The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-04-26
FIFTEEN CENTS A WEEK.
Policy of the Court of China.

The conjemnatory edict of December l, 1850,
prescribing Muhchanga, the late Emperor's Minis
ter, and the Commissioner Keying, is published in
the ShaDghae North China Herald of January 18th.
lhls unexpected action, on the part OF the youth
iul successor of Taoukwang, indicates the ascen-
dancy of party dametrcatly opposed TO foreign
interests in the Imperial Councils. Keying was
the Trainer of the treaty with Great Britain which
opened the Chinese ports to foreign commerce, and
the influence of Mnhchanga was successfully ey-
ered TO procure its ratification by the Emperor.
From the influence OF these two statesmen, above
all Others, the commerce Of the world anticipated
the gradual development Of a more liberal feeling
and policy towards foreigners and it is greatly to
be apprehended that their irrerievabe disgrace and
degradation, effected by so summary and tyrannical
a process, will be succeeded by other measures cal
culated to obstruct foreign intercourse and trade.
EXTRACT FROM THE SPECIAL EDICT.
Muhchanga, then, by fictitious representation,
has deceived us and kept us in ignorance of the
real state of affairs around us. Herein lies the bur-
den of his offence
As for Keying, his unpatrotc and puslanmous
policy is to us a matter of unmixed astonishment.
When he was at Canton, for instance, he seemed
only anxious to make our people TO subserve the in
terests of foreigners, all the while overlooking the
claims OF his native country. Is not this evident
from his proposal to throw open the gates OF thai
city, whereby he violated the principles of Heaven
outraged the feelings of man, and all but intro
it Is beyond human power to divine!
Our late lamepted parent, however, having seer
through the dupicity of the man, forthwith recalled
him TO the capital and, although he did not discard
him from his service, he only awaited a fit opportu
nifty for doing so.
Recently, during private interview with our
selves, Key,ng spoke freely to us of the Engsf
foreigners, how they were to be dreaded, ant
strongly urged upon us the necessity of mild anc
conclliatory policy, supposIng that we were no
Vla -.
| rank and emolument for himself Oh how fael
and degraded is he; the more he speaks the NOR
we discover this, that at last we have the samt
| contempt for him that We should have for will
yepng cur
| Muhchanga is a deep man, whom it is dfficul
to iathom Keying is shallow and easily found ou
hut their crime is one and the same-hey haze e,
| tdited Disgrace and injury upon their country.
| Were we, therefore, not to carry out the de
mands of the law, would this be ruling the peopi
| with proper selfrespect! Would this be filling tn
serious trust that has been put upon us by our rev
| erend parent.
Yet when We think of Muhchanga, that he ha
| heen an old servant of the Crown under three sui
| cessive reigns, we cannot endure the thought
| bringing meried punishment upon him all at once
| We, therefore, command that the sentence be con
| muied for the more lenent penalty of deprivato
OF all official rank and that henceforh he no onge
be employed in the service of the State. And as
hey,ng, although he is destitute of all strength an
firmness, yet he has been To some extent the crea
! ture Of circumstances; We command, therefore
| that lenency be shown him likewise, and that b
| BE- degraded 10 the fifth rank, to await employmeT
| in one Of the six Boards.
That these two individuals have been deceivin
| their sovereign, while they have been pronotin
their own selfish interests, must be evident to tn
| whole empire and Yet we have not treated theI
| with severe rigor, although il has for long tim
cos us intense anxiety Of mind in deliberating hoy
| 10 adiudica,e the case. Jour. ofCom.