January, 1876, memorialized Congress in favor of a modification of
the treaty with China, for the purpose of averting the grave evils
threatened from immigration--carried on against the letter and spirit
of the treaty. Before appealing to Congress California had attempted
the accomplishment of this end through laws of her own; but the
Supreme Court of the United States had decided that the subject was one
within the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress, and hence the State
could do nothing to protect itself against what a large majority of its
citizens regarded as a great danger. On the 20th of April, 1876, Mr.
Sargent of California submitted a resolution, asking the Senate to
"recommend to the President to cause negotiations to be entered upon
with the Chinese Government to effect such change in the existing
treaty between the United States and China as will lawfully permit the
application of restrictions upon the great influx of Chinese subjects
to this country." A few days later Mr. Sargent addressed the Senate
at length on the whole subject of Chinese immigration in California,
and presented in full detail the grievances of which the people on
the Pacific Coast complained.

The Senate, reluctant to take at once so decisive a step as was
involved in Mr. Sargent's resolution, adopted a substitute, moved by
Mr. Morton of Indiana, directing that "a committee of three senators
be appointed to investigate the character, extent, and effect of
Chinese immigration to this country." It was afterwards enlarged by
being changed into a joint committee with the addition of two members
from the House. Mr. Morton of Indiana, Mr. Sargent of California, and
Mr. Cooper of Tennessee were the senatorial members; Mr. Piper of
California and Mr. Meade of New York were the Representatives on the
joint committee. The Committee made a thorough examination of the
question, visiting California and devoting a large part of the
Congressional recess to the duty. Their report embraced a vast amount
of information touching the Chinese immigrants in California, their
religion, their superstitions, their habits, their relations to the
industrial questions, to trade and to commerce. A large number of the
reports were printed but nothing further was done for the session.

In the succeeding Congress, the first under President Hayes, the
subject was kept alive in both branches, in the first and second
sessions, by the introduction of bills and res