No. 65.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Tsai Kwoh
Ching.
Washington, October 22, 1884.
Sir: I have the honor to apprise you of the receipt of a letter from the Acting Attorney-General of the 20th instant, in which he states that, as desired by this Department, application has been made to the Supreme Court of the United States for an advancement of the habeas corpus case of Chew Heong, a Chinese subject and former resident of the United States, and whose case was lately passed upon in the circuit court of the United States for California; and that the Supreme Court of the United States has fixed upon Monday next, “foot of the docket,” for such hearing.
I may observe that this action has been taken by the Department in order that the acts of Congress of May, 1882, and 1884, in connection with the treaty of 1880 with China, may receive an early interpretation by the highest judicial tribunal in this country, and that such rights as properly belong to certain of His Majesty’s subjects under the law and treaty may be conserved.
[Page 118]It is desired also that this decision may be obtained as a future guide to the Department in dealing with the cases which may be referred to it from your legation.
Accept, &c.,