The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-12

Our readers are referred TO the following most interest
ing letter from OF our officers at Canton under date
OF June 20:
MY DEAR SIR You cannot imagine the depth OF in
erest here, in this Oldest OF the old empires with
which we hail the incoming OF every months mail,
eagerly searching for the current intelligence from
own countryside newest of the new. This interest
is, OF course, confined TO ourselves for the Chinese
tour hundred millions OF hem) asleep-moray,
cialy and politically asleep With the most productive
and most delightful region OF The globe-with those sim
pie and palriarcha habits and manners which form the
best possible subslratum which the principles of self
government may granuate-so absolute is the monarchy
under which they enjoy this sumbering ethargy that
their condition is scarcely equa-cerainy not superior
to that of the Russian serfs.
1t is said that Great Britain has great designs upon
this country-that she intends to drug its people with
opium until they shall sleep soundly that she may
march lew hundred red coats and Sepoys from Hong
Kong to Canton, and even TO Pekn, with impunity If
may Judge from English conversations in China, the
tide certainly sets in that direction.
But new light is breaking in upon them from the
East When, during the tendency OF the proposition to
annex Texas to the Union some ten years ago, General
Jackson in conversation at the Hermitage alluded to
the western destiny OF our country and lis institutions he
said that in less than half century their influence would
be felt across the Pacific into China it, indeed they should
not throw that ancient monarchy into commissions. Ii
the last two three years brisk trade has opened be-
tween China and California, with vessels stopping either
way the Sandwich Islands The newspaper editors OF
California Polynesia, and China carry their editorial
sparring the journalists OF Boston, New York,
Philadelphia and Baltimore. Indeed, these have become,
with US, the papers Of local interest When look to-
wards home, look through California and Oregon, not
through British India-to the East and not 10 the West.
When the line of steamers between China and Cali
ornia shall be established, may expect that American
merchants in great numbers will establish themselves at
the five open ports from Shanghai 10 Canton, and at the
Portuguese settlement OF Macao Our adventurous and
enerprising Yankees with capital will seek and find for
tunes here, while thousands of Chinese aborers will
visit California search for the precious metals. And
it will be found in this case, in all similar cases. that
transportation and travel fail TO increase with the
increase of their facilities.
How long, them may il be ere a few thousand Calfor.
mans may be landing at Shanghai, and marching
few miles back into the richest tea and silk regions OF
the empire The prac,icabity of the exploit in the event
of war with China is unquestionable 1t is not so
much further the than from New York to
Vera Cruz. The passage has been made by sailing yes
sells in some thirty three days Give years notice OF
a British and Yankee foot-race for the imperial city oil
Pekn-the former starting from British India and the
latter from San Francisco at the same time-and who
doubts that the odds time would be in favor of the
latter tits clearly evident that California opens her
mines of wealth we are becoming more and more form
able to the English commercial rivals in China. And
the shadows of coming events tell us that the "Old
Chief" was right in his predictions.
The papers by this months mail announce that 7. A.
R. Nelson esq, OF Tennessee, is coming round to take
the place Of Mr. Davis, late Commissioner here. II
he secures standing in China good that of his pre-
decessor will be sgnay fortunate for the government
as we'll as himself.
The United States ships Saratoga and Marion are now
in and about these waters and the steam frigae Susque
hanna, bearing the pennant Of Commodore Aulck, is
expected to join them in the OF the The
officers of the Saratoga gave grand ball on board al
Hong Kong a week or two ago. said TO be one of the
most brilliant affairs OF the kind that has ever come of
here