The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-31
FROM CHINA.
CANTON, March 10, 1855.

FROM CHINA.
CANTON, March 10, 1855.
To the Editor ofhe National Era:
Yesterday was day of great rejoicing over
recent success against the insurgents. Early
in the morning, attention was attracted to the
/ frequent firing of cannon near the city. 1t was
soon discovered to proceed from war-boats,
which were Coming in from the southeast.
| These continued to arrive during the forenoon,
! and cast anchor at different points before the
| city. The firing of cannon continued Shile
the boats came in, and it seemed as g the
dreadful sound of war was at our doors. But
the display of rebel flags, and the loud demon
! STATIONS of Joy, made it evident to the { ulti-
tudes who crowded the banks of the river that
a victory had been gained over those who were
in arms against the Government.
About noon, they began to land prisone s, OF
whom they had about 800, loaded with ct aims,
and attended by guards, armed with sv ords
and spears; they were taken inside the city, to
| undergo a trial. This consists in being tor
tured most cruelly, until they confess taem-
selves guilty. 1t is contrary to law to take a
mans life until he makes confession; therefore,
no means are spared to cause the accused to
comply with the law, and they succeed as well
with the innocent as the guilty. The law is
executed with commendable rapidity, as will
| appear, when tell you that 200 prisoners have
| been tried sentenced and executed, within
thirty hours after they were landed. The exc
cution ground was not large enough for all at
once, 80 they were divided into two companies.
A gentleman told me that he witnessed the
execution of l44 in the morning. The victims
are carried to the execution ground in baskets,
or cages. They are made to kneel in line,
and the executioner, walking behind, with a
long, heavy knife, sewers the head from the
body at one blow. Two of the prisoners were
noted characters, and they were dealt with in a
different msnner, to make signal examples of
| them; they were tied to crosses, and cut into
many pieces, beginning at the hands and feet.
Since the commencement of the Chinese new
year, twenty-five days, not less than 1000 men
have been decapitated at this place.
| If in this visitation of the vengeance of law,
we could see the supremacy of justice and or
der, it would be some compensation for such
wholesale destruction of human life. The facts
of the case however, show that the tyranny OF
irresponsible power wreaks its vengeance on
the innocent, in its eagerness to destroy its ne
mics. The Imperial soldiers have mostly Eeen
acting on tae defensive, because they had hot
the boldness to attack the enemy except wlen
compelled. Recently, however, the insurgi nts
have been dispensing, either from want OF
money or provisions. In this way, the city OF
| Fatshan, one of their strongholds, was des ert
| ed, few weeks since; after which, the soldiers
bravely went and took possession of the plAce,
gathered up number of the inhabitants, and
brought them to this city, as trophies of their
victory. About month ago, the rebels made
an unsuccessful attack on the island of Honam,
opposite this city. Many of the villagers were
seized by the soldiers, and taken as rebels, be-
cause they did not keep them away. For more
than week, we could daily see smoke ascend
ing from houses fred by the soldiers, and hear
of cruelties inflicted on men and women, guilty
of no offence, except living where the enemies
of the Government had been. The probability
is, that one-third, or more of those executed,
are peaceable, inofending men, who had been
unavoidably placed in the company of the in
surgents.
1t must not be inferred, from the above, that
it would be advisable to change the existing
Government. The rebels are of the same class
of men, and have the same debased moral
character as those who now govern. If the
power were to pass into their hands, they woisld
| WELD it with the same cruelty and vengeance
| that characterize its present possessors. in
| this Province, where the religious element does
not enter INTO the rebel movement, the existing
| Government is to be preferred because it pas
sesses an organization which could not be 1t.
tanned in many years by those who might s.
coed them. in time of peace, degree of b
erty and safety of person and property Bas
| been enjoyed, which we would hardly expect to
| find under an absolute despotism. Notwith-
standing the cruelty and oppression to which
the officers have subjected many, yet the better
class of people seem to know that they have
little to hope from change of rulers. The
choice, therefore, appears to be between the
present Government, with all its evils, and an
archy, the most fearful state in which society
can exist. AS yet, no man has appeared
among the insurgents in this Province, whole
influence is sufficient to control and unite tie
various bands who are pillaging the country,
and bringing untold misery upon unofendipg
and peaceable meh and women. The thirst for
plumber is too strong in the breasts of the mass
of rebels to allow of united and persevering ff.
fort for any higher purpose. Patriotism. AID
philanthropy are not likely to be characteristics
of those whose minds are degraded by heather
| ism.
1t is likely that the recent reverses of tie
rebels will cause their dispersion for a seasoA 4,
at least, and allow partial return to businei 5
We have no news of importance from t G
| North Several American vessels are abort
|
japan. h.
| Rev. THEODORE PARKER, one of the bitterest
of the New England Abolitionists, has been
strolling down in Delaware, entertaining the
shareholders there with discourse on Slavery
Richmond Wing.
If the Wing editor is in earnest in regarding
such discourses as entertaining, there is hope
of him; and we trust that he will either invite
some of these bitter Abolitionists to 90 South
under his protection, to lecture him, or that be
| will 90 North to hear them. Should they con
vince him that all the slaves of Virginia are
| worth less than the increase in the price o.
| land in that State would amount to within five
years after their liberation, as they could con
vince him, and should he proceed to convince
his fellow.citizens of this fact, as he should do
| then will great blessings proceed from the en-
tertainment afforded to Southern Shareholders
by these bitter AboItionists, one of whom is nov
strolling down in Delaware.
Con-. HENRY E. BALLARD, United States Ne
w, died at his residence, near Annapolis, Nd, oa
Wednesday night, 23d inst. He was over 70
years of age. he was native of Maryland
and entered the service On the I'd of April,
| 1904, over 81 years ago. He has not been at
| sea since 1889.
GEs. CHARLES GRArIoT expired on the 18th
instant, after a short illness, at the residence
of his son-in-law, Mr.. Charles P. Chouteau, Is
st. Louis, in the 6sth year of his age. He en-.
tered the Military Academy at West Point il