l p a r t of fehe words of • Senat o r y e s t e r d a y , d w e l l i n g u p o n t h e evils of oooly I m m i g r a t i o n , and 1
desire to correct h i m simply in a m a t t e r of fact. I believe there is
UOne Of SUOb i m m i g r a t i o n o r i m p o r t a t i o n , a n d c e r t a i n l y t h i s bill does
not a t t e m p t to legislate upon it if" there were a n y . It would he unn e c e s s a r y ; t h e r e is a law upon the statute-book", passed, I t h i n k , in
180*2, which p r e v e n t s cooly I m m i g r a t i o n . As to t h e question of f a c t
a s to w h e t h e r t h e r e is a n y t h i n g of tin* k i n d n o w a d a y s , 1 beg to read
a few w o r d s from a c o n s t i t u e n t , If not an A m e r i c a n citizen, of m>




25
o w n town.
B y t h e "way, I h a v e h a d i n i u y o w n d i s t r i c t a C h i n a m a n by birth, a naturalized American citizen, an intelligent ami
e d u c a t e d g e n t l e m a n , w h o d i d m e t h e h o n o r t o v o t e for m e w h e n I
w a s a c a n d i d a t e for R e p r e s e n t a t i v e in Congress. I believe n o n e s u c h
live there now.
Mr. F A R L E Y .
Will the Senator allow me to ask him one question?
Mr. H A W L E Y .
Certainly.
Mr. F A R L E Y .
W e r e t h e y n a t u r a l i z e d in t h e S t a t e of C o n n e c t i c u t ,
or where were they naturalized f
Mr. H A W L E Y . T h e y were naturalized in Connecticut, I believe.
O n e of t h e m I k n o w w a s a g r a d u a t e a t Y a l e C o l l e g e , h a d t a k e n p r i z e s
i u E n g l i s h c o m p o s i t i o n t h e r e , a n d w a s r e g a r d e d a s a m a n of s u p e r i o r
ability and education.
O n e of t h e s e i n t e l l i g e n t C h i n e s e g e n t l e m e n ,
r e s i t t i n g i n m y o w n t o w n a n d w i t h i n a q u a r t e r of a m i l e of m y o w n
house, c o m m u n i c a t e s to t h e New York H e r a l d the following:
! c o n s t a n t l y s e e in t h e n e w s p a p e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e California ones, t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e C h i n e s e i m i n i n r a t i o u is a k i n d of slave t r a d e . On t h i s g r o u n d t h e
A l i a California c h a r g e s t h e S e n a t o r * from M a s s a c h u s e t t s w i t h i n c o n s i s t e n c y in
h a v i n g opposed n e g r o s l a v e r y a n d now a d v o c a t i n g a s y s t e m of C h i n e s e s l a v e r y .
K e i i i a r k s like t h i s a r e b a s e d u p o n a false a s s u m p t i o n . E m i g r a t i o n from C h i n a ,
• w h e t h e r to A u s t r a l i a , S i n g a p o r e , o r t h e Pacitie coast, is in n o s e n s e cooly emig r a t i o n . I n fact t h e oidy cooly e m i g r a t i o n t h a t o v e r d i d o c c u r w a s from t h e s i n g l e
p o r t of Macao t o t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s — C u h a a n d P e r u . M a c a o is a P o r t u g u e s e colony,
a n d t r a d e w a s c o n d u c t e d b y P o r t u g u e s e , who r e a p e d t h e benefit.. T h e C h i n e s e Gove r n m e n t a l w a y s o p p o s e d it, a n d C h i n e s e l a w p r e s c r i b e s t h e p e n a l t y of b e h e a d i n g
t o a n y of i t s c i t i z e n s w h o s h a l l e n g a g e in it. T h i s olfeiiso is p u t u p o n t h e s a m e
level with piracy.
A f t e r persist! j i t efforts t h e C h i n e s e G o v e r n m e n t succeeded in i n d u c i n g t h e Port u g u e s e G o v e r n m e n t to abolish t h e cooly t r a d e in 1874.
K W O N G K l ( IIIT7.

H e w a s l a t e a m e m b e r of t h e C h i u e s e E d u c a t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n .
T h e r e f o r e I c o n c e i v e t h a t t h e a r g u m e n t a g a i n s t cooly i m m i g r a t i o n h a s n o force h e r e for t h e r e a s o n t h a t it is a l r e a d y 'sufficiently
forbidden
b y s t a t u t e t w e n t y y e a r s old. a n d for t h e f u r t h e r r e a s o n
t h a t t h e r e is n o n e , a n d t h e r e i s n o t e n d e n c y of i t t o w a r d t h i s c o u n t r y , b e c a u s e cooly e m i g r a t i o n is p u n i s h e d b y b e h e a d i n g in C h i n a .
T h e Chines*-, i u i m i g r a t i o n , w h i l e it a f f o r d s a s e r i o u s q u e s t i o n t o t h e
p e o p l e o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a c o a s t , a n d I s y m p a t h i z e w i t h c e r t a i n of t h e i r
f e e l i n g s , h a s n o t . in m y . j u d g m e n t , r e a c h e d a n y t h i n g l i k e t h e t h r e a t e n i n g proportions which h a v e been represented.
1 a m s o r r y i t is
n o t d i s t r i b u t e d m o r e t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y , for I a p p r e c i a t e t h e
p a i n f u l n e s s of m y p o s i t i o n iu d i s c u s s i n g a m a t t e r t h a t d o e s n o t i m m e d i a t e l y affect m y o w n S t a t e a t a l l , a n d I a m w i l l i n g t o c o n t r i b u t e
t o t h e c h a r i t a b l e a n d s y m p a t h e t i c f e e l i n g for t h o s e w h o s i n c e r e l y feci
t h e m s e l v e s afflicted.
I am willing to regulate the immigration,
I t h i n k the Chinese
G o v e r n m e n t is w i l l i n g . I a m w i l l i n g to l i m i t it ; t o r e s t r i c t i t . 1
a d m i t , n a y m o r e , I a s s e r t , t h e r i g h t of a g o v e r n m e n t t o d e f e n d i t s e l f
a g a i n s t a hostile or d a n g e r o u s i m m i g r a t i o n .
I t is a q u e s t i o n of f a c t
HH t o w h e t h e r t h i s is s u c h . I t is f u r t h e r a q u e s t i o n for r i g h t f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n w h e t h e r w o a r e w i s e l y l e g i s l a t i n g a g a i n s t i t e v e n if t h e r e
h e a n e v i l . I f w e c o u l d suppose- a b i l l t h a t s h o u l d a d m i t o n l y s u c h
C h i n a m e n as came w i t h t h e i r families, a n d admit such only as c a m e
w i t h a p u r p o s e to p e r m a n e n t l y settle w i t h us, a d m i t t i n g n o n e to be
c i t i z e n s a n d v o t e r s u n l e s s t h e y s h o u l d b e a hie t o s p e a k a n d r e a d
tin- K n g l i s h l a n g u a g e , y o u c e r t a i n l y c o u l d d e f e n d s u c h a b i l l w i t h
m u c h m o r e c o n s i s t e n c y t h a n y o u can defend t h i s bill as it s t a n d s
w i t h t h o c l a u s e f o r b i d d i n g n a t u r a l izat i o n , b e c a u s e t h a t m a k e s n o




20
d i s t i n c t i o n u p o n t h e g r o u n d of m e r i t o r e d u c a t i o n o r i n t e l l i g e n c e or
p a t r i o t i H i n . I t s i m p l y e x c l u d e s a m a n b y r e a s o n o f b i s r a c e or color,
a n d we. h a v e s a i d a s e m p h a t i c a l l y a s w e c o u l d t o t h e w o r l d t h a t n o
m a n s h o u l d b e e x c l u d e d for t h a t reason.
A n e x c l u s i o n b a s e d p u r e l y u p o n r a c e o r c o l o r is u n p h i l o s o p h i c a l ,
unjuHt, a n d u n d e m o t r a t i c . F o r tlie p u r p o s e s of m y a r g u m e n t 1 do
n o t c a r e w h a t you m a k e t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s , b u t m a k e t h e m such as may
lie o v e r c o m e , a n d t h e n a p p l y t h e m t o o n e r a c e o r t o a l l r a c e s if yon
c h o o s e . W h e n y o u s a y t h a t a m a n i s e x c l u d e d b e c a u s e h e it* OX a
c e r t a i n r a c e o r a c e r t a i n c o l o r , t h a t is s o m e t h i n g f r o m w h i c h be <;ui
n e v e r r e c o v e r b y h i s o w n e f f o r t s , a n d , a s I s a y , i t is n o t o n l y c o n t r a r y
t o o u r fifteenth a m e n d m e n t ) h u t c o n t r a r y t o o u r w h o l e t r a d i t i o n a n d
policy.
P o s s i b l y I could d r a w a bill t h a t I should be w i l l i n g t o support,
b u t i t w o u l d n o t b a s e a d i s t i n c t i o n u p o n t h e f a c t t h a t a m a n is i*
l a b o r e r , w h i c h I c o n s i d e r a n i n s u l t t o l a b o r all o v e r t h e world, nor
upon the fact t h a t he belongs t o a n y p a r t i c u l a r race. I should bast
it r a t h e r upon his moral and intellectual c h a r a c t e r a n d his purposes
iu c o m i n g t o t h i s c o u n t r y .
You say t h e s e m e n e o m e a n d m a k e a l i t t l e m o n e y a n d g o a w a y and
l e a v e t h e i r families a t h o m e , w h e r e t h e y s u p p o r t t h e m c h e a p l y ; and
that they compete w i t h our laborers a t a very small price. I admit
t h e r e is s o m e force in i t ; b u t i n a n s w e r t o t h a t I c a n s a y t h a t t h e
p r i c e s of l a b o r a r e v e r y h i g h in C a l i f o r n i a c e r t a i n l y , a n d I c a n Bay
t h a t o n e o f t h e o b j e c t i o n s t o t h i s v e r y C h i n a m a n i s t h a t h e is t o o
s h r e w d in t a k i n g r a r e o f h i s o w n i n t e r e s t s . T h e r e f o r e I a m v e r y s u r e
t h a t h e is n o t p e r m a n e n t l y g o i n g t o l a b o r f o r l e s s w a g e s t h a n h e can
g e t ; h e will get all h e c a n in t h e end.
I t h i n k t h a t o b j e c t i o n is
r a t h e r o v e r s t a t e d ; t o o m u c h w e i g h t is g i v e n t o i t , b u t i t h a s s o m e .
M r . P r e s i d e n t , i t is b e s t for u s t o l e g i s l a t e i n t i m e s of e x c i t e m e n t
a n d u n d e r p o p u l a r i m p u l s e s r a t h e r in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e s
t h a t w e h a v e a d o p t e d in cooler d a y s or when no imagined emergency
w a s r e s t i n g u p o n us. T h e g e n e r a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h i s c o u n t r y after
a h u n d r e d y e a r s o f e x p e r i m e n t i n f r e e g o v e r n m e n t i s d i f f e r e n t from
t h a t e n a c t e d in t h i s b i l l . I b e g l e a v e t o s a y t h a t I t h i n k t h i s A m e r i can C o n g r e s s is a c t i n g u n d e r t h e influence of a t e m p o r a r y passion

and a prejudice t h a t I am sorry to say is not so temporary.
I t is not t h e first time in our history t h a t we h a v e felt these storm-

wavi'N of c l a s s a n d r a c e p r e j u d i c e .
All of u s of m i d d l e a g e h e r e c a n
w e l l r e m e m b e r t h a t i t in b u t a c o m p a r a t i v e l y s h o r t t i m e , a s i t s e e m s
t o u s , s i n c e thcr** w a s s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n a p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t a r a c e
o f w h i c h n o p o l i t i c i a n n o w Hays a n y e v i l — a g a i n s t t h e I r i s h . A l l r e m e m b e r t h a t iiv s o m e o f t h e l e a d i n g c i t i e s o f t h e c o u n t r y t h e i r s c h o o l s
and convents were destroyed. I 'remember how Philadelphia was
d i s g r a c e d b y t h e r i o t s of t h e a n t i - I r i s h ; 1 r e m e m b e r liow t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d of*even c o n s e r v a t i v e B o s t o n w a s d i s g r a c e d b y r i o t s
Mr. M O R R I L L .
And Baltimore.
Mr. IIAWLKY.
And Baltimore and other places. I remember
f u r t h e r , w h e n t h e p r e j u d i c e n o t o n l y w e n t a g a i n s t tins I r i s h b u t
w h e n i t w e n t a g a i 1n s !lli
t all m e n of foreign b i r t h , a n d w h e n a g r e a t
p a r t y , a s e c r e t party ]
o a t h - b o u n d or promise-bound p a r t y — I n e v e r

belonged to it, t h a n k Cod—n secret p a r t y of some description, arose

in t h i s c o u n t r y a m i c a r r i e d p o r t i o n s of i t a s b y a t o r n a d o , b a s e d
u p o n a h a t r e d a n d j e a l o u s y of t h e f o r e i g n e r o f a l l s o r t s .
T h e good sense, t h e d e m o c r a t i c principle, t h e Christian p r i n c i p l e
of t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e m a y b e t r u s t e d t o r i d e o v e r a n d p u t d o w n
a l l Hindi t e m p o r a r y h a t r e d s a n d p r e j u d i c e s .
I have mistaken the




27
c o u n t r y 1 love if i t w&s i n t e n d e d to b e a c o u n t r y of Bach s e n t i m e n t s .
T h e prejudice against the French, the cultivated and generous and
c h i v a l r o u s F r e n c h , w h o w e r e o u r friends in t h e R e v o l u t i o n , w a s v e r y
g r e a t a t c e r t a i n p e r i o d s i n o u r h i s t o r y . 1 need n o t s p e a k , of course,
o f a n o t h e r prejudice, w h i c h Ave are. o v e r c o m i n g ; a p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t
t h e E n g l i s h m a n a n d t h e v e r y n a m e of E n g l i s h m a n . T h e p r e j u d i c e
o f class h a t r e d a n d r a c e h a t r e d a g a i n s t t h e African h a s m a d e t h e
g r e a t c h a p t e r s of o u r h i s t o r y . 1 did t h i n k u n t i l t h i s lull arose t h a t
i f t h e r e w e r e a n y q u e s t i o n in t h e world t h i s people h a d d i s c u s s e d i n
t h e l i g h t of r e p u b l i c a n a n d C h r i s t i a n p r i n c i p l e it w a s t h e q u e s t i o n
o f race hatred.
F o r purposes k n o w n t o H i m best, t h e Almighty p e r m i t t e d ns t o
b r i n g t o t h i s c o u n t r y h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s , n o w m i l l i o n s of Afric a n s . I t is n o t n e c e s s a r y t h a t I s h o u l d discuss t h e p r e j u d i c e s u n d e r
w h i c h t h e y w e r e c o m p e l l e d to l a b o r . 1 wish I could q u o t e l i t e r a l l y
t h e w o r d s of A b r a h a m Lincoln w h e n he said, in s u b s t a n c e , t h a t for
e v e r y d r o p of blood d r a w n from t h e b a c k of t h e s l a v e b y t h e l a s h
w h i t e men m u s t s h e d a n o t h e r d r o p . W e h a v e d o n e so. I t h i n k w e
h a v e o v e r d o n e i t . W e h a v e u p o n t h e s t a t u t e - b o o k a t Least r e c o v e r e d from t h i s . T h a t h a t e d , despised, a n d c o n d e m n e d a n d l a s h e d
A f r i c a n s t a n d s n o w as a freeman. H e h a s o c c u p i e d t his C h a m b e r ;
h e h a s o c c u p i e d t h i s s e a t ; l i e is a v o t e r a n d a c i t i z e n . H e is s p o k e n
of* w i t h r e s p e c t in all o u r d e b a t e s , a n d if I could s p e a k of e x e c u t i v e
s e s s i o n s , w h i c h I do n o t , I c o u l d tell of t h e h i g h c o m m e n d a t i o n s g i v e n
t o i n d i v i d u a l s , e m i n e n t men a m o n g t h e m . We are as n e a r l y recove r e d from t h a t as a n a t i o n can well be a f t e r four y e a r s of awful w a r
i n w h i c h w e m a d e d u e a t o n e m e n t t o A l m i g h t y God for o u r sins.
I d o not k n o w b u t t h a t I a m p r e a c h i n g . 1 a m a l i t t l e too m u c h ,
p e r h a p s , of an old-fashioned P u r i t a n , b u t T w a s t a u g h t t o b e l i e v e
t h a t a g o v e r n m e n t n o t founded u p o n t h e t r u t h s of God w a s f o u n d e d
u p o n s a n d , a n d t h a t i t is unsafe t o d i s r e g a r d t h e m .
T h i s bill is v a s t l y i m p r o v e d , h u t 1 hold it to be still n v i o l a t i o n of
t h e t r e a t y , for as I r e a d t h e r e p o r t s o f o u r c o m m i s s i o n e r s c o n c e r n i n g
t h e i r conferences w i t h t h e C h i n e s e c o m m i s s i o n e r s I do n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e y w e r e a n t i c i p a t i n g a n y such e x c l u s i o n as even a ten
y e a r s ' l i m i t a t i o n . T h e u t m o s t of w h i c h t h e y s p e a k is five y e a r s .
T h e Impression o n e g e t s f r o m r e a d i n g t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s t h a t t h e C h i n e s e a n t i c i p a t e d , not p e r h a p s a d i m i n u t i o n o f t h e
t o t a l n u m b e r , b u t a t e m p o r a r y l i m i t a t i o n , a r e s t r i c t i o n of one y e a r ,
o r tWO y e a r s , or t h r e e y e a r s , or e v e n , it is said, to t h e e x t e n t •»t" rivo
y e a r « , or a l t e r n a t i n g y e a r s , t h e immigrnt ion so r e g u l a t e d by a c e r t a i n
ii u m b e r a d m i t t e d e a c h y e a r t h a t t h e t o t a l s h o u l d not be increased in
t h e country.
1 object v e r y seriously to t h a t section of t h e bill which p r o h i b i t s
n a t u r a l i z a t i o n , a n d 1 h a v e i n d i c a t e d p e r h a p s sufficiently m y r e a s o n s .
I t is u n d e m o c r a t i c a n d u n - A m e r i c a n . I object f u r t h e r t o c e r t a i n
v e r y odious d e t a i l s in t h i s m e a s u r e . I c a s u a l l y referred t o some of
t h e m y e s t e r d a y . I tind in t h e second section t h a t t h e m a s t e r o f a n y
vessel w h o shall k n o w i n g l y b r i n g w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s or perm i t t o be l a n d e d a n y C h i n e s e l a b o r e r shall be p u n i s h e d by a tine o f
n o t m o r e t h a n $f>MO a n d i m p r i s o n m e n t for n o t m o r e t h a n a y e a r . I
find f u r t h e r in t h e e l e v e n t h section s o m e t h i n g 1 t h i n k c o n t r a d i c t o r y
t o t h a t , or w h i c h m a y p e r h a p s r e q u i r e a t t e n t i o n from t h e friends of
the bill:
T h a t any person—

N o t a m a s t e r of a vessel alone ; h e m i g h t bo s u p p o s e d t o be moro
g i i i l t y t h a n a n y b o d y else, b u t —
T h a t any person who «hall knowingly hring into or cause to bo brought into the




28
U n i t e d S t a t e s W l a n d , or w h o shall k n o w i n g l y aid m- alx-t tin- HHM, or aid m- sfeel
t h e l a u d i n g in t In- U n i t e d State** from a n y vessel of a n y C h i n e s e person nut lawfully cut it led to e n t e r t h e United S l a t e s , shall he d e e m e d guilt V of a misdemeanor,
• rid'shall. on c o n v i c t i o n thereof, h e fined in a s u m not e x c e e d i n g $1 ,()!>", mid im[(li.uiin, il tor a term n o t e x c e e d i n g one yeiir.

The same term of imprisonment, but doable the moni-y penally.
The captafs of tin- vessel may be nned $r»oo and Imprisoned a. year,

l m t a n y c i t i z e n , w h i c h I n c l u d e s in i t s g e n e r a l t e r m , o f c o u r s e , t h o
m a s t e r o f tin*, v e s s e l a l s o , Nlia.ll h o p u n i s h e d b y a fine of $1,000 MII«1

imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year. Mind, tbisisnol alone
tho bringing in of Cbinese deliberately from China, 3.000 miles across
the sea, when tin* captain knew well what he was doing nil the time,
or might well have known, or ought to have known ; but it if* knowingly bringing in m- causing to be brought In, or knowingly aiding
o r a b e t t i n g t h e Haitie.

T h a t is t h e c l a u s e t o w h i c h t h e S e n a t o r from

Florida [ Mr. C A M , ] Instinotively objected yesterday as contrary to

h i s r e a d i n g of" o u r d o c t r i n e o f l i b e r t y a s b r o u g h t d o w n from E n g l i s h

law and history.

M r , E D M U N D S . W i l l t h e S e n a t o r from C o n n e c t icut a l l o w in<- to
s u g g e s t to h i m
Mi. H A W L E T .
Certainly.
M r . E D M U N D S . T h a t - 1 t h i n k o n a m o r e c a r e f u l r e a d i n g h e will

sec that he is mistaken In supposing that there is a difference in the
quantity of penalty in these two eases, in the first case it applies,
a s In* h a s c o r r e c t l y S t a t e d , in s e c t i o n y, t o t h e m a s t e r o f a vessel w h o
k n o w i n g l y b r i n g s i n C h i n e s e l a b o r e r s , a n d h e s h a l l b e p u n i s h e d , on

convict ioni, by a line of not mote t ban §500 for each Laborer so brought

i n . W h e n y o n c o m e t o s e c t i o n I I , it is n o w so f r a m e d , a s t h e comm i t t e e t h o u g h t , as n o t to t o u c h t h e m a s t e r a g a i n ; b u t . fust, applies
t o b r i n g i n g b y l a n d i n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; a n i l , s e c o n d l y , to a i d i n g
o r a h e t t i u g t h e b r i n g i n g in b y w a t e r . I t t h e n p r o v i d e s t h a t sncli a

person shall be deemed guilty of s misdemeanor and he punished by a
tim- not exceeding $1,000. Under t h a t section, If one aids and abet*
in landing twenty, fifty, one hundred Chinese laborers, it makes one
single <dle use ; w he teas the second section iH more intense in its punishment, 1 submit to my friend, than the eleventh section is.
Mr. IIA WI.KY. Yes, hut the eleventh section punishes any one who

a i d s o r a b e t s ill t h e l a n d i n g in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s from a n y " v e s s e l of

•• any Chinese person."

Mr. EDMUNDS.
Yes.
M r . H A W L i E Y . T h e r e f o r e , if t h e r e b e a h u n d r e d o r m o r e , iH t h e
a i d e r a n d a b e t t o r p u n i s h a b l e for b u t o n e offense, w h e n t h e l a w
t h r e a t e n s p u n i s h m e n t for a i d i n g t he l a n d i n g of " a'nv C h i n e s e p e r son ? "
M r , E D M U N D S . T h e S e n a t o r is m i s t a k e n , if h e w i l l p a r d o n m o .
T h e l a w is c l e a r in a s t a t e m e n t of t h a i k i n d .
It, h a s b e e n d e c i d e d :i
t h o u s a n d t i m e s t h a t If y o u a g g r e g a t e a h u m I t e d p e r s o n s t h e y m e r e l y
make the mass.
Cn o r d e r t o h o l d t h e m a s t e r l i a b l e t h e r e for e a c h
p e r s o n it Is n e c e s s a r y t o s a y so, a s it is s a i d in t h e s e c o n d s e c t i o n .
Mr.HAWLEY,
T h e n t h e S e n a t o r holds, a n d 1 bow to his j u d i c i a l

• onstruction, that if I should aid or abet in the binding of a thousand l could he punished no more t h a n the man who aided or abetted
in t h e l a n d i n g of o n e ; 1 c o u l d he p u n i s h e d b y a t h o u s a n d - d o l l a r

fine

ami Imprisonmenl not exceeding one year.
J{y t h e w a y , t h e t w e l f t h s e c t i o n p r o v i d e s t h a t n o C h i n e s e p e r s o n
shall be p e r m i t ted to e n t e r t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s by l a n d , a n d a n y C h i n e s e p e r s o n f o u n d n n l a w f u l l y w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d St a l e s s h a l l b e c a u s e d

to be removed by the President.




2a
I s h o u l d feel, I t h i n k , a sense of s h a m e if I w e r e e a l l e d u p o n t o
<-x p l a i n t h a t p r o v i s i o n t o a n i n t e l l i g e n t C h i n a m a n or a n i n t e l l i g e n t
e i t i z e n of a n y E u r o p e a n g o v e r n m e n t . I t h i n k I s h o u l d h a v e t o say
t o h i m t h a t m y i n d i v i d u a l preference w o u l d h a v e been t o impose t h a t
• l u t y u p o n a m a r s h a l or d e p u t y m a r s h a l , or t h e collector of a p o r t ,
o r s o m e officer of i n f e r i o r i m p o r t a n c e ; h u t b y t h i s p r o p o s e d s t a t u t e
t h e Chief M a g i s t r a t e of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s is m a d e t h e c a p t a i n of t h e
I n i n t e r s ; h e is c o m p e l l e d t o c a u s e those C h i n a m e n t o be r e m o v e d .
M r . M I L L E R , of C a l i f o r n i a . Will t h e S e n a t o r a l l o w m e to i n t e r r u p t him T
Mr. HAWLKY.
Certainly.
M r . M I L L E R , of C a l i f o r n i a . Does t h e bill say t h a t t h e P r e s i d e n t
o f tin- U n i t e d S t a t e s shall do t h i s .'
M r . H A W L E Y . I said he would h a v e to c a u s e it t o he d o n e . I
r e f e r r e d to t h e section w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h a t it. s h a l l be d o n e by d i r e c t i o n of t h e P r e s i d e n t .
M r . M I L L E R , of C a l i f o r n i a . T h a t m e a n s t h a t t h e P r e s i d e n t s h a l l
m a k e s u c h needful r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s as he m a y prescribe, a n d he
m a y d e s i g n a t e a m a r s h a l or a n y o n e else for tin* p u r p o s e ,
M r . H A W L E Y . I t is t o b e d o n e by t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e P r e s i d e n t .
H e i s t h e c h i e f of p o l i c e for t h a t p u r p o s e , a n d o u g h t t o issue a code
o f i n s t r u c t i o n t o a l l t h e d e p u t y m a r s h a l s , a n d I suppose p e r h a p s also
a. p r o c l a m a t i o n , a n d a n e a r n e s t r e q u e s t if n o t a c o m m a n d to me a n d
t o y o u a n d t o a l l of u s t o disclose a C h i n a m a n , to c a t c h h i m if we
c o u l d . I do n o t k n o w b u t h e would h a v e a u t h o r i t y to d i r e c t m e as
a, c i t i z e n , as p a r t of t h e posse comitutitH, to assist In a r r e s t i n g Btieh a.
p e r s o n or t o h a v e s o m e t h i n g to do as a w i t n e s s before t h e c o u r t t o
t h a t h e is u n l a w f u l l y h e r e . H e w o u l d call a l o n g t i m e on me
{j»r«»ve
e f o r e I s h o u l d g o u n d e r t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I t is too m u c h l i k e
i lie old f u g i t i v e - s l a v e l a w . I d o nut u n d e r s t a n d t h i s a i d i n g or a b e t t i n g t h e l a n d i n g of a C h i n a m a n . I a m v e r y s u r e if I w e r e s t a n d i n g
nit t h e w h a r f in San F r a n c i s c o or in New York, a n d l o o k i n g at t h e
l a n d i n g of p a s s e n g e r s from a ship, c o m i n g from no m a t t e r w h e r e t o
t h e l a n d of l i b e r t y , of u n i v e r s a l freedom, a n d w h e r e w e a r e forbidden
t o e x c l u d e a n y man b y r e a s o n of race, color, or p r e v i o u s c o n d i t i o n
0 f s e r v i t u d e from c i t i z e n s h i p e v e n , a n d if I s h o u l d see c o m i n g d o w n
t b e g a n g - p l a n k some y e l l o w m e n a m o n g t h e rest, I s h o u l d not t r o u b l e
m y s e l f t o i n q u i r e w h e t h e r t h e y h a d p a p e r s or n o t ; a n d y e t if I s h o u l d
h e a r a n y b o d y on b o a r d s a y , " T h e s e men a r e n o t c o m i n g , I t h i n k , u n d e r t h e l a w ; I think they have not their permits, they have not
t h e i r p a s s e s , " ( a f t e r t h e fashion of t h e old s l a v e s y s t e m , ) a n d if I
H r i o n l d say, " V e r y w e l l , I d o n o t c a r e , " I a m q u i t e s u r e I s h o u l d b e
g u i l t y of a i d i n g a n d a b e t t i n g t h e l a n d i n g of t h o s e p e o p l e , i t h i n k
u n d e r such a s t a t u t e i t w o u l d be m y d u t y t o inform t h e P r e s i d e n t of
t h e I rutted S t a t e s , so t h a t h e m i g h t c a u s e t h o s e p e o p l e t o b e r e m o v e d
u n d e r his d i r e c t i o n .
S i r , d o y o u s u p p o s e t h a t you w i l l g e t a n y b o d y t o o b e y s u c h a l a w
o u t s i d e of t h e s a n d l o t s ? W e h a v e m a d e e x p e r i m e n t s l i k e t h a t . I
r e f e r r e d c a s u a l l y t o t h a t y e s t e r d a y . I refreshed m y m e m o r y of a
b i t t e r old t i m e b y l o o k i n g a t t h e f u g i t i v e - s l a v e l a w of 1850. I t ia
n o t n e c e s s a r y t o go i n t o d e t a i l s , for t h a t t e r r i b l e l a w b u r n e d itself
i n t o t h e m e m o r i e s of t h e people of t h a t d a y ; b u t i t is e x t r a o r d i n a r y
iji i t s d e s p o t i s m . I t p r o v i d e d —
That any person who shall knowingly and willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent
Miioh claimant—
of a negro—
or shall rescue or attempt to rescue such fugitive from service or labor, * * * or
* hall aid, abet, or assist such person ao owing service or labor as aforesaid, directly




30
'.i Indirectly i<> Motp* (rem m a s .luiinnni,

* * * or abal! bsi

I»>I

>>i <MM sal

• I K 11 n t f j U i \ o — •

Shall permit htm bo sit in ashed In the hack yard ox lie thereover
ni^Jii a n d g i v e liim a rriiHi « l ' lirciul. A n y IOOO p e r n o n —
•"Tinll. for either of said offeneee, li«< subject to M B M oof <\i
Unn $1,000, »n«l
itn|n i^uiiiM. ni noi i Koeedhsg Hix months.

The penalty w as not no great MM ii \H I<> be in the case of aiding and
atut tiny the unlawful landing of a Chinaman. Moreover, when thn
inn- and i iv wai raised against the black man the law said!
A ii< I (ill g o o d « it i/< OH 111 <• I m i o l i y •'< >»! u n i o n I oil I n n i d I O K I H H M I S ! i n I ln> j>i<>ii»|it a m i

• in< i.nt execution «.t linn inw, whenever their sotrloee may be required, u* »i""
>-.tnl. f o r t h a i

|ilir|umi'.

The marshal was authorized to call out the ponnr oomitatu*, to sell
noon the bystanders ami good oiti&ens of every community to sld
him, and they were subject t o penalty If they did not go. [justify
my n *foi ifiic yostoi day to the pending bill as analogous some whet
hi i t s general character and In iin antagonism to Christianity and
humanity, and in iin non-conformity to old-fashioned Kn^liHli lawn,
to the fngitive-slave act.
Mi. BUTLER. M;i> I ask tin- Senator If the words " a i d i n g and
atn-itiri^" have not. a very well recognized meaning En the criminal
l a v of thin conn | r\ .'

Mi. IIAWM'.V. Certainly, I suppose they have, and I wrill confess
thai I do not precisely remember what it in. I am not sure but that
1 will make my ease • little stronger; I will suppose myself standing n | M.i, the vrharf. and. if yon ohoose, giving my ha ml to s Chinese
man or woman oomlng down the gang plank, and being Informed bj
the Chinaman thai he had m> pass or certificate I Invite him bonis
i<» dinner in my bouse. I will make it aiding and u.hetttn«.
Mi. BUTLER. H i e Senator certainly has not read the Law-booka,
or he would nor put that construction upon It.
Mi. IIAU k K V .

I ' h . n I w i l l Hay t h a t , I d i d a i d a n d a b e t .

Will

the gentleman give me hi* own definition of aiding and abetting f
I Hhonid be very happy to have the Senator from Vermont [ Mr. l'.i>
Mt\i»> | tell me erhat aiding and ahettingisif i t he not physical anHi-^t
ance, an housing and feeding and moral approval also. I will nuppo***
t h a t t h e moment suoh a Chinaman landed I take him to my house
and give him a froo dinner, tell him thai [ t h a n k God he oame t o my
country, teach hint what t h e flag means, and read the Declaration of
Independence to him, and ask him to send, for his trifle and children.
Would not that be aiding and abettingf
Mr. BJTTLER. He would be here then.
Mi. S A w L E Y , He would noi be here when i n r s t s a w him; he
would

b e On t h e d o c k

of the

VONMCI.

Mr. BUTLER. He must be horn when you Invite him to your
house.
Mi H A w L E T . Ho would ho on the deck of the vessel : I would
ii set him beyond the harbor, three miles beyond Sand] Nook, If you
please. I will make it aiding and abetting.
Mr EDMUNDS, if my friend from Connecticut Is really In earnest.
*

M I p r e s u m e h e Is n o t , in t a l k i n g IhiH k i n d o f l a w , I s h o u l d DC g l a d

to say t o him thai I think he will And thai what aiding and abetting
means In any unlawful enterprise, (granted that we declare it HIIH.II
not be iav\ fnl for a certain particular aesoription oft 'hinese to come, 1
in the entering Into a scheme of bringing Chinese i n t o the United
States against the law and in spite ox it, and In order to defy and




:n
# f v a d e t h e l a w . I f t h e S e n a t o r w i s h e s t o d o t h a t , it is m e r e l y b e c a u s e
h e d o e * n o t l i k e t h e l a w "and t h i n k s i t is u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l ; b u t s h o r t
o f t h a t he c o u l d n o t lie c o n v i c t e d of a i d i n g a n d a b e t t i n g a n y b o d y .
M r . H A W L E Y . I d o n o t p r e t e n d t o m e a s u r e m y k n o w l e d g e of t h e
l a w , c r i m i n a l or c i v i l , w i t h t h e S e n a t o r from V e r m o n t , b u t I v e n t u r e
t.» Kay t h a t it is q u i t e possible for one t o m a k e h i m s e l f an a i d e r a n d
• b e t t o r w i t h o u t g o i n g t o C h i n a for t h a t p u r p o s e .
Mr. E D M U N D S . I t h i n k so.
M i . H A W L E Y . I v e n t u r e t o Hay t h a t it c a n be d o n e on t h e s t r e e t
o r the wharf a t New York.
M r . B U T L E R . I t r e q u i r e s some o v e r t a c t .
Mr. EDMUNDS. I t requires both the intention and the act to
d e f e a t tin- l a w .
M r . H A W L E Y . T h e n . I say, m a k e w h a t l i m i t a t i o n s y o u please u p o n
it. men will aid a n d a b e t in spite of y o u r l a w a n d in" c o n t e m p t of i t
a n d be j u s t i f i e d b y j m b l i c s e n t i m e n t e v e n t u a l l y , as t h e y w e r e i n t h e
OJMfl of v i o l a t i o n s of t h e fugitive-slave
l a w , a n d t h a t t o a l a r g e port i o n of t h e c o u n t r y y o u r law- wfill b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y a d e a d l e t t e r , as
b e i n g a g a i n s t t h e moral s e n t i m e n t of t h e p e o p l e .
I o b j e c t t o t h e e x p r e s s i o n " l a b o r e r " w i t h o u t f u r t h e r specification
cir d e s c r i p t i o n . L e t t i n s p r o p o s e d s t a t u t e b e r e a d a h u n d r e d y e a r s
b e n e e , d u g o u t of t h e d u s t of a g e s a n d f o r g o t t e n as i t will be e x c e p t
fm a line of s n e e r b y some h i s t o r i a n , a n d a s k t h e y o u n g m a n n o t well
,d i n t h e h i s t o r y of the, c o u n t r y w h a t w a s t h e reason for e x c l u d i n g
t h e s e m e n , a n d h e would n o t be a b l e to find it in t h e l a w . H e w o u l d
Hud t h e C h i n e s e l a b o r e r e x c l u d e d for n o cause e x c e p t t h a t he is a
l a b o r e r . W i l l t h a t ; iiiHwer t h e q u e s t i o n f Is t h a t in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h
tin- do< t r i u e s of t h e d i g n i t y of l a b o r w h i c h w e h a v e t a u g h t ? If h e
g«M-H f u r t h e r for a r e a s o n , all lie can find is in t h e p r e a m b l e , w h e r e it
MH.yH t h a t t h e c o m i n g of C h i n e s e l a b o r e r s m a y e n d a n g e r go'od o r d e r .
I t h i n k t h a t is a m o n s t r o u s p r e a m b l e . I s h o u l d h a v e s u p p o s e d t h a t
w h e n t h e c o m m i t t e e h a d t i m e for sober second t h o u g h t a n d a m e n d e d
t h i s bill t h e y w o u l d h a v e in some w a y modified i t i n t h a t r e s p e c t
f M r . K A R I . K Y r o s e . ] I k n o w it is q u o t e d from t h e t r e a t y .
M i. P A R L E Y . I w a s a b o u t t o r e m a r k to t h e S e n a t o r t h a t if t h e
M t iid«-ut u h u n d r e d y e a r s h e n c e s h o u l d r e a d t h e l a w , t h e c h a n c e s a r e
, f i it, h e w o u l d also r e a d t h e t r e a t y , in w h i c h i t is p r o v i d e d t h a t s u c h
l e g i s l a t i o n may bo h a d as is set forth i n t h e b i l l .
M r . H A W L E Y . I t m a y be, b u t t h e t r e a t y does n o t disclose a n y
good p h i l o s o p h i c a l o r economic reason for i t . I t s a y s t h i s iinmiirra, «..n e n d a n g e r s t h e p e a c e of t h e c o u n t r y , t h e good o r d e r of t h e c o u n t r y , b u t t h e r e is no e x p l a n a t i o n of t h e reason w h y it e n d a n g e r s good
M r . E D M U N D S . T m i g h t m a k e a s u g g e s t i o n t o m y friend from
C o n n e c t i c u t , if it w o u l d n o t d i s t u r b h i m , on t h i s n o i n t
M r . H A W L E Y . N o t a t all.
« pouvc.
Mi. EDMUNDS
As I t h i n k h e k n o w s , I a g r e e in h i s g e n e r a l not i o n s a b o u t t h e v a l u e of u n i v e r s a l h u m a n i t y ; b u t history^ does seem
t o prove, t h a t good o r d e r on t h e Pacific coast h a s b e e n d i s t u r b e d , to
p u t it from l u s p o i n t of v i e w a n d mine, n o t b y t h e m i s c o n d u c t of
Home C h i n e s e l a b o r e r or g a n g of Chinese l a b o r e r s , b u t b y t h e s a n d | o t people, who have raided Chinatown and h a v e upset e v e r y t h i n g
w i t h c r u e l t y a n d w r o n g . T h a t t h e r e f o r e e n d a n g e r s t h e good o r d e r
o f t h e c o m m u n i t y . I t does n o t m a k e a n y difference w h i c h class of
t h e e o i n m u n i t y it is t h a t d i s t u r b s t h e p u b l i c peace, t h e p u b l i c p e a c e
b» d i s t u r b e d a m i if y o u c a n s a v e it b y g i v i n g t i m e for r e a s o n t o
r e s t o r e ltsoli a n d passion to cool, is i t n o t w i s e f




32
M r . H A W L E Y . T h e S e n a t o r f r o m V e r m o n t h a s n o t a t a l l modified
•what I w a s s a y i n g or m y i m p r e s s i o n of it. T h e s t u d e n t will read
t h e e x p r e s s i o n " e n d a n g e r s g o o d o r d e r , " a n d h i s first, t h o u g h t w i l l
be t h a t the people w h o were coining here were very bad.
Mr. E D M U N D S . T h e n he will not be a philosophical student.
M r . H A W L E Y . T h a t is w h a t t h e p r e a m b l e saj-s.
Mr. E D M U N D S . Oh, no.
M r . H A W L E Y . L e t u s set- :
Whereas in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of
Chinese laborers to this m u u t r y endangers the good order of certain localities
withiii the territory thereof.
M r . E D M U N D S . I t is n o t t h e p e o p l e "who c o n i c w h o e n d a n g e r i t
o f t h e m s e l v e s , b u t i t is tin* a c t of c o m i n g . T h a t d o e s n o t i m p l y t h a t
i t i s t h e a c t o f t h e p e o p l e w h o c o m e , b u t t h a t t h e f a c t e x i s t i n g of
t h e i r c o m i n g h e r e p r o d u c e s a d i s t u r b a n c e . W e all k n o w t h a t it does
produce a d i s t u r b a n c e ; but I believe with my friend, in general, t h a t
it is w i t h o u t t h e i r fault.
M r . H A W L E Y . T h e S e n a t o r Arena V e r m o n t , I u n d e r s t a n d , b e l i e v e s
t h a t i t i s w i t h o u t t h e f a u l t of t h e C h i n e s e ?
Mr. E D M U N D S .
In g e n e r a l I t h i n k so.
M r . H A W L E Y . I t h i n k a n y s t r a n g e r t<> t h i s h i s t o r y r e a d i n g t h e
p r e a m b l e w o u l d s a y t h a t The f a u l t d o e s a p p e a r o n t h e f a c e of i t
t o l i e w i t h , t h e C h i n a m a n . I t a p p e a r s t o b e a f a c t t h a t if t h e C h i nese l a b o r e r s c o m e h e r e , s o m e b o d y o u o u r soil w i l l t r e s p a s s u p o n t h e
p e r s o n a l r i g h t s a n d n a t u r a l r i g h t s of t h e C h i n a m a n , w h i c h i s t h e
fact.
Mr. E D M U N D S . T h e n let us protect the C h i n a m e n b y h a v i n g
t h e m hold up a little while until they get over their trouble.
Mr. H A W L E Y . B u t unless there be some reason beyond t h a t our
first d u t y is t o c o m p e l t h e p e o p l e o n o u r o w n s h o r e t o ' o b e y t h e l a w .
T h a t is t h e first q u e s t i o n ; i t i s n o t t o s a y t h a t t h e s e s a n d - l o t r i o t s
a r e t o b e e x c u s e d . T h e m o b s of C a l i f o r n i a or of a n y o t h e r p a r t of
t h e country would be excused upon t h a t ground. A statesman and
a n e x e c u t o r of t h e l a w s o f t h i s c o u n t r y h a s n o r i g h t t o b e g i n b y t h e
r e m o v a l of t h e i n n o c e n t p a r t y .
I protest against that doctrine.
I
h a d m y first l e s s o n i u t h e p u t t i n g d o w n of m o b l a w d u r i n g t h e t h e a t e r r i o t s of N e w Y o r k i n 1849, w h e n a s a y o u t h I w a s i n a n d o u t o f
t h o t h e a t e r b o t h of the. r i o t o u s n i g h t s , a u d I w a s n e v e r m o r e p r o u d
of t h e e x e c u t i o n of l a w in m y c o u n t r y a s w h e n I h e a r d t h e r a t t l e o f
m u s k e t r y u n d e r t h e w i n d o w s of t h e t h e a t e r a n d s t o o d t h e r e c l o s e t o
t h e w a l l a n d w a t c h e d t h e s h o o t i n g d o w n of t w e n t y - f i v e of t h e m o b .
I w e n t t h e second n i g h t w i t h the greatest satisfaction to the t h e a t e r
b e c a u s e M r . M a c r e a d y w a s i n v i t e d b y t h e leajLing c i t i z e n s of NewYork to come there and repeat his performance, though, under the
v i e w of t h e S e n a t o r from V e r m o n t , M a c r e a d y s h o u l d h a v e been r e m o v e d from N e w York b e c a u s e h i s coining t h e second n i g h t w a s
g o i n g to e n d a n g e r t h e good order of society.
M r . E D M U N D S . T h e - S e n a t o r is e n t i r e l y m i s t a k e n , a n d h e e n t i r o l y
misrepresenfs m e . w i t h o u t m e a n i n g to do it. Mr. M a c r e a d y h a d a
n a t u r a l r i g h t , u n d e r t h e l a w a s it stood, t o go w h e r e be did a n d d o
w h a t h e d i d , a n d p r o b a b l y it w a s a w i s e t h i n g for l a w a n d g o o d o r d e r
t h a t all t h e forces w h i c h he a n d h i s f r i e n d s a n d t h e l a w c o u l d m u s t e r s h o u l d c a r r y it o u t . I m a i n t a i n t h a t n o f o r e i g n e r h a s a n a t u r a l
right to come to t h i s c o u n t r y at all. If I a m w r o n g a b o u t t h a t , m y
w h » l e c a s e is g o n e . I t t u r n s u p o n o u r o w n j u d g m e n t o f w h a t i s w i s e
for o n r o w n w e l f a r e . I f t h a t b e so, t h e f o r e i g n e r h a v i n g n o n a t u r a l
r i g h t t o c o m e , i f h i s c o i n i n g p r o d u c e s , w i t h n o f a u l t of h i e , a r i o t a n d




S3
d i s c o n t e n t o f - w i c k e d m e n on a n y coast, b e it E a s t or W e s t , t h a t dist u r b s t h e p e a c e a n d good o r d e r of i n n o c e n t m e n as well a n d u p s e t s
s o c i e t y , t h e n I s a y i t is w i s e for t h a t s o c i e t y t o h o l d u p a l i t t l e w h i l e
a n d see w h a t c a n b e s t b e d o n e n e x t . T h a t is t h e d i s t i n c t i o n . I h o p e
m y friend sees it.
M r . H A W L E Y . T h a t is n o t t h e p r e c i s e p o i n t of d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n u s . I h o l d t h e first d u t y of a d e c e n t g o v e r n m e n t t o b e t o
compel t h e rioter to be silent, t h a t t h e l a w - m a k e r s m a y h a v e t i m e
t o consider whether they will exclude the men hereafter or not.
M r . K D M U N D S . So t h a t i f t h e n i h i l i s t o r w h a t e v e r c r i m i n a l m a y
e x i s t in a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y
Mr. H A W L E Y .
T h a t is d o d g i n g t h e q u e s t i o n . T h e S e n a t o r s a y s
a " nihilist or a n y other criminal."
Mr. E D M U N D S . I k n o w , b u t w e a r e o n t h e p r i n c i p l e of t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e G o v e r n m e n t can say to a n y foreigner, " W a i t u n t i l
w e c a n g e t o u r o w n s t a t e of s o c i e t y s o t h a t i t m a y b e w i l l i n g t o r e c e i v e y o u . " T h e n i h i l i s t , t h e m u r d e r e r of k i n g s a n d p r i n c e s , a n d of
all o t h e r p e o p l e w h o do n o t a g r e e w i t h h i m , chooses to say, " I t is a
l i t t l e t o o h o t for u s i n R u s s i a , o r G e r m a n y " — o r w h e r e v e r it m a y b e ,
t h e socialist, t h e c o m m u n i s t in Paris says, " T h e Republic c a n n o t
s t a n d u s a n y m o r e , a n d it is t o o h o t f o r u s h e r e ; w e w i l l n o w a l l
e m i g r a t e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s * " T h e y c o m e . T h e p e o p l e of N e w
L o n d o n a n d B u r l i n g t o n , a n d so o n , d o n o t w a n t t h a t s o r t o f p e o p l e ;
t h e y arc not t h e i r k i n d , a n d t h e y are d i s c o n t e n t e d at it. N o w , m y
f r i e n d s a y s , if I u n d e r s t a n d h i m , " L e t t h e m t o m e i n ; d o n o t s t o p to.
i n q u i r e t h e p r o p r i e t y of t h e i r c o m i n g , b u t f i r s t l e t t h e m c o m e i n
peace, ami establish themselves and their doctrines, a n d t h e n consider t h e m a t t e r . " I do not agree to t h a t .
Mr. H A W L E Y .
I a m glad the Senator does not, because I do n o t
k n o w a n y b o d y s o foolish a s t o d o s o .
M r . E D M U N D S . I t is t h e s a m e c a s e e x a c t l y .
M r . H A W L E Y . N o t a t all. I w a s n o t t a l k i n g of m e n k n o w n as
t h e p o l i t i c a l t h u j a s of t h e w o r l d , u n i v e r s a l c o n s p i r a t o r s a n d m u r d e r e r s , n o r w a s I s p e a k i n g of c r i m i n a l s of a n y d e s c r i p t i o n .
I was
s p e a k i n j i of a p e u c e a b l e , i n d u s t r i o u s , t o o e c o n o m i c a l a n d c a r e f u l
c l a s s of people, w h o c o m e t o t h i s c o u n t r y .
M r . E D M I N D S . T h e n it comes to a m e r e question of e x p e d i e n c y .
Y o u h a v e t o fndgrfc first.
Mr. H A W L E Y .
I t is a q u e s t i o n of e x p e d i e n c y w h e t h e r w e w i l l
e x c l u d e t h e m or not. T i n y are n o t criminals. T h e y are confessedly,
a c c o r d i n g to all m e n ' s t e s t i m o n y , not d o i n g a n y t h i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o
d i s t u r b t h e p e a c e of a n y c o m m u n i t y . T h e y arc h e r e u n d e r a solemn,
t r e a t y with the same right to protection that Maeready had.
They
labor. They labor too much. They work. They work too cheaply ;
t h e y s a v e t o o m u c h m o n e y , a n d t h e r e f o r e c e r t a i n p e o p l e in t h i s e o u n t r y a r e so d i s s a t i s f i e d ' w i t h t h e i r c o m i n g t h a t t h e y r a i s e r i o t s a n d
t h r e a t e n greater riots.
W h a t d i d I s e e o n t h e floor of t i n 1 S e n a t e ? 1 s a w a S e n a t o r a r g u i n g i n s u p p o r t of t h i s b i l l a n d a n o t h e r S e n a t o r r i s i n g w h e n t h e
q u e s t i o n of c o n s i d e r a t i o n w a s r a i s e d a n d a s k i n g w h a t w a s t h e c o n dition of p u b l i c s e n t i m e n t on t h e Pacific coast, a n d t h e S e n a t o r w h o
w a s a n x i o u s t o b r i n g t h e b i l l u p s a i d t h e r e w a s a c o n d i t i o n of v e r y
g r e a t e x c i t e m e n t o v e r t h e r e , a n d t h e r e -was d a n g e r o f r i o t , a m i t h a t
w a s c o n s i d e r e d a n a r g u m e n t in t h e A m e r i c a n S e n a t e in f a v o r of i m m e d i a t e l y b r i n g i n g u p t h e h i l l for c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T h e A m e r i c a n S e n a t e ,
s h o u l d h a v e s a i d , ' ' T h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h i s q u e s t i o n i s p o s t p o n e d
o n e m o n t h . G e n e r a l S h e r m a n , k e e p o r d e r on t h e Pacific coast.
They
3 HA




;u
raise the queation of riot or no r i o t ; we will have oo donate on that
question," That iN what 11 •«- American Senate ought to have said*
Mr. PARLEY. Will iln- Senator allow me a momentt
Mi. HAWLEY. Certainly.
Mr. FARLEY. The Senator I suppose refers to the remark I made
in the Senate.
Mi. S A W L E T . [ do n o t remember really who it w a s ; I remember that it came from thai side of tin- Chamber.
Mr. FARLEY. At the time t h<" proposition was made t o refer the
veto message and bill to the Committee on Foreign Relations, after
tin* original bill had been vetoed, I stated as ail objection to such •
i.• iV-r<-ii»-<- that tin* people on tin* Pacific coast writ* anxious anil excited over the proposed veto and that there was perhaps danger of
violence, violence having been heretofore resorted to in my State:
hut the better classes of people, all classes, nol the sand-lotters thai
my friend from Connecticut refers to, hut the most respectable peo>le in thai State, united in order to avoid that state or t h i n g s ; and
Mated Unit the excitemenl there was so greal that they were a (raid

1o f v i o l e n c e

in tin* m i d s t o f t h a i g r e a l

turmoil.

I want to <ori.it tin* Senator En another statemenl which In- made
in regard to tin- sentiment of the people of the Pacific coast, and
particularly of California. Tin* reeling there is not confined to the
elemenl thai hi* has referred to, the sand-lol element. It extends
throughout the entire State, embracing all classes, merchants, farmera, lawyers. The mayor of tin- city of San Francisco, a leading
Republican, a man who has been probate judge and county judge ox
that <ity for years and years, publishes to the world his views upon
this subject, and does not go further than the people the Senator
refers to, who have been sand-lotters, except in their violent way of
expressing themselves. The people of that State, 163,000 out of
161,000 voters, voted again si tin* further immigration of Chinese
into this country and excluding those who arc here if we could do
-o l e g i t i m a t e l y i i m l c r t h e f o r u m of l a w .
Mr. R A W L E Y .
I a m Well a w a r e t h a t a m a j o r i t y o f t h e p e o p l e o f

California love peace and will obey t h e l a w ; bul t h e y a r
>' the people to whom I refer, it runs through all of the gentleman's own
statemenl .just made that then- is an element la California of which

hi* w a n a f r a i d , a n d h e h a d g o o d r e a s o n t o a n t i c i p a t e t h e o p e n , dsfir
:int v i o l a t i o n n f l a w if w o d i d n o t a c t KJ
lily u p o n t h i s s u b j e c t .
M r . F A R L E Y . I d i d n o t n a y t h a t I w a s a f r a i d of a n y p a r t i c u l a r e h v
iiient of t h e S t a t e . T h e w h o l e j
p i e o f t h e S t a t e w e r e a l a r m e d for
f e a r t h a t t h e r e w o u l d h e r i o t o r v i o l e n c e . I d i d n o t nay by w h o m ;

I did not say by the sand-lotters or any other cla.su of people.
Mr. HAwLEY. I will not bring t h e gentleman into such a con

d i t i o n an t o p r e j u d i c e h i m w i t h t h e HUiid-Iotters, if I c a n h e l p i t .

He

has just said and repeated it t h a t the people of that «<>asi wen* greatly
apprehensive t h a t a certain element known a s sand-lot people would

h r e a k o u t i n t o o p e n v i o l e n c e i f w e d i d not a c t s p e e d i l y .
EfehaSSaid
t h a t t h r e e 1 i m e s o v e r n o w . T h a t is a l l I Haul t o l>ee;iii w i t h .
llutl
h a v e p r o l o n g e d these r e m a r k s fourfold b e y o n d w h a t I i n t e n d e d .
Mr. F R Y E .
B e f o r e t h e •Senator Hits d o w n I w a n t t o c a l l b i s a t t e n t i o n t o One p o i n t t h a i lie ha N not, not i c e d ,
M r . I I A W L K Y . C e r t a i n l y . I m a r k e d Hcvcral p o i n t s in t h e b i l l ,
lint J d i d n o t c a r e t o p r o l o n g t h e d e b a t e .
M r . F R Y E , S e c t i o n l o i n t h e most o u t r a g e o u s o n e of t h e w h o l e
l o t ; u n d e r w h i c h , if M r . L o w , of N e w Y o r k , s e n d s a s h i p w o r t h $UH),iHH)
to C h i n a t o b u y t e a , a n d t h e m a s t e r of t h e s h i p t a k e n a C h i n a m a n




35
» n d b r i n g s h i m i n t o S a n F r a n c i s c o , t h e m a s t e r m a y b e lined $500 a n d
imprisoned one year, a n d in addition to t h a t t h e vessel-owners are
p u n i s h e d b y a tine of $100,000; t h a t is, a forfeiture of t h e s h i p w i t h out any remedy whatever.
Mr. 1 I A W L E Y . I t h a n k t h e S e n a t o r . I h a d m a r k e d t h a t s e c t i o n
on t h i s c o p y of t h e b i l l p a r t i c u l a r l y . I call a t t e n t i o n t o t h a t a g a i n :
That every vessel -whose master shall knowingly violate any of the provisions
of this act shall bo deemed forfeited to the United States, and shall be liable to
seizure and condemnation in any district of t h e United States into which such vessel may enter or in which she may be found.

T h e m a n w h o k n o w i n g l y b r i n g s one C h i n a m a n o v e r h e r e i l l e g a l l y
is to he lined $500 a n d i m p r i s o n e d one y e a r , a n d t h e $200,000 c l i p p e r
s h i p is l i a b l e t o s e i z u r e a n d forfeiture.
Mr. P r e s i d e n t , t h e s e t h i n g s o v e r l e a p t h e m s e l v e s . W h e n t h i s q u e s t i o n w a s t a k e n u p y e s t e r d a y , I t o o k t h e bill a n d s i l e n t l y t h o u g h t " t h e y
h a v e r e a l l y modified t h e b i l l a good d e a l n o w , a n d 1 w i l l r e a d a l o n g
>atiently a n d t r y t o a v o i d s a y i n g a n o t h e r w o r d on t h i s q u e s t i o n ;
I am overridden; I am temporarily in the minority, but I can w a i t . "
I r e a d o n , a n d r e a d on, u n t i l I c a m e t o t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s , a n d t h e n
I u t t e r e d five l i n e s of d e n u n c i a t i o n — I could n o t h e l p it. I l e a v e
t h e bill t o p o s t e r i t y for i t s c o n d e m n a t i o n . I p l a n t m y s e l f h e r e n o w ,
t h i s m o m e n t , on t h e g r o u n d of u n c o n d i t i o n a l h o s t i l i t y a n d d e n u n c i a t i o n . I w i l l m a k e n o t e r m s -with i t n o w or e l s e w h e r e , h e r e o r
hereafter, a t a n y time.

i




/

36
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
May 3, 1882.

RELIEF OF OR. A. SIDNEY TEBBS.
T H E REPEAT. OK HKCTION 1 2 1 8 R E V I S E D S T A T U T E S , W H I C H I'REVENTS P E R S O N S E N GAGED IS T H E REBELLION FROM H O L D I S f i COMMISSIONS IN T H E ARMY OR N A V V .

The Sonata, as in Committee of the "Whole, having under consideration the hill
(S. No. 21«!> for the relief of J>r. A. Sidney Tehbs—

Mr. H A W L E Y said:
M r . 1 ' R E S I D K N T : I n some r e s p e c t s I g r e a t l y r e g r e t t h a t t h i s d e b a t e
liaH a r i s e n . I h a v e k e p t s i l e n t w h e n t h e r e w e r e m a n y t h i n g s t o
w h i c h 1 w o u l d h a v e been g l a d t o r e p l y . A s e c t i o n a l discussion, or
r a t h e r a discussion r e v i v i n g t h e issues of t h e w a r , h a s b e e n p r e c i p i t a t e d upon t h e S e n a t e , n o t b y t h e a c t i o n of a n y R e p u b l i c a n Sena t o r . T h e o r i g i n a l bill for t h e relief of M r . T e b b s , w h i c h w o u l d
have permitted him under t h e usual proper regulations to enter
t h e s e r v i c e of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w o u l d h a v e passed t h i s C h a m b e r
w i t h o u t a n objection. I t w a s a n e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e of a m a n w h o had.
e n g a g e d i n t h e w a r , on t h e c o n f e d e r a t e side, i n t h e d a y s of his ext r e m e y o u t h , a n d w h o is b e l i e v e d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s
•of h i s friends, t o b e a m a n of e x c e l l e n t c h a r a c t e r a n d qualification*.
I k n o w of nobody w h o w o u l d h a v e o b j e c t e d to h i s b e c o m i n g a n A r m y
s u r g e o n ; b u t t h e r e u p o n comes a S e n a t o r , e x c l u d e d h i m s e l f b y section 121)- from a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o t a k e s e r v i c e i n t h e A r m y of t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s — h e m a y n o t d e s i r e i t , b u t h e is e x c l u d e d b y l a w — a n d
m o v e s t o repeal t h a t s t a t u t e .
Speech a f t e r speech h a s been m a d e u p o n i t on t h e "Democratic side ;
o n l y t w o S e n a t o r s ( a n d t h e y v e r y briefly i n d e e d ) h a v e said a n y t h i n g
u p o n t h i s side to r e v i v e t h e s e old q u e s t i o n s . I am w i l l i n g t o let t h e m
rest.
Time is d i s p o s i n g of m a n y of t h e m w i t h o u t a r g u m e n t . B u t
w e h a v e h e a r d from a n u m b e r of g e n t l e m e n affected by t h i s p a r t i c u l a r sect ion a p p e a l s t o us t o w i p e t h i s s t a t u t e off, n o t u p o n t h e g r o u n d
t h a t t i m e h a s m a d e it u n n e c e s s a r y , b u t u p o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t w a s
originally wrong.
I t is n o t r e p e a l t h a t t h e y a s k , b u t r e p e n t a n c e .
T h e m o m e n t t b e y t a k e t h a t g r o u n d t h e y s o u n d the l o n g roll a n d c a l l
i n t o line t h e forces t h a t o r g a n i z e d t w e n t y y e a r s a g o for a n d a g a i n s t
t h e U n i o n . I s a y t h e w a r for t h e U n i o n w a s r i g h t ; I s a y t h e w a r
a g a i n s t t h e Union was wrong ; b u t t h e r e a r e m e n here who have
tried t o m a k e us b e l i e v e t h a t i t d i d n o t m a k e m u c h difference w h i c h
s i d e t h e y w e r e on, a n d t h a t b y t h i s t i m e i t does not m a k e any differ
n i c e how t h e S e n a t e of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s v o t e s as t o w h i c h w a s r i g h t
and which was wrong.
T h e S e n a t o r from I n d i a n a tells us we d i d n o t t i g h t for h u m a n l i b e r t y .
I a m g r e a t l y t e m p t e d t o d e v o t e t h r e e or four m i n u t e s t o b r u s h i n g
a w a y sonic c o m m o n t r a s h u p o n t h a t s u b j e c t .
T h e C o n g r e s s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e N o r t h a n d t h e
l o y a l s e n t i m e n t of t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y , w a s p e r f e c t l y t r i l l i n g t o s e e
t h e r e b e l s l a y d o w n t h e i r a r m s a n d t h e flag w a v e t r i u m p h a n t l y a n d
peacefully o v e r t h e w h o l e U n i o n , e v e n if s l a v e r y d i d c o n t i n u e t o
e x i s t . T h a t is t r u e , a n d one c a n n o t infer more t h a n t h a t . M r . L i n coln voiced t h e l o y a l s e n t i m e n t of t h e c o u n t r y w h e n h e s a i d t h a t he
w a s w i l l i n g t o r e s t o r e t h e U n i o n even if s l a v e r y r e m a i n e d —
Mr. V O O R H E E S . I m a y h a v e m i s u n d e r s t o o d t h e S e n a t o r . D o e s
the Senator represent me as saying t h a t t h e North did n o t tight t o
restore t h e Union ?



37
Mr. H A W L E Y .
No. This was the Senator's expression—I wrote
i t d o w n a t t h e t i m e — t h a t t h e N o r t h " d i d n o t t i g h t fox u i i i v e r s . i l
l i b e r t y / ' On t h a t point t h e S e n a t o r took issue w i t h t h e S e n a t o r

from Kansas.
Mr. V O O B H E E S .

Yes.

Mr. H A W L E Y .
N o w , sir, l e t u s deal f r a n k l y a n d t r u l y w i t h t h i s
question.
I never w a s either a W h i g or a D e m o c r a t , h u t an old

Abolitionist and ;i Radical from t h e beginning.

1 do not know what

the word " S t a l w a r t " implies, h u t very likely I a m not stalwart
enough. I never belonged to any party that did not ti^ht slavery
f r o m t h e t i m e 1 b e c a m e a v o t e r , in t h e a u t u m n o f 1847. A g r e a t d e a l
o f n o n s e n s e is t a l k e d o n t h i s s u b j e c t .
T h e issue t h a t shook t h i s c o n tinent and t h o world w a s ono b e t w e e n h u m a n liberty and h u m a n
s h i v e r y . T h a t is e x a c t l y w h a t it w a s ; d i s g u i s e d , d i v e r t e d , i n m a n y
w a y s concealed, sometimes denied, t h a t w a s t h e issue at t h e foundation of t h e jrreat stnif^gle.
T h e s e n t i m e n t of t h e free p e o p l e of t h e c o u n t r y s a i d t h a t s l a v e r y
m u s t n o t g o i n t o t h e T e r r i t o r i e s ; i t s a i d t h a t t h e r e p e a l of t h e M i s s o u r i c o m p r o m i s e w a s a n o u t r a g e 11)1011 t h e p l i g h t e d f a i t h o f t h e n a t i o n ; a n d t h a t s e n t i m e n t . c a r r i e d t h e P r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n o f 1360
u n d e r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l f o r m s . A p o r t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y u n d e r t o o k t o
Secede. E v e n t h o s e w i t h w h o m I u n i t e d a n d s y m p a t h i z e d , e v e n t h e
Abolitionists themselves, were perfectly willing to leave the destruct i o n of s h i v e r y t o l e g i t i m a t e n a t u r a l c a u s e s a n d p o l i t i c a l i n t l u e n c e s
under the Constitution; b u t they were never willing to say that
t hey desired t h a t slavery m i g h t live, n e v e r willing to accept it, never
w i l l i n g t o g i v e s l a v e r y a n y color of n a t u r a l r i g h t ; a n d w h e n t h e
•war b r o k e , o u t a n d C o n g r e s s d i d m a k e t h e d e c l a r a t i o n s t o w h i c h I
h a v e r e f e r r e d , t h a t if t h e r e b e l s w o u l d c o m e b a c k h e r e a n d l a y d o w n
t h e i r a r m s t h e N o r t h w o u l d let s h i v e r y a l o n e a s it w a s , t h e y s i m p l y
m e a n t t h a t t h e y w o u l d k i l l it iu t h e i r o w n peaceful w a y . * T h a t is
what they meant and they never should have told the South a n y t h i n g
else, b e c a u s e a n y t h i n g else w a s n o t f r a n k and c a n d i d . T h e y did d e n y
t h e r i g h t to e x t e n d it i n t o t h e T e r r i t o r i e s . T h e y c l a i m e d t h a t t h e
C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d policy of this c o u n t r y f u n d a m e n t a l l y a n d g e n e r a l l y
w e r e i n f a v o r of u n i v e r s a l l i b e r t y : t h a t s h i v e r y w a s a l o c a l e x c e p t i o n ; t h a t i t h a d s o m e m e a s u r e , o r t o l e r a t i o n ; t h a t t h e y w e r e ^willing
t o s e e i t a b o l i s h e d b y m e a n s of v a r i o u s m e a s u r e s of g r a d u a l e m a n c i p a t i o n in o b e d i e n c e t o t h e m o r a l a n d r e l i g i o u s s e n t i m e n t of t h e w o r l d .
A i l t h a t t h e y said ; b u t t h a t t h e y w e r e w i l l i n g t o g u a r a n t e e it t h e y
n e v e r s a i d , n o r c o u l d y o u h a v e e v e r g o t t h e l o y a l s e n t i m e n t of t h i s
c o u n t r y to promise t h a t slavery should live one h u n d r e d years, or
fifty y e a r s , o r t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s a s t h e p r i c e o f s a v i n g t h e U n i o n .
W h e n t h e l i n e s w e r e d r a w n , to tell t h e t r u t h before G o d a n d m a n .
it w a s e s s e n t i a l l y a w a r b e t w e e n s l a v e r y a n d l i b e r t y .
T h e c h a m p i o n s o f t h e U n i o n p o s t p o n e d t h e t i m e of t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n of u n i v e r s a l e m a n c i p a t i o n — d e l a y e d , a n d d e l a y e d , a n d d e l a y e d
m e a s u r e s t o t h a t e n d , h o p i n g , a n d h o p i n g , a n d h o p i n g for u n i o n
without resort to radical action ; but the time came when they proc l a i m e d f r e e d o m , a n d from t h a t m o m e n t on t h e r e w a s a n e w tire i n
t h e h e a r t o f t h e p e o p l e of t h i s c o u n t r y , a n d w h e n t h e y B a n g t h e
s o n g of J o h n B r o w n i t w a s n o t m e r e s e n t i m e n t .
I t put red-hot
b l o o d i n e v e r y v e i n o f t h e s o l d i e r s of o u r A r m y ; a n d o l d D e m o c r a t s ,
o l d W h i g s , o l d F r e e s o i l e r s j o i n e d i u i t . T h e first r e g i m e n t I h e a r d of
as singing t h a t famous refrain w a s one c o m m a n d e d by Fletcher
"Webster, son of t h e g r e a t e x p o u n d e r a n d d e f e n d e r .
From that
t i m e t h e w a r w e n t on. I t w a s t h r e e y e a r s before t h i s N o r t h e r n people were in earnest. They drew their lines and adopted again and
a g a i n t h e simile of Winfield S c o t t — t h e a n a c o n d a d r a w n a r o u n d t h e
S o u t h e r n confederacy w o u l d s t r a n g l e it. Thev waited a n d t h e y






38
t e m p o r i s e d a n d t h e y p a l t e r e d . I t w a s n o t u n t i l the. w i n t e r of lH63-'6s"
t h a t t h e c o n v i c t i o n r e a l l y ciiino t o t h e p e o p l e o f t h e N o r t h thiit t h e
w h o l e B o o t h — m a n y of u s k n e w i t w e l l l o n g b e f o r e — w a s dead in
e a r n e s t in t h i s m a t t e r .
I t wiw n o t , E m a y s a y , u n t i l t h e s p r i n g ©i
1864 t h a t t h e n a l inn r e a l l y r a l l i e d w i t h all i t s ' full p o w e r : innl.r s i r ,
if w e h a d n o t w o n in 1864 w e s h o u l d h a v e c o n t i n u e d it in lH*'k>; it
w e h a d not w o n in 1866 w e Hhouhl h a v e c o n t i n u e d it till 1868, DOc a i i w if I m a y j u d g e by t h o s e a r o u n d m e w e h a d b u t b e g u n to u g h l

and hut begun to die HO lone; UH the Union vrai not preserved.
Lei us fcwik sincerely and candidly. My Southern friends, after
we had t a k e n t h i s g r o u n d — t h e Union must a n d shall be m a i n t a i n e d ,

there la no institution or system of any description whatever that
s h a l l s t a n d in t h e w a y o f i t — i f w e w e r e right c e r t a i n t h i n g s lojdcall \

and necessarily followed. We say ire were right, How are we evei
going to decide t Soine Senator says God only knows. I how rsi
crently and admit it ; hut there are certain ways of arriving at thai
which musi be accepted as right anions men, and the last awful and

g r e a t r e s o r t is t h e t r i b u n a l Of w a r . W e c o u l d u,o n o f u r t h e r .
W«
s u b m i t t e d to t h a t , a n d that w h i c h w o o f t h e Union call right w o n ;

and therefore, so far as human laws and institutions and duties sre

c o n c e r n e d , L e a v i n g f u r t h e r j u d g m e n t t o t h e J u d g m e n t D a y , so
a s w e p r a c t i c a l l y a r e c o n c e r n e d , o u r s i d e w a n a n d Is right.

far

Nor will I vote for any measure, however trifling in importance
it may appear, which demands that. I shall repent of anything that
was a logical Incident to the one grand purpose. I t w a s r i g h l bo

raise troops, it wan r i g h t t o i n c u r d e b t , it w a s r i g h t to proclaim
e m a n c i p a t i o n , it w a s r i g h t t o d i s f r a n c h i s e rebels, it w a s r i g h t t o e o n n n c a t e , it w a s r i g h t t o f o r b i d r e b e l s h o l d i n g office in t h e A r m y , i t
w a s r i g h t t o d o e v e r y o n e of a h u n d r e d l o g i c a l l y i n c i d e n t t h i n g s t h a t
we did do to carry out t h e one g r e a t purpose.
I k n o w t h a t a s t i m e p a s s e s w e a r e w i l l i n g t o m o d i f y a n d we o u g h t
to modify,
(iencral G r a n t did not wait to ride t h r o u g h Richmond
nor P e t e r s b n r g h , he hardly waited to brush the dust or take a meal
b e f o r e h e t e l e g r a p h e d from A p p o m a t t o x t o W a s h i n g t o n t o s t o p rec r u i t i n g , a n d t h e n f o l l o w e d p e a c e a n d t h e r a p i d d i s b a n d m e i i t OX t h e
g r e a t A r m y , a n d t h e n c a m e t h e p a i n f u l d u t i e s of r e c o n s t r u c t i o n ,
m o r e e m b a r r a s s i n g t h a n t h e n e c e s s i t i e s of w a r , a n d m e a s u r e a f t e r
measure w a s passed.
It was a queer time, a strange time. There
w e r e p r o b l e m s t h a t p u z z l e d t h e s t a t e s m e n of t h e w o r l d , a n d w e b l u n d e r e d p e r h a p s . So w e d i d ; I w i l l a d m i t i t ; w e s t u m b l e d a n d s t a g g e r e d a l o n g , b u t yet n e v e r t h e l e s s w i t h t h e g r e a t r e s o l u t e pUTUUSS

to establish the Union and establish universal liberty, I affirm that
w o d i d t h e best w e c o u l d , a n d a s t o a l l t h e g r e a t c h i e f m e a s u r e s , 1
say more t h a n t h a t , we did right, a n d w h a t e v e r o u r kindly feeling
m a y be t o w a r d a n y h u m a n b e i n g , I s u b m i t t h a t t h e m o s t a r d e n t c o n federate
T h e P R E S I D I N G O F F I C E R , (Mr, ll.vicmsin t h e . h a i r . ) T h e h o u r

of two o'clock having arrived, if become* the duty of the c h a i r to
lav before the Senate the unfinished business.
Mr. HOAR, I ask unanimous consent thai the Senator from Cos
necticui may conclude his remarks. [ " G o o n l " " t i n m i ! " )
The PRESIDING OFFICER.

Is t h e r e o b j e c t ion !

The ( )ha i l h e a r s

none, and the Senator from Connecticut will proceed.
Mr. 1IAWLKV. All these measures of reconstruction, all t h e e h i e i

a n d principal m e a s u r e s I hold were l i g h t , a n d I was.iLont to a p p e a l

to t h e most resolute and earnest confederate, and the bravest and

a b l e s t soldier a n d sta t c s m a n a m o n g • hem w i t h t his q u e s t i o n : W o n hi
yOU a s k m e t o g i v e a n J v o l e h e r e t h a t , w o u l d s a y t h a t WC in t h e field

or those who legislated here were wnmn f
Mi. B U T L E R .

l i a s a n y b o d y a s k e d t h e S e n a t o r to do so?

3D
Mr. H A W L E Y . Yes.
Mr. B U T L E R . W h e r e a n d w h e n ?
Mr, H A W L E Y . In t h e a p p e a l s m a d e on t h i s very bill.
Mr. B U T L E R . W h y , Mr. P r e s i d e n t , h a s a n y b o d y a s k e d t h e Seun t i i r to do a n y t h i n g of t h a t k i n d ? I confess, a f t e r all t h i s discuss i o n , I do not'.see on t h e face of t h e e a r t h w h a t t h a t w h i c h h e h a s
en t a l k i n g a b o u t h a s t o do w i t h it. Because I g e t u p on t h e floor
o f t h e Senate a n d say t h a t 1 t h i n k it is u n w i s e for a s t a t u t e t o rem a i n on 1 be s t a t u t e - b o o k , w h a t e v e r m a y h a v e been i t s r i g h t f u l n e s s
o r wrongfulness a t t h e t i m e , b e c a u s e I say I t h i n k it is u n w i s e t o
• •onttmie it, the .Senator l a s h e s h i m s e l f i n t o a fury.
Mr. H A W L E Y . No, n o . ,
Mr. B U T L E R . H e r e a d s tis a l e c t u r e ; h e t a l k s a b o u t p r o s e c u t i n g
• be war to abolish s l a v e r y , a n d a b o u t d e s t r o y i n g people. T h e r e is
n o t h i n g on t h e face of t h e e a r t h to j u s t i f y t h e discussion t h a t I can
I Inive t a k e n i m p a r l in t h i s d e b a t e b e c a u s e I do n o t t h i n k it
is a m a t t e r of c o n s e q u e n c e .
Ml. H A W L E Y . Is t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n .'
Mr. B U T L E R . B u t t h e S e n a t o r called for m y q u e s t i o n .
Mr. H A W L E Y . J claim t h e floor.
Mr. B U T L E R . Because I said
H i P R E S I D I N G O F F I C E R . T h e S e n a t o r from C o n n e c t i c u t de< Inn - tn yield f u r t h e r .
Mr H A W L E Y . I y i e l d e d for a q u e s t i o n .

Mr. BUTLER.

I have propounded the question: has anybody

«u»k* <1 t h e S e n a t o r t o s a y w h a t h e h a s s t a t e d h e is called on t o say f
Mr. H A W L E Y . I propose t o go on t o s h o w it. I d e n y b e i n g lashed
i n t o a fury or l a s h i n g a n y b o d y else i n t o a fury. I n e v e r w a s m o r e
«-!iF«-ful or more d e l i b e r a t e in w h a t I said. T h a t 1 speak w i t h feeli n g J trust Is e x c u s a b l e .
T h a t l a m as extreme, as t h o s e on t h e o t h e r
Hide f d e n y .
T h e S e n a t o r from S o u t h C a r o l i n a s a y s t h a t n o b o d y
h a s a s k e d US to r e p e a l t h i s section on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l
etl&ctnient w a s u n w i s e or w a s w r o n g .
Mr. B U T L E R . No ; t h e S e n a t o r said we c o u l d not ask h i m to vote
.t it was w r o n g . N o b o d y a s k e d him t o d o a n y t h i n g of t h e k i u d ;
J h a v e not b e a r d it.
Mr. H A W L E Y . V e r y well ; s t a t e it in t h e w a y m o s t a c c e p t a b l e
i4t tin S e n a t e , I assert t h a t w e h a v e been i n v i t e d t o r e p e a l t h e s t a t u t e on t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t w a s o r i g i n a l l y w r o n g .
Mr, B U T L E R . No, s i r ; I h a v e n o t h e a r d t h a t p r o p o s i t i o n .
M r . H A W L E Y . On t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t w a s e n a c t e d in t h e h e a t of
t h e Hectional feelings of t h e w a r . T h a t w a s o n e expression used iu
r e g a r d t o it. An expression used a g a i n a n d a g a i n w a s t h a t it w a s a
n m e n t of h a t e ; a n d a g a i n i t w a s s a i d t h a t t h e s t a t u t e is a
-niiiider of s e c t i o n a l strife a n d sectional b i t t e r n e s s .
Mr. B U T L E R . W h o said t h a t ?
Mr.' H A W L E Y . T h e r e w a s expression after expression t o t h a t
. i i . . i m a d e here, t h a t it w a s a t h i n g u n j u s t to d o a n d u n g e n e r o u s t o
d o , a f t e r w e h a d a c c e p t e d t h e s u r r e n d e r of t h e c o n f e d e r a t e officers
ntul largely a d m i t t e d t h e m to t h e enjoyment of civil r i g h t s . I j u s t l y
Htal"-, as every S e n a t o r m u s t concede, t h e s p i r i t of t h e d e b a t e . I say,
nir, t h a t t h i s p a r t i c u l a r m e a s u r e w a s r i g h t a n d wise a t t h e t i m e , a n d
WHH one of t h o s e t h i n g s t h a t were i n e v i t a b l e c o n c o m i t a n t s a n d incid e n t s of o u r Legislation, after t h e w a r , if w e desired t o m a i n t a i n a n d
p r e s e r v e t h a t which we had w o n .
G e n t l e m e n s]>«-ak sometimes as if, b e c a u s e w e a d m i t t h e i r h o u e s t y
t herefore we a d m i t our injustice, i t is one t h i n g t o a d m i t , aa w e do
©andidly. t h a t t h e y w e r e to a g r e a t e x t e n t e n t i r e l y h o n e s t and
rei
.sincere, b u t It does n o t follow therefore t h a t w e w e r e w r o n g . I t
do*** follow t h a t we should t r e a t t h e m w i t h c o u r t e s y and w i t h k i n d 


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