In 1852, California Governor John Bigler opposed the arrival of more newcomers from China in the later years of the Gold Rush. He claimed that Chinese immigrants could never become American. Read a response by Norman Asing, a Chinese restaurant owner in San Francisco. How does Norman Asing’s response refute Bigler’s claim? Asing acknowledges he is a Chinese man. Asing has been robbed of the benefits of his hard work. Asing believes in principles of the U.S. government. Sir: I am a Chinaman, a republican, and a lover of free institutions; am much attached to the principles of the government of the United States... The effect of your late message has been thus far to prejudice the public mind against my people, to enable those who wait the opportunity to hunt them down, and rob them of the rewards of their toil. – Norman Asing 1852