New-York Times / June 5, 1852
A very remarkable document, in the shape of an address from the Chinese residents to the Governor of California, may be found in another column. As the first manifesto issued by the Asiatics in America, it will be read with novel interest. The letters and language in which it is couched are fortunately not in Chinese, or we might have to nurse our curiosity. The exceeding naivete, however, of every sentiment and argument, the coolness with which the various points of the message are disposed of; the nice shrewdness of their reasoning, as contrasted with the ill-considered assumptions of that instrument; the overwhelming testimony they bear to the value of Chinese commerce, and the fact that the gold the Chinamen are said to carry away returns in the form of accelerated trade; all these points are worthy of the ripest consideration; and prove that the Orientals are fully entitled to equality of citizenship, besides establishing their economical value to the State. Notice how adroitly they floor the mendacious objections of his Excellency, by retorting the charge of fibbing upon their Caucasian neighbors. And notice especially their reputation of the idea, upon which the Governor rests his principal cavil, that the majority of them are the hirelings of Chinese capitalists. The truth is, Gov. Bigler fell into the hands of short-sighted people about the mines; whose jealousy of the patient and incessant industry of the Chinamen, biased their wills, and perverted their judgments; and listened to prejudices, which reflection, and consultation with residents of San Francisco, must have removed. His message was dictated by the desire to conciliate the mining interest, so powerful for political purposes; and would have been written, we presume, in the face of the largest proof of its incorrectness. Certainly his positions are not sustained by the more intelligent classes on the sea-board. The epistle of the Chinamen has been followed up by corroborating representations from several leading merchants of the commercial centre.
