Chinese Exclusion Act: Race Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Section)

Quote #4

That the master of any vessel arriving in the United States from any foreign port or place shall, at the same time he delivers a manifest of the cargo, and if there be no cargo, then at the time of making a report, of the entry of the vessel pursuant to law, in addition to the other matter required to be reported, and before landing, or permitting to land, any Chinese passengers. (Sec.8)

Chinese passengers on a ship are expected to be dealt with at the same time as cargo. It's a short leap from there to start classifying Chinese passengers as cargo, which is pretty terrible.

Quote #5

That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit Chinese to citizenship; and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. (Sec.14)

This arguably is the worst section. Think about this one for a second. If you allow a Chinese-born person to become an American citizen, they are American. That's how it works. This is a nation of immigrants (except the Native Americans), so that's how Americans get made. This draws a distinction between race and nationality the way nothing else in the law does: a person of Chinese ethnicity must remain a citizen of China.