285 F. 663 | S.D.N.Y. | 1922
I think that the same reasoning ought equally to make this case an exception from the statute. It is, of course, inconceivable that, had Congress been faced with the result, it would have wished to leave American merchants of Chinese descent under a disability which Chinese merchants did not suffer. It may be argued, if one will, that the Exclusion Act should never have been read with any exceptions, but with that I have nothing to do. It being determined that it does not speak literally, an exception founded upon an assumed purpose not to discriminate against American citizens is, if anything, more persuasive than an exception based upon a purpose not to violate treaty rights. The interpretation of the courts may be right or wrong, but it should at least attribute a purpose to Congress which is not in conflict with itself, as this clearly would be if the respondent’s position were upheld.
It does not follow, of course, that the adopted, or blood, child of a Chinese laborer born in the United States would fall within the same rule. That case may await its occurrence; all I have to do here is to hold that a foster father of American birth does not by that fact lose any of the rights which he would have if he had chanced to be born in China, and that his citizenship puts him at least on an equality with Chinamen.
Relator discharged.
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