Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 8, 1885

No. 145.

Mr. Bayard to Mr. Cheng Tsao Ju.

Department of State,
Washington, November 7, 1885.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that prior to the receipt of your note of to-day, relative to the hostile movement against the Chinese residents of Washington Territory, the President had issued his proclamation making provision for their protection, and that the Secretary of War instructed the commandant of the troops at Fort Vancouver, by telegraph yesterday, to use every effort with the aid of the military to preserve order.

Accept, sir, &c.,

T. F. BAYARD.

[Inclosure.]

by the president of the united states of america.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas it is represented to me by the governor of the Territory of Washington that domestic violence exists within the said Territory, and that by reason of unlawful obstructions and combinations, and the assemblage of evil disposed persons, it has become impracticable to enforce by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings the laws of the United States at Seattle, and at other points and places within said Territory, whereby life and property are there threatened and endangered; and

Whereas the legislature of said Territory cannot be convened, and in the judgment of the President an emergency has arisen, and a case is now presented, which justifies and requires, and under the Constitution and laws of the United States, the employment of military force to suppress domestic violence and enforce the faithful execution of the laws of the United States if the command and warning of this proclamation: be disobeyed and disregarded:

Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America, do hereby command and warn all insurgents and all persons who have assembled at any point within the said Territory of Washington for the unlawful purposes aforesaid, to desist therefrom, and to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes on or before twelve o’clock meridian on the 8th day of November instant.

And I do admonish all good citizens of the United States, and all persons within the limits and jurisdiction thereof, against aiding, abetting, countenancing, or taking any part in such unlawful acts or assemblages.

In witness whereof I have set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, and of the Independence of the United States, the one hundred and tenth.

[seal.]

GROVER CLEVELAND,

By the President:

T. F. Bayard

, Secretary of State.