ation was inserted
in the Fifth Article of the Treaty: "_The high contracting parties
join in reprobating any other than an entirely voluntary emigration_.
. . . They consequently agree to pass laws making it a penal offense
for citizens of the United States or Chinese subjects to take Chinese
subjects either to the United States or to any foreign country, or
for a Chinese subject or citizen of the United States to take citizens
of the United States to China or to any foreign country _without their
free and voluntary consent respectively_."

The treaty was negotiated in Washington on the 28th of July, 1868, but
the ratifications were not exchanged until November, 1869. Fear of the
evils that might result from it followed so closely upon its conclusion
that General Grant, in his first annual message (December, 1869), gave
this warning: "I advise such legislation as will forever preclude the
enslavement of Chinese upon our soil under the name of coolies, and
also to prevent American vessels from engaging in the transportation
of coolies to any country tolerating the system." In his message of
December, 1874, the President recurred to the subject, informing
Congress that "the great proportion of the Chinese emigrants who come
to our shores _do not come voluntarily_ to make their homes with us or
to make their labor productive of general prosperity, but _come under
contracts_ with head men who own them almost absolutely. _In a still
worse form does this apply to Chinese women_. Hardily a perceptible
percentage of them perform any honorable labor, but they are brought
here for shameful purposes, to the disgrace of the communities where
they are settled and to the great demoralization of the youth of those
localities. If this evil practice can be legislated against, it will
be my pleasure as well as duty to enforce and regulation to secure so
desirable an end." In his message of December, 1875, he again invited
the attention of Congress to "the evil arising from the importation of
Chinese women, but few of whom are brought to our shores to pursue
honorable or useful occupations."

These repeated communications to Congress by the President were based
upon accurate information furnished from California, where the
condition of Chinese immigrants had created grave solicitude in the
minds of leading citizens. So serious, indeed, had it become in the
view of the people of California, that the Legislature of that State,
in