The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-05
From the New York Evening Post.
ME. MARsHALLs CONTROVERSIES IN CHINA

The Times Of this morning publishes a yo-
luminous correspondence-or rather q volumi-
nous portion of still moro yoluminous CORES
pondence - between Mr. Marshall, our late
Commissioner to China, and Mr.. Marcy, the
Secretary of State, including letters between
! Mr. Marshall and Commodore Aulick, Com
dore Perry, and DR.. Parker, the Secretary of
| Legation by whom Mr.. Marshall was accom-
panied to China. The substance of these let
tiers ia, that Mr.. Marshall got himself entan-
! gled IN q series Of quarrels with almost every
| body with whom he had any official dealing
! Mr. Marshall having addressed letter to
! the Emperor Of China, which had received no
answer, and growing in patient Of the delay, de-
sired to proceed to Pekin to present bis creden-
| tials and open o negotiation. He had obtained
in February last, from Commander w. S
Walker, the promise of the corvette Saratoga
which was TO convey him from Canton to the
place Of his destination. Commodore Aulick,
who then had charge Of the East India ,quad-
ron, beipg informed of the arrangement, coun-
fernandez it. He wrote to Mr.. Marshall that
he wanted the Saratoga for particular SER
vice; that Mr. Marshsll's opinion of tho pro
priety of sending public ship with hin to
Pekin was not enough; that If Mr.. Marshall
would show him any Instructions from the
American Government by which no was em-
powered to require the use Of q vessel for the
purpose, he would comply with them; other
wise he must decline his request Mr. Mar
shall was obliged to sabmit, Tor the present,
but wrote to Mr.. Marcy that he had been
treated with gross dscourtesy, and suggesting
that he should be furnished with instructions
empowering him to demand the use of public
ship when he found occasion for it,
Commodore Aulick left the station, and was
| IL ~, IT, 81,
Ger Mr.. Marshall made another application
desiring that one ship of the squadron should
be left at Shanghai, where MIR. Marshall then
was, for his protection and that of the property
of the Americans at Shanghai, and also to give
| Mr.. Marshall the means of proceeding on his
mission. This request was refused By the Com
modore, aud Mr.. Marshall unbosoms his com
plants of this treatment at great length to Seo-
rotary Marcy, calling it an indignity to him in
his official character, which it belongs to the
Government to redress in G proper manner
While Mr.. Marshall was at Shanghai, occur
red the misunderstanding between the Ameri-
can merchants and himself concerning the pay
ment of duty on their cargoes. The revenue
officers Of that port, alarmed at the approach
Of the rebels ran away, leaving Shanghai for
tho interim free port Mr. Marshall, instead
of leaving the American traders at liberty to
take advantage Of this circumstance, created
the American consul, Mr. Cunningham, tenn
porary collector of the customs for the imperi-
alists, and caused the duties to be paid as here
tofore, which, Of course, made the importers
his enemies.
Finally, a. quarrel arose between Mr. Mar
shall and his Secretary of Legation, DR.. Peter
Parker letter was addressed to DR.. Par
ker by Mr.. Edward Everett; it was opened
and read by Mr.. Marshall, who then forward
ed it to DR.. Parker. This led to an angry cor
respondence between the Commissioner and
his Secretary of Legation; DR.. Parker styling
the act an illegal and improper one, and Mr.
Marshall justifying himself on the ground that
the letter was an official paper. This is quar-
rel number four. None Of these disputes are
now of much consequence, nor should we have
thought of giving this history of them, except
as they illustrate the i'll luck Of our Govern
ment of late years, in habituslly sending abroad
as its representatives men who, by character
and temper, are not fitted for the charge which
is given in their hands.