The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-26

Salaries and Oflcers!
TIE MISSION TO EASTERN ASIA, AND ITS IMroR-
TANcE-The principal mercantile houses of Balti-
more, have recently sent memorial to the President
of the United States, representing the serious i'm
portance and immediate expediency of opening d.
plomatc and commercial relations with the indie
pendent maratime States of Eastern Asia. On this
point, We sometime since urged movement upon
the part Of the government, when referred TO the
position of the Society Islands as connected with
our future commercial progress in the Pacific.
Australasia, Malaysia and Polynesia will hereafter
be intimately connected with our commerce, as it
extends into China and Japan. Australasia is now
in its transition, colonial state, FESTIVE under the
yoke of the mother country, and destined within
half century to be independent power. The
spirit, though the strength possesses the colonists
for converting that great country into new
public. II is far removed from Great Britain to
remain in unnatural state of subsection, subject
TO a crippled colonial commerce, when the hour
rives for to break from the thraldom of its infan
cy.
Malaysia is an important region. 1t includes the
islands of Suada, Borneo, Sunatra, Java, Celebes
and the Philippine isles; and the Inhabitants having
once been great commercial people, doing an inn
dostan, and with the Maacca peninsula where
they originated, it is very probable that our Cali
fornian and Pacific trade will, at no distant
day, revive their commercial spirit, and lead to
those intimate relations with China and japan
which are now so desirable. These islands abound
in great staples in pre- cious stones gold,
ivory and spices, and ask for an intercourse with
the civilization of the great American continent.
Polynesia, embracing multitude of islands, and
archipelago upon archipelago, is not less important
than the other regions we have named, to the
great future that is arise for this country, from
our discovery of the wealth of California, and It's
rapid settlement by our people. Many Of its islands
will eventually become the watch-towers of ma
iions; and it will be prudent, on our part, to take
early measures, which will eventually facilitate
the means of protecting our own western coast,
and Of guarding the South American portion of this
continent from the attempts, under the Pdlmerston
policy, of planting small monarches in that region,
as checks the progress of republican institutions.
Under these circumstances, and in view of the
vast mercantile march OF our countrymen upon
Asia, the policy of our government is simple, plain
and urgent. Already the merchants Of our great
cities, with that wise sagacty that often precedes
the perceptions Of statesmen, perceive the impor-
lance of action. They know the value OF opening
diploma tic and CONNIE rcial relations with var jus
parts of Polynesia and Malaysia, as well as with
China, and will c Itinue TO urge the appointment
of some one who is capable for such work, to
carry out the intentions which maaifestly should
animate our government. Mr.. Aaron III. Palmer
has been named for the mission, by those who
know his qualifications for such office No
better man could be selected, because Mr.. Palmer,
for many years, has been intimately connected
with the regions we have named, and Is &C.
quainted with the people His practical know
ledge would be very important to the country;
and, under his auspices, the mercantile public
might reasonably anticipate that negotiations
would be commenced, ultimately to end in great
profit to this country. 1t is to be apprehended that
the government may be unconscious of the vast
importance Of the mission, and, if disposed at all
TO create it, that they will throw the labor oft
upon come one not skilled in the practical under
standing of the subject. This would be a serious
error. In the whole history Of our foreign rela-
tons, there never has heen moment more i'm
porant than that which 10 TO influence the destiny
of our mercantile relations on the Pacific. Moaths
ago, we pointed out the necessity of such mission
as is now contemplated, and our anxiety for its
establishment IL only paramount TO our desire that
the right hind Of a man may be empowered to
make it effective When we suggested the i'm.
portanee of the measure, we had no one in con-
temptation suited to the Office; but Mr.. Palmer
has been commended, We cordially agree with
the mercantile public, that he is admirably quail
fed for the enterprise.