The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-24
China and lis Government.

We find interesting information in regard 10 the
Chnese in late California paper II is estimated thai
there twentyf thousand of the Celesilals in Cali
forna-w which they call Kin Shan literally Gold Noun
tanand we have recently seen them in own Streets
their swarlhy countenances filled with wonder al the
cuuosiliss which they Ind among the "barbarians." II
is probable that We shall have many more OF them with
ia few Year,, and everything relating TO their country
is OF interest Boston Journal.
sThe government of China, in its inception and siruc
true PROFESSIONALLY pararchal, and has always
been considered TO be SO but The modas opsramdi OF its
machinery proves il TO be one OF the most absolute and
unmugated systems of despolsm upon the lace oil the
earth. The people have no voice or influence IN the
choice OF their supreme rulers. Each Emperor names
his nor IS the name OF successor known
until after the death OF an Emperor Each Emperor writes
the name OF the successor he wishes TO succeed him
upon slip Of paper, deposllng the same IN some sale
and secret depository known only to himself and
to wbomsoever he pleases TO make 1t known On
the death OF the Emperor this paper is opened by
those who possessed his confidence, and thus his
successor becomes known, ascends the throne, and is
acknowledged by the people. The Emperor Is me
supreme head OF the nation; all power, both over the
lives and property OF his subjects, centres In himself;
and, natural consequence, all power rank, or DIS
Qclion must and do emanae from him. His VIII is The
supreme law Of the land HIS fla, cannot be opposed
without The danger OF loss OF HE and the contlscaon OF
property He is known by number OF hgh-soundlng
but fulsone titles, such Tion Whang Celestial, Au-
gust. infinite knowledge perfect in virtue, Tien Tsze
Son OF Heaven &c. He is addressed when approached
by his highest officials, with titles equally absurd and
ridiculous, as Wau- Suye, Sire of ten thousand years
and Pchia, beneath the iootstool, accompanied with
prostratons The present dynasty Tartar Is called la
Using The great pure dynasty and the present Emperor
Ham Fung, the seventh who has regned under this dy
nasty, young abouttwo and twenty years OF age
who assembled the throne on the death OF his father The
late Emperor, Tan kwang, who died in 1851 Some idea
may be formed OF his imperial establishment from his
having attached TO il an extensive harem and some 1--we
thousand eunuchs 10 superntend il and do the work OF
menias.
1.-THE concubines who compose the harem are the
daug hers OF Nanchus and additions made to ii about
every third year by the Emperor himself selecting from
among the daughters OF his mobiles and officers such as
may please him who twelve years oil age. The
parents OF the children consider advantage, II not
honor 10 have their children in the imperial haem The
harem composed Of legal concnbnes, and an un-
limited number OF illegal ones The Illegal ones are re-
stored TO liberty at the age OF twenty-five Years, unless
they have borne children to his Majesty; in which
they retained in the haem doubtless for the purpose
OF rearing the children they have borne
"Ihe table of his Majesty is daily supplied with thirty
pounds OF meat, seven pounds served up IN soup lard
two fowls. TWO ducks, the milk of eighty cows, seven
parcels Of tea.
The table of her Majesty is supplied with thirty
pounds of meat thirteen of them boiled up with vege'a
bes, fowl, duck twelve pitchers Of water, the milk
of cows and ten parcels of tea Her Majesty
maids and the concubines have their fare minaely spec
fed II The possession of unlimited power and the super
abundance of The good things o this world could make a
man happy, would naturally suppose the Emperor Of
China one Of the happest moaIs living The details OF
interesting information may be found in work called
Hwin TEN
"The Chinese have u written code of laws, the germ
of which may be found in the writings OF lie kwe who
wrote some twenty centuries since, with which have
been incorporated, from time TO time, the ethics of Keng
iu.iz. Conuclus Mang fu.irze Mencus and others OF
scripts of many Emperors The Chinese style their pres
code of laws Ia tsing uh lisalu,es and rescrps Of
the great pure dyr asiy, edition OF which is pub
| lshed every FIVE years.
Their code OF laws revised abou, the middle Of
the seventeenth century. under the Emperor Sunche and
is arranged under heads VIZ general civil fiscal
ritual, military, and criminal
Unfortunately, the execution OF the laws of the EN-
pire is committed to whose ruling passion is cupid
Fty, aud whose main aim is self -agg randxement and
hence the people oppressed by those who should be
their guardians and protectors"