New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-18

authority swayed by him in bis acquired douia-
ions. The real government has returned 10 tae
scattered local chieftains, who have furnished %
their relative and suzerain the most efficient
troops of his army but only in consideration oil
suitable gifts of money or merchandise in return.
Thus weakened by the want of center aud OF
All concert of action, the Manchoos and their
country could not fail, as the event has proved.
to become q prey to their grasping and enter
prisiDg neighbors of the North.
The pending civil war in China offered too good
an opportunity to be neglected BY man OF the
stamp of Mursvieff. The pretext he employed
was the interruption of the trade between Russia
and China, caused quite naturally, by this very
war. This trade has hitherto been conducted
overland by caravans, having their depot, accord
ing TO treaty and long usage, at kiakta on the
Siberian frontier; but last year this commerce. If
not altogether stopped, was seriously diminished,
and the caravans were unable to return with
their usual quantity of Chinese products. Here
upon Murayieff notified the Celestial Government
that this state Of things could not be tolerated and
that a new and secure channel for the traffic
must be provided. OfeOurse. that Government,
being at the time engaged in desperately defend
ing its own existence, could not pay any attention
to such notice, and the Russian Governor soon
proceeded to attend to il himself in the most
efectud manner, by Selling the province inques-
ton with its invaluable river and harbor, BY
means of which the trade hitherto confined to
Kiakta can now be conveniently transacted with
Shanghai and the other sea ports Of China thus
securing for Russia the privileges from which
she, of all the nations having treaties with China,
has heretofore been excluded. Indeed, it seems
that this coastwise trade has even now become
active, and that the years supply Of tea has al
ready been sent to Russia by the new route. Or
course the Russians have promptly taken care to
fortify the mouth of the river. 1t is there that
the main portion Of Admiral Paniu1n's heet-a
part of which only was at Petropavofsk during
the recent attaek-has taken refuge from the
more powerful allied squadron pursuing them from
the Chinese waters.
The possession of the Amoor totally changes
the relations between Russia and her colonies on
the Pacific Hitherto, for want Of such means
Of communication, the Home Government has
been obliged to send supplies and stores for KANT
chatka Sitka and all its posts in that part OF the
world, from the Baltic by the tedious and expen-
sve route of Cape Horn, one or two ships being
yearly dispatched for the purpose. But now, there
ia an almost uninterrupted water communication
to the Baikal Sea in the Siberian province OF IT.
kutsk; and We learn from our late Californian
Journals that steamboats, are already plying there
The artillery, munitions and veteran soldiers en-
ployed in the late defense Of Petropsvlofsk came
down by this new route, and intercourse be-
tween the European settlements Of Siberia and
the ceast, hitherto impossible, will now become
comparatively easy and frequent. As conse-
ouence Punishment to Siberia will by and bye
cease to be perpetual seclusion from intercourse
with the civilized world, and the Gar Will nave
10 discover some new and less accessible region
for his penal colony. But apart from this rather
distant result, the event is one pregnant with
important issues. An important ship-building
station can hardly fail to grow up at the
mouth of the river, a soon at least as the
cessation Of the present war shall allow Of such
expansion. Inexhaustible forests Of oak and pine,
said to be of the best quality, ase easily accessi-
Bile, and will naturally be put to use. The Rus
slams Oh the Pacific freed by mere remoteness
from the deadening striagency of the Czarian des-
potism, coming out upon broader and freer
sphere, and stimulated by the splendid example
presented on the opposite shore of that ocean,
may possibly attain there historical development
and discharge function in the economy of hu-
mainly, denied to them upon the soil of their
native continent. But, however this may be, it
is certain that for barbarous, besotted and decay
ing Asia, the permanent presence and action
of this new disturbing element is fact whose
significance no thoughtful observer will despise.