In 1897 Minister Denby, in a communication to the Tsung-li Yamen, demanded that an imperial decree be issued recognizing the right of American missionaries to acquire land and reside in the interior. The Yamen replied that the right to reside in the qui s'étendent du 27 juillet au 3 décembre, j'avais réussi à obtenir du Tsong-ly-Yamen le rétablissement intégral et l'envoi aux autorités provinciales de l'Empire du texte authentique réglant le droit d'achat, par les missions catholiques, de terrains et de maisons dans l'intérieur de la Chine. J'ai l'honneur d'adresser aujourd'hui à Votre Excellence le texte des instructions envoyées, sur ce sujet, par le Gouvernement Imperial aux autorités intéressées, et qui sont de nature à nous donner entière satisfaction. A. Gérard. Annexé à la dépêche du Ministre de la République à Pékin, en date du 50 avril 1895: LE TSONG-LY-YAMEN AUX VICE-ROIS Et GouverneuRS DE TOUTES LES PROVINCES. Déjà, pendent la ge lune de l'année dernière (octobre 1894), notre Yamen a, relativement à la question des achats de terrains faits par les missions religieuses dans l'intérieur du pays, adressé dans toutes les provinces, ainsi que le constatent les archives, le texte du règlement conclu, pendant la 4e année T'ong-tché (1885), par le Ministre de France, s. Exc. M. Berthemy, avec notre Yamen. S. Exc. M. Gérard, Ministre de France, vient maintenant de nous adresser une communication officielle dans laquelle il nous dit que les autorités locales de certaines provinces telles que le Hou-Kouang, le Tche-li, la Mongolie et la Mandchourie, declarent n'avoir pas encore reçu d'ordres quant à la façon dont le règlement primitif de M. Berthemy doit être appliqué et qu'il y a aussi d'autres provinces où on continue d'obliger les personnes vendant leurs terrains à en donner préalablement avis aux autorités locales en demandant leurs instructions. Des ordres donnés par apostille du Gouverneur du Kiang-si, une proclamation des autorités provinciales, Sse et Tac, de Sse-tch'ouan, et une proclamation du tao-tai de Leitcheou er Kiong-tcheou, dans le Kouang-tong, ont été envoyés en copie à notre examen (par le Ministre de France), en nous priant d'expédier de nouveau des instructions circulaires dans toutes les provinces, partant que: "A l'avenir, si des missionaires français vont acheter des terrains et des maisons dans l'intérieur du pays, le vendeur (tel cu tel, son mon) devra spécifier, dans la rédaction de l'acte de vente, que sa propriété a été vendue pour faire partie des bien collectifs de la mission catholique de la localité. Il sera inutile d'y inscrire les noms du missionaire ou des chrétiens. La mission catholique, après la conclusion de l'acte, acquittera la taxe d'enregistrement fixée par la loi chinoise pour tous les actes de vente, et au même taux. Le vendeur n'aura ni à aviser les autorités locales de son intention de vendre ni à demander au préalable leur autorisation." De cette façon, le règlement conclu entre les deux nations, est-il ajouté, pourra recevoir son application. Ayant reçu cette communication, nous croyons devoir adresser la présente lettre officielle à tous les Vice-Rois et Gouverneurs des provinces pour qu'ils en prennent connaissance, agissent en conséquence et prescrivent aux autorités locales de s'y conformer uniformément, sans qu'il y ait lieu de s'en tenir à ce qui a été dit précédemment sur l'avis préalable à donner aux dites autorités locales, ce qui provoquerait des dis cussions. Ceci est très important. Archives Diplomatiques, vol. ixvi. p. 305. interior was provided for by treaty, and that imperial decrees had already been issued commanding that the protection should be given to United States citizens residing in China. As to the right to purchase land in the interior the Yamen stated that "while the treaties between the United States and China do not provide for this, still the American missionaries should be treated in this matter the same as the French missionaries.” 1 The amended Berthemy convention is an official recognition of the right to establish permanent missions in the interior; but the rights now recognized are only those which for some time the missionaries have enjoyed in practice. The stipulations in the treaties regarding the objection of the local authorities and the inhabitants must still be observed, and in order to avoid the everrecurring riots, it is necessary that the local prejudices and superstitions of the inhabitants should not be disregarded. Whether the privileges granted to missionaries will ever be extended to other classes of foreigners is one of the problems to be solved in the future. In 1886 our minister stated in a communication to the Department of State :2 "No manufacturer or merchant would be allowed to settle in Kalgan or other points in the interior where there are flourishing missionary stations. If any distinction, therefore, between missionaries and other classes of citizens were possible under the laws and constitution of the United States the vexed question of residence in the interior might be solved." While it is true that our consular courts in China administer the laws of the United States, it is not true that our constitution does in any way affect the "vexed question of residence in the interior." It is a well-settled principle of constitutional law that our citizens cannot invoke the protection of the constitution outside the territorial boundaries of the United States. If China sees fit to grant to missionaries rights not accorded to any other class of citizens we have no right to complain. Our constitution does not follow the Chinese flag. RICHARDS, ILL., June 20, 1901. 1 For. Rel. 1897, p. 62. For. Rel. 1886, p. 98. Louis Napier Richards. 8 In re Ross, 140 U. S. 453. JUDICIAL ACTION BY THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS.1 ACTS AND Resolves of THE PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 1708-9. CHAPTER 24. Order upon the petition of Joses Bucknam relating to Jno Rows Estate. UPON READING a Petition of Joses Bucknam of Charles-Town Praying to be Relieved in a Purchase made by his Father Joses Bucknam Decd of John Rowe late Husband of Ruth Rowe, of a certain Parcel of Land in Charlestown, Which the said Ruth Rowe hath obtained Judgement in the Inferiour Court in Middlesex to recover back the Possession, An Appeal being made therefrom to the next Superiour Court to be held in & for the said County; Ordered That the Action of Appeale be continued unto the next Term further And that Ruth Rowe the Widow & Guardian be Serv'd with a Copy of this Petition; And that a Hearing be had thereupon, on the Second Friday of the next Session of this Court. CHAPTER 25. Order upon the petition of Nath" Reynes's, complaining of a Judgment by default against him. UPON THE PETITION of Nath" Reynes, Complaining of a Judgement given against him by Default at the Suit of Cpt: John Frost in the Inferiour Court for the County of York, Ordered That the Pet' be referred to the next Superiour Court of Judicature to be holden for the County of Yorke by Writ of Error, for remedy in the course of the Common Law. 1 We are permitted by Mr. Bigelow, Editor of the Province Laws of Massachusetts, to print, in advance of the official publication, a few chapters from the ninth volume of ACTS AND RESOLVES OF THE PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY. These chap. ters will be found of special interest in constitutional history and law, throwing light in particular upon the history of equity jurisdiction in Massachusetts. In these records, which are of the first quarter of the 18th century, the provincial legislature will often be found acting in a judicial capacity, sometimes trying causes in equity, sometimes granting equity powers to some court of the common law for a particular temporary purpose, and constantly granting appeals, new trials, and other relief from judgments, on equitable grounds. — ED. And the Justices of the said Court are hereby Directed, upon Inspecting the Process and Judgment in the Suit aforesaid; And also the Execution thereon issued to do therein what of right and to Justice appertaineth and ought to be done. CHAPTER 82. Order on Cpt: Ephraim Savage's Petition, Complaining of Ouster of Lands by the Sheriff. UPON READING a Petition of Captain Ephraim Savage, Complaining That he is Ousted of a Messuage or Tenement Orchard and Land, Consisting of about thirty acres, Lying situate in Reddin within the County of Midd' by Sheriffe of, the sd County mislaying an Execution issuing out of Her Matys Superiour Court of Judicature at the Suit of Francis Smith, Jeremiah Sweyne and Mary his wife, and Judgment rendred for the said Smith and Sweyne to recover Possession or One Hundred acres of Land according to their Demand by the Writ or Attachment. And in Variance from the Verdict, Judgment and Precept or Writ of haber facias possessionem to him Directed. Ordered That Her Matys Justices of the said Superiour Court at their next Sitting within the County of Mid* Do Inspect and Examin into the Record and process of the said Suit and Execution made thereon and cause what is amiss therein to be rectifyed, and to see that be done wch is agreeable to Right & Justice. That the Subject be not oppressed grieved & have just cause of Complaint.1 CHAPTER 111. Order for a hearing on Nath" Hobart's Petition, praying Remedy from forfeiture of a penal bond. UPON READING a petition of Nathaniel Hobart of Hingham, Praying that this Court will provide Remedy to Relieve him in Equity from the Forfeiture of a Penal Bond found against him at the Superiour Court, at the Suit of Ebenezer Prout; Ordered That the Pet' cause Ebenezar Prout the Adverse party to be Served with a Copy of this Petcon That he may shew cause if any he have, on the Second Wednesday of the next Session of this Court, why this Court should not consider the Complaint thereinmencond and provide releife for the Pet' as is prayed for. 1 See ACTS And Resolves, 1709-10, chapter 104, post, p. 211. 28 1709-10. CHAPTER 6. Order, on Nath" Hobart's Petition, Suspending Executions of Judgment in Suit Between Him and Ebenezer Prout. THE PETITIONER1 Praying that there may be a Suspension of the Levying of an Execution upon a Judgement given against him at the Suit of Ebenezer Prout under Consideration of this Court to Direct to a Relief in Equity, Also an Execution upon a Judgement for him against the said Ebenezer Prout, Until his Case be heard & determined in Equity by this Court; Ordered That the Praier of this Petition, be Granted So far as that, the Levying of both the abovementioned Executions, be Suspended, untill the end of the present Session that both Parties may freely attend the Hearing, Granted them by this Court, & their Determination thereon. CHAPTER 9. Order on the affair of Nath" Hobart & Ebenezer Prout. UPON A HEARING had this Day between Nathaniel Hobart of Hingham, & Ebenezer Prout, by a Petition prefer'd to this Court by the sa Hobart; Ordered That the Pet' be referr'd to the next Superiour Court of Judicature, to be held for the County of Suffolk; And that the Justices of the sa Court Examin into ye Judgements given in Law within ye said Court against Each party respectively on y° Forfeiture of Bonds and Chancer the said Forfeitures to the just Debt and Damages in Equity and good conscience. And yt ye Levying of Execution on the Judgemts on either side & all other Proceedings in the law, referring to ye sd Judgments, be suspended until ye End of ye said Superiour Court. CHAPTER 22. Order impowering Joseph Parker to sell Lands of ye Estate of Richard Blood Dec. [UPON READING] A Petition of Joseph Parker of Groton, Praying to be Impowered to make Sale of the Land of his Father in Law Richard Blood late of the same Place Decd to make him some Recompence for his great Charge & Trouble to maintain Isabel Relict 1 Nathaniel Hobart. |