The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-04
mo. 93I
UNITED STATES LEGATION.
Hon. JoHs c. CALHOUN,
Secretary Of State,

UNITED STATES LEGATION,
Macao, August &C. lsi4
Sir have in previous dispatches made honorable
mention Of the important service which Great Br-
tain has done to Europe and America alike, by her
late contest with China and have not failed as OF.
casion offered, to bear testimony to the high merit,
Sir Henry Pottinger, as manifested 10 his negoll-
lions with the Chinese Government
There Is however, one very great in relation
to this matter to which the English new spaper press
and other more deliberate English publications have
given extensive currency, and which in Justice to oil
parties, at any rate TO China, TO the United State,
and TO Portugal and France, if not to England fee
bound To rectfy.
For instance, in an English journal now before mr
read Of "the additional treaty with China, By rhd
all the nations of Europe are ao,oed 10 pariicpa, m
the fruits OF our late success"
This statement, occurring in many forms and in
great variety of English publications which hsys
passed under my observation, is wholly destitute Of
foundation in fact
Neither the additional" Cor supplementary treaty
nor the original treaty, contains any such proysion
Ii IS not IN virtue of either Of these treaties that HE
other nations of Europe are allowed to particp1r
In the fruits" Of the British success in China
indeed, II the Chinese Pleuipoteniary had bren
willing to insert any such PROVISION in either of ho,-
treaties Sir Henry Pottnger is too well informed on
subjects OF public law to have undertaken 10 maj,
stiPuiatons IN behalfof the United States of Franc
had no commission to treat in their behalf Ill.,
government could not give him any such auhorl.,
foi In assuming TO do So that is to authorize him
make shpulations for the benefit land of course fan
the correspondent restraint and obligatory Of other
Powers, Grea, Britain would have been guilty Of an
act OF indecorum and injury to the sovereignty and
national honor of those Powers
The popular on this point had its ORIGIN
presume In the language of the abstract of the SUI
Elementary treaty. This abstract published in anti
cpation OF the ratification of the treaty processes TO
give IN few words the substance of each of lis art
ces 10 order. Sir Henry PottiDger has been very
much complained of in China, on account % sundfy
discrepancies between the abstract and the treaty. IT,
self which the publication of the latter has BROUGHT
light do not think these discrepancies ought 10 be
charged on him. but rather the inadeauacy Of The
assistance he had in the discharge of mis- onerous
complex, and difficult duties as Plenipotentary Gov.
eroor OF Hong Kong, and Superintendent Of Trade,
his Impression is strengthened by the facts of the
present case.
The language of the abstract is as follows
Article provides for all foreign countries, who
subjects have hitherto traded at Canton being oJm
led 10 the Five Ports named in article on the same
Terms as England"
To speak in the gentlest terms of this, il isay,r
inaccurate representation Of the import and Language
Of the treaty.
In carefully revised translation, which have. u,
ne Oninese counterpart OF the supplementary reay
he 9Th article reads thus
Formerly the merchants of all fuseipn nation.
we're allowed to trade only at the single mort a
n wang-chau, (Canton.) Last year it was agreed,
A'ahg man, that II the great Emperor should grac.
'usiy permit the merchants of ali the forepn nStor
u the western seas alike to proceed to the four ports
u Fu chau, Hiya-mun, Nng-po, and Shanghai
raoe, 'ne English should not object thereto. But all
lations having been put on an equality with the me-
III repu hat hora rt,r a.
'eror shall extend any new favor to the said nations
lie shall likewise allow the English eoualIv To share
ne same, so as to display perfect equality But nerhr
ne English nor any other nation il TO make IN,
aose PIete1t for improper Cor extravagont) apple
auons: In TINS way the keeping of good faith viii
have not before me at present, the official Enc.
sn counterpart, ms lately communicated TO ParIIa.
nent, but have read 1t carefully with reference &.
MS point and know that in the Sth article il cor.
oSPonos 10 purpot with the Chinese, though i, is MT
'u'' ana complete in terms. You will ave il at
nd with the abstract
1 MS article Is plain, clear and explicit. 1t con-
rises, IN the hrs place, recital of facts and in The
acts. W.
10 the FIRST place as to the facts rec,ed in the Of.
cle. "
by this recital Of facts il is eIpresseJ or inplrd
hat, in the conferences of Ki.na-n,n dr. ChIn..s
government in'imated the intention TO open the four
orts TO The ships Of all nations; that secb srepb
~ io' 'he dement, OF China rather than of ENGLAND
'erefors, IN settling the conditions of peace, Chm
'ok care to give England notice Of the design ari
npuiated in her own interest tina, when this de- %
anne 10 be carried into effect il should not be made
noleot OF complaint by Eogand--'the English should
% oeecf merefo." Such an engagement wears ihr
ov'ous appearance Of having originated with rae
hinese ministers. Nay While IL Is due to cand0r
y, lnat no reason whatever exists TO suspect the BIZ
so Government OF any purpose to stipula,e ts
'css,on Tor exclusive advantages, yet the tenor d
nagreemen' of Kisng. nan indicates that the Chr.
e'e apprehsmd.d such a purpose; for in any o.h"
ew OF the subject IL is difficult to comprehend rha
ngu'Re OF thus clause, or even to conceive Why
as inserted in the treaty.
In pursoance of the intention thus avowed Of "a
'g-nsn, the Chinese Government, las set forth In
e recital under consderstion,) did proceed by Sc.
rate set and decision OF it's own, an act 10 which
rea' Britain Is no party TO open the ports all other
't'ons on the same Conditions under which they WIRE
sned 10 Great Britain. The proclamation, by which
- was done, V among the documents which hnys
snsmiued TO the department.