Diplomatic and consular service, American; United States -- Colonial question; United States -- Politics and government
One of the many interesting points in international law is that of
“mixed jurisdiction”, as it is called, or jurisdiction within a harbor.
A dispute on shipboard on the high seas is clearly within the
jurisdiction of the country under whose flag the vessel is sailing, but
when the vessel comes into the harbor of another country it is just as
clear that the jurisdiction of that country is superior. As a matter of
practice, however, it has long been found best to allow all such
controversies occurring on shipboard within a harbor to be tried by the
law and authorities to which the vessel is subject, provided, of course,
that “it does not involve the peace or dignity of the country, or the
tranquility of the port” where it occurs. In all such cases the consul,
as the representative of his government, acts as an officer of justice.
Where he is authorized by treaty to call for local aid he is cautioned
not to do so if it can be avoided. If such aid is refused, he should lay
claim to his treaty rights and then report at once to the diplomatic
officers in the country and to the State Department.
This hurried review of the consul’s relations to seamen leaves a great
deal unsaid, but the main points, at least, have been touched upon. Let
us now turn to
IMMIGRATION.
The old idea that this land is an asylum for all kinds and conditions of
men is now happily exploded. The classes of aliens now excluded are as
follows:
(a) Chinese laborers.
(b) Contract laborers.
(c) All idiots and insane persons.
(d) Paupers or persons likely to become a public charge.
(e) Persons suffering from a loathsome or contagious disease.
(f) Felons and all criminals except political offenders; (and these
latter are excluded if the penalty is removed upon condition of
immigration).
(g) Polygamists.
(h) Assisted immigrants.
(i) Abandoned women.
Every master of a vessel having on board immigrants bound for any port
in the United States is obliged upon arrival to submit a manifest to the
inspector of immigration. A manifest is a list of the immigrants on
board, with a general description of each one, giving name, age, sex,
nationality, ability to read and write, calling or occupation, means,
destination, etc. This must be subscribed and sworn to by the master in
the presence of the consul before the vessel can leave port, and in like
manner the surgeon of the vessel must take oath that he has made a
personal examination of each one and finds everything satisfactory.
QUARANTINE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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