The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-24
ENGLAND-QUEEN vlCTORIA'S SPEECH
"REMINISCENCES.
Non omns aurun guod splendid.


The English Ministry have given Queen Victoria
hese beautiful and phlanthropic words to utter
Throughout the whole course Of my negotiations
isI the ovseruucut Of China, have uniformly dis
claimed the wish for any exclusive advantages.
i" IL has been my desire that equal favor should be
shown to the industry and commercial enterprise Of
all nations"
Ocourse the intention is that these words should be
understood in their broadest accepa,on and obvious
sense and in tina, sense il is undeniablc that they
contain profession Of admirable philanthropy. An
unsophisucaed mind, not acquainted with the arts Of
diplomacy, and reasoning to natural conclusion
from these premises, would suppose that the British
diplomatic authorities the throne Of China,
waiting with polished gcntlcness and friend
illness to aid the Ministers Of France and Of the
United States 10 obtain treaties with their respective
countries, STIMULATING equal advantages TO those
joyed by Great Britain from her treaty with China.
But instead of this we find the organs of the Bri-
tish Government exulting at the de1erous policy Of
its Administration in preeud,ng the formation Of any
treaties with China; and in thus, to great extent
nullifying the effect Of the expensive and splendid
embassies which those nations have sent TO this re-
mote and populous Country. They say, with arch
smile Of diplomatic triumph-tbese Ministers will
hnd when they have arrived at Pekin that they have
nothing to do; for ue have stipulated for them an
equality of duties and privileges and they will have
nothing 10 ask the Emperor Of China will cour,e
ousy say to these Ministers, have already conceded
to you what you ask, by stipulation with Great Br-
tain. The secret Of Great Britain's this sub
ject is that treaty made with her is rcvocsble so
far IT sonccdcs any privilege or advantage to her
self to foreign country, al her pleasure China Of
course, make her own regulations in these re-
spects II not under bonds to do otherwise, al any
time. But IL she comes under treaty stipulatiops
with any power, she is bound for the tine Of their
continuance to act accordingly under the pains and
penalties provided by the law Of nations for the in
fraction Of treaties. England, therefore can revoke
whatsoever she shall deem il requisite for her inte
rests this clause Of treaty with herself; and her
Ministers are entirely familiar with the necessary
means Of suspending destroying such treaty slip
ulaton, II in her estimation the proper momen,
should arrive.
Now, the very existence OF such stipulation, in.
tended, az the organs of her Government avoy, to
,reiude other powers from efectng treaties with
themselves guaranteed by the sanction Of the law OF
na,ions-implies the possession Of an sreiusir, adj
vantsge-as exclusive advantage to the vast extent
Of controlling, a, her will the diplomatic relations OF
China at present. She only is entitled to enforce
treaty with herself-and we're this stipulation to be
abrogated within year, or at any time, the party in
whose favor IL is made has no ground Of complaint
under the law Of nations. The bargain, therefore
which she has struck with China is one of an e.clu
si'e character, IN one most important particular
Although this stipulation in itself fair it, duration
is precarious-dependent on her relations with other
povefs-and is endowed with no sanction by which
other powers can enforce it. When individual. mr.
Governments intend to perform truly disin,erested
and pbilanthropic act, they should perform il with
good graoe-dives, it Of an ambiguous character
and make IT bear in reality the stamp of its DR. s,
sion. have already briefly stated how England
might have acquired by her diplomacy with China.
title to this impershable glory.
II ~s advert to past history, VIC find that England
determined on extension Of the territory ofTrspo,
on continental Europe, by the annexation of Pied