IN RE IMPANELING AND INSTRUCTING THE GRAND JURY.
749
he took the oath, and not on the subsequent conduct of the officer in making, or omitting to make, a memorandum of the transaction. But I do not think it is sufficiently alleged in the indictment that the defendant was sworn to the affidavit. The affidavit and the subscription thereto are set out in the indictment, and this should have been followed by an allegation to the effect that the defendant, being then and there duly sworn by the clerk of the court for Linn county, did depose and state that said affidavit was true. The allegation in the indictment that the defendant did depose and state contrary to his said oath is, if anything, an attempt to assign perjury on a "said" or supposed oath. the administration of which is nowhere alleged. But the fact that the defendant was sworn must be distinctly stated. It is not sufficient even that it appeal's by implication. 2 Whart. Crim. Law, § 1287, It is also objected to the indictment that it does not allege that the defendant was a resident of Linn county at the time of taking the oath, and that the affidavit refers to an application not identified by uumber or description of the land mentioned therein. But as the demurrer to the indictment must be sustained because it does not appear therefrom that the defendant was sworn to the affidavit, it is not necessary to consider these objections. If the defendant was sworn to the affidavit set out in the complaint, before the clerk, and the same was false to his knowledge in anyone of the particulars alleged, an indictment for perjury may be maintained thereon. J will therefore submit the matter to the next grand jury for their consideration, these objections may be obviated in the preparation of another indictment. The demurrer is sustained, and the charge is directed to be submitted to the 'next grand jury.
In re
IMPANELING AND INSTRUCTING THE GRAND JURY.
(District Oourt, D. Oregon. March 28,1886.) CONSPIRACY AGAINST LAWS OF UNITED STATES-DRIVING CHINESE STATES-REV. ST. § 5336.
OUT
OF UNITED
A conspiracy or agreement of two or more persons to drive the Chinese out of the United States. or to maltreat or intimidate them, with a view of constraining them to depart therefrom. is prima facie a conspiracy to prevent and hinder the execution, operation, or fulfillment of a law of the United States, namely, the treaties with China of 1868 and 1880, and is an indictable offense under Rev. St. 1\ 5336.
DEADY, J., (charging grand jury.) An evil spirit is abroad in this land,-not only here, but everywhere. It tramples down the law of the country and fosters riot and anarchy. Now it is riding on the
750
FEDERAL REPORTER.
baok of labor, and the foolish Issaohar oouohes down to the burden and beoomes .its servant. Lawless and irresponsible assooiations of persons are forming all over the country, claiming the right to impose their opinions upon others, and to diotate for whom they shall work, and whom they shall hire; from whom they shall buy, and to whom they shall sell, and for what prioe or compensation. In these assooiations the most audaoious and unscrupulous naturally oome to the front, and for the time being control their conduot. Freedom, law, and order are so far subverted, and a tyranny is set up in our midst most gross and galling. Nothing like it has Rffiicted the world sinoe the Middle Ages, when the lawless barons and their brutal followers desolated Europe with their private wars md predatory raids, until the husbandman was driven from his ravaged field, and the artisan from his pillaged shop, and the fair land became a waste. The dominent motive of the movement is some form of selfishness, and its tendency is baokward to barbarism,-the rule of the strongest, guided by no other or better precept than this: "Might makes right." This is not the time or place to inquire into the cause of this condition of society. It may be the natural outcome of the modern political economy, whioh, assuming that the conflict of private interests will produce economic order and right, has reduced the relation between capital and labor to the mere matter of supply and demand, and limited the duty and obligation of the one to the other to the payment of the minimum of wages for the maximum of labor on the one hand, and the getting the maximum of wages for the minimum of labor on the other. But, whatever the cause, I have faith that the teaching of experience, and the good sense and love of justice of the people, will find a remedy for the evil in time. And in the meanwhile it behooves those of us into whose hands the administration of the law and the conservation of the public peace is confided to do what we can, wisely but firmly, to prevent this evil spirit from destroying the material resources of the oountry, and making any improvement in the condition of society, in this respect, still more difficult and doubt. fnl. Lately, this spirit has been manifesting itself in Oregon, byassaulting, robbing, and driving out the helpless Chinese who are engaged among us at lawful labor for an honest living. The excuse given for this conduct is that the Chinese are taking the bread out of the mouths of their assailants by working for less wages and living cheaper than the latter can. In other words, they complain of the industry and economy of the Chinese as being beyond their competition. As we all know, this statement must be taken with much allowance. True, the Chinaman is industrious and economical, and he has the advantage of being temperate and faithful to his engagement. But he demands and gets better wages here than white men in any other part of the world, and, save in the matter of whisky and tobacco, he lives as well and is as well clad as the bulk of common laborers anywhere.
IN BE IMPANELING AND INSTRUCTING THE GRAND JURY.
75:1.
But this outcry against the Chinese as laborers is not new. It was heard from 30 to 50 years ago, when the native mobs in our eastern towns and cities undertook to drive out the comparatively "cheap labor" of Ireland and Germany, particularly the latter, that was then crowding into this country and filling the places of the slothful and shiftless. It is not necessary now to consider the right of a people to oppose or put a stop to an undesirable immigration. For my own part I have no doubt that the United States has the same right to prevent an immigration within its boundaries, of people that it deems objectionable, as it would have to repel an armed invasion by them. But this is a matter for the whole country, represented by the national government, to decide, and not for individuals or neighborhoods. or even states. The Chinese now in this country are here under the sanction of a solemn treaty with the' United States, and any attempt on the part of individuals, acting singly or in numbers, to expel them by any threat, menace, violence, or ill usage is not only wrong but unlawful. Our treaty relations with China extend over a period of more than 40 years. On July 3, 11:145, a "treaty of peace, amity, and commerce" was negotiated by Caleb Cushing, on behalf of the United States. Pub. Treat. 116. By it the citizens of this country were granted the right to frequent and reside with their families, and trade, at the five ports of Kwang Chow, Amoy, Fuchow, Ningpo, and Shanghai. On June 18, 1858, William B. Read negotiated another treaty, in which the government of China agreed to defend the citizens of the United States in China "from all injury or insult of any kind." Pub. Treat. 129. To this there was a supplement, on November 8th of the same year. Pub. Treat. 137. On July 28, 1868, a treaty was negotiated by William H. Seward, containing sundry articles in addition to the last one. Pub. Treat. 147. By article 5 of this treaty "the United States and the emperor cordially recognize the inherent and inalien-· able right of man to change his home and allegiance, and also the mutual advantage of the free migration and emigration of their citizens and subjects respectively from the one country to the other for purposes of curiosity, of trade, or as perma.nent residents. The high contracting parties therefore join in reprobating any other than an entirely voluntary emigration for these purposes." Article 6 provides: "Citizens of the United States visiting or residing in China shall enjoy the same privileges, immunities, or exemptions in respect to travel or residence as may there be enjoyed by the citizens or subjl'cts of the most favored nation; and, reciprocally, Chinese subjects visiting or residing in the United States shall enjoy the same privileges and immunities and exemptions, in respect to travel or residence, as may be then enjoyed by the citizens or subjects of the most favored nation."
On November 11, 1880, another treaty concerning "immigration" was negotiated. 22 St. 826. Article 10f this treaty gave the United
752
States the right to "regulate, limit, or Buspend,"but not to "absolutely prohibit," the coming to or residenee of' Chinese laborers in the Dnited States whenever it was thought that their residence here was contrary to "the interests" of the country or endangered "the good order" thereof. Article 2 provided that Chinese, other than laborers and Chinese laborers then in ,the United States, "shall be allowed to go and come of their own free will and accord, and shall be accorded all the rights, privileges, and immunities and exemptions which are accorded to the citizens and subjects of the most favored nation." Under the concession contained in this treaty congress passed the restriction act of May 6, 1882, (22 St. 58,) suspending the coming of Chinese laborers to this country for the term of 10 years from the expiration of 90 days after the date thereof. 'I'he significance of the stipulation in the foregoing treaties with China, to the effect that the Chinese in this country shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities that are "accorded to the citizens and subjects of the most favored nation," will be better understood by a reference to our treaty stipulations with Great Britain on that subject. By article 1 of the treaty of "commerce" with that country of July 13, 1815, (Pub. Treat. 293,) renewed and continued in force by article 4 of the treaty of October 20, 1818, (Pub. Treat. 299,) and further indefinitely continued by article 1 of the treaty of August 6, 1827, (Pub. Treat. 312,) it is provided: "The inhabitants of the two countries, respectively, shall have liberty freely and securely to come with their ships and cargoes to all such places, ports. and rivers in the territories aforesaid [of the United States, and Great Britain in Europe1to which other foreigpers are permitted to come, to enter into the same, and to remain and reside iu any parts of the said territories, respectively·"
From this brief statement of the treaties bearing on the subject, you will perceive that any attempt to compel or constrain any Chinese resident of this country to remove from or to any particular place. or to refrain from following any lawful occupation, or doing any lawful work that he may find to do, is not only morally wrong, but contrary to the law of the land. It is commonly known that during the past few weeks gangs of masked men have, in the night·time, entered the honses and camps of peaceful Chinese residents, engaged in useful labor at various points in this vicinity, and, by serious intimidation and threats of personal violence, have compelled them to leave their homes and work, and come to Portland. There is no doubt but that this brutal and inhuman conduct is a gross violation of the rights guarantied to these people by the national government through the treaties aforesaid. Nor is there any doubt of the power of congress to provide for the punishment of any person who injures, annoys, or disturbs any subject of a foreign government, resident in any part of the United States, contrary to the treaty stipulations with such government.
758
The powers of the national government, though limited in number and subject, are supreme in their sphere. A treaty with a foreign power is the supreme law of the land; and congress may provide a punishment for its infraction or the deprivation of or inj ury to a right secured by it, as in the case of an ordinary law. Without this power, the national government would be unable to keep faith with other nations. In all our external relations the individual states are unknown. The government of the Union or United States stands for all, and in this respect may enforce obedience to its authority by the· prosecution and punishment of individuals who act contrary thereto. The next question is, has congress passed any law for the punishment of persons who, contrary to the treaty stipulations, molest the subjects of foreign powers resident in this country? So far as my judgment goes, the matter is not free from doubt. I am quite clear that congress has not passed any act having this object solely and directly in view. The reason for the omission may be that heretofore it was not thought necessary, as each state could and would, in the ordinary course of justice, furnish protection to all persons living within its borders. But this illusion has heen dispelled, and experience has demonstrated that unless the general government furnishes the Chinese on this coast with protection, their treaty rights may be violated with impunity. Section 5519 of the Revised Statutes is broad enough in its terms to cover the case. This is section 2 of the act of April 20, 1871, (17 St. 13,) passed to enforce the fourteenth amendment, and provides for the punishment of persons who "conspire or go in disguise upon the highway, or on the premises of another, for the purpose of depriving" anyone of "the equal protection of the laws," etc. But in U. S. v. Harris, 106 U. S. 629, S. C. 1 Sup. Ct. Rep. 601, the supreme court held that this section, as regarded the inhabitants of a state simply, was unconstitutional; that the prohibition of the amendment, as to "the equal protection of the law," was directed against the state, and not individuals, and therefore congress could not, by way of enforcing such amendment, provide for the punishment of individuals who commit such acts. Notwithstanding this decision, it has been suggested that, although this section is unconstitdtional as an act to enforce the fourteenth amendment, it is valid as an act to enforce treaty stipUlations guarantying llo foreigner, living in any state, the protection of the laws therein. The suggestion is a plausible one, to say the least of it, but I do not feel confidence enough in it to adopt it. Section 5336 of the Revised Statutes, which is also carved out of section 2 of the act of April 20, 1871, (17 St. 13,) to enforce the fourteenth amendment "and for other purposes," provides that"If two or more persons, in any state or territory, conspire to overthrow, put down, or destroy by force the government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof; or by force to
v.26F.no.l0-48
preoent, hinder, or delay the exeeution of any law of the United States; or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States, contrary
to the authOl'ity thereof,-each of them shall be punished by a flne of not less than $1)00 and not more than $5,000, or by imprisonment with or without hard labor for a period of not less than six months nor more than six years, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
This section has nothing to do with the fourteenth amendment, and there is no doubt of its constitutionality. It was copied into the act of 1871, llJol'esaid, from the act of July 31, 18tH, (12 St. 284,) "to define and punish certain conspiracies" against the United States of a seditious or treasonable character. And the only question now is, does it include the acts or conduct under consideration? Speaking only for this occasion, and reserving my final until I may hear the matter fully argued, I think it does. The attempt to drive the Chinese out of the country, or to maltreat or intimwith a view of constraining them to depart, is prima facie idate an attempt to prevent and binder the execution, operation, or fulfillment of a law of the United States, namely, the treaties with China of 1868 and 1880; and a conspiracy or agreement of two or more persons to engage in sllch conduct may, for that reason, be well characterized as a seditious and treasonable conspiracy against the authority and laws of the United States. A mere assault, or even robbery, committed on a Chinaman, without any ulterior purpose other than a desire to vex and annoy or to steal, may not be a violation of this section. Prima facie such conduct is not intended to prevent the execution or operation of the law of the United States giving the Chinese the right to reside here indefinitely. But when, as I have said, the purposo of the conduct is to expel the Chinese from the country, either by direct deportation dr such intimidation or violence as is likely to constrain them to go, I instruct you that the case comes within that clause in the section which makes it a crime '''by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States." Some cases will be submitted to you by the district attorney of persons charged with mobbing and driving out Chinese in this vicinity who have been held to answer therefor before you. Take these cases and examine them carefully, and, if you find that any of the parties have maltreated, menaced, or intimidated the Chinese for the 'purpose or with the intent to compel or constrain them to leave the country or to remove from any place therein, it will be your duty to present them to the court for trial. Trusting that yon will do your duty in the premises, and that you will, according to the obligation of your oaths and your duty as citizens, present things truly as they come to your knowledge, without fear, favor, or affection, I commit the matter to your hands.
J)EJ)ERIClt t7. WlIITKAN AGRICULTURAL
co.
765
DEDERIOK 11. WHITMAN AGRICULTURAL CO.l
«(Ji;rcuit (Jourt, E. D. Missouri. March 15,1886.)
No. 170,998. The first claim of letters patent No. 170,998 is void for want of invention. 2. SAME-LETTERS PATENT No. 224,281. The first claim of latters patent No. 224,281 is, in view of the previous state of the art, void, unless restricted to the peculiar devices named in the combination therein described. 1. PATENTB FOR INVENTIONS-BALmG-PREssEs-LETTERS PATENT
S.
SAME-INVENTION.
The mere change of position of an old mechanical device from one part of a machine to another to effect the same result involves no patentable invention. .
In Equity. Suit for the infringement of the first claim of letters patent No. 170,998 and the first claim of letters patent No. 224,21:11, both for improvementB in baling-presses. Said claims are respectively as follows: "(I) In a press haVing the bale-chamber smaller than the press-box, beveling the mouth of the bale-chamber, substantially as described." "(1) The combination of a press-box, a bale-chamber, and a reciprocating traverser, and means for increasing or diminishing at will the area of the passage between the press-box and the bale-chamber, whereby to render the sections or charges of material larger or smaller and produce bales of greater or less density, substantially as described." L. Hill and Fisher et Rowell, for complainant. William H. King and Dyer, Lee et Ellis, for defendant. TREAT, J. This suit is brought for the alleged infringements of the first claim of letters patent No. 170,998, issued to complainant December 14, 1875, and the first claim of letters patent No. issued to complainant February 10, 1880. The non-compliance with equity pleading and the rules of court has imposed a large amount of useless labor upon the court in order to ascertain the actual points in controversy. Counsel for parties should be able to present exactly the points of difference upon which judgment of the court is required. After wading through for many days a useless mass of irrelevant matter the court has ascertained the actual points in controversy, involving a waste of time on its part which would have been avoided if the rules of practice had been properly observed. 8ubstantially, the rights of the parties are to be determined by the following considerations. 1. Was there in the first claim of patent No. 170,998 any invention patentable? The forcing of elastic material from a larger into a smaller box by whatever motive force exercised could necessarily be facilitated by the most common mechanical contrivance, viz., bevelI
Reported by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the St. Louis bar.