The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-25
+ (From the New York Herald.)

~ + . (From the New York Herald.) it
Interesting from Warrington.
The Great Chinese Question-Reply of General
Cass to Lord Napier-PolScy Of the Admin-
sstr"tio" in Retsrenceto Chinese A6airs--Ap-
poin.tn'em Of ". b. Reed, Of Pa., as minister
to CAina-His Instructions based upon r. j..
Walker's Programme Proposed Voyage
to China, vic London, Paris, AeSaa7ria and
the Red Sea, etc.
WASHINGTON, April IA.
On Saturday last, the reply prepared by
the Secretary of State, Gen. Cass, to the
propositions advanced by the British govern
ment concerning the affairs of China, was
transmitted to the British Minister, Lord
Napier. This reply covers over twelve pages
o! manuscript, equal, perhaps, to one of the
closely printed news columns of the Herald;
ana emoodies, with great clearness and pre-
cislon, and with pervadng spirit Of comfy,
candOr and triendiness towards England. the
dist'nct views OF our government touching
the present all-impOrtant crisis in the affairs
OF the great central f1owery kingdom.
One OF the principal objects entrusted to
the diplomatic skill of Lord Napier, was to
procure from the government at WASHINGTON
an active and allied cooperation, diplomatic
and military, with England and France. in
their present determination to remove all the
existing Chinese barriers of exclusion. poll
teal and commercial, against the outside
barbarians," and to open up that great and
prolific country, fully an completely, to an
untettered and commercial intercourse with
the rest of the world. In pursuance of this
general object, Lord Napier was charged
with instructions from Lord Palmerston to
indicate to our Cabinet the satisfaction it
would confer upon that of England, should
the Hon. X. j. Walker be selected as our
ambassador to China. This remarkable ap-
plication in behalf of Mr.. Walker is easily
explained. When he was appointed Minis
ter to China in 1853, he drew I'D a pro-
gramme of what he considered should be the
active, practical, positive and comprehensive
policy of the United States out there. A
copy of this paper falling into the hands of
Mr.. Champion, it was despatched to Lord
PalmerstOn, who was so profoundly impress
ed with the grand practical policy thus laid
down as heartily to desire the active Coop
erative services of the author, in this present
corresponding movement of England and
France.
Accordingly, the first official application
of Lord Napier at Washington was in be-
half of the appointment of Mr.. Walker to
China as the man best adapted in behalf of
the United States to aid in and facilitate the
accomplishment of the common desires of
Christendom in regard to the chinese en-
pire. But, unfortunately, the President had
already selected Mr.. Walker as the most
suitable agent for the paciication of Kansas.
Mr.. Walker had accepted this delicate trust,
and of such importance did the administra-
ton consider it, that Lord Napier was given
to understand it must take precedence even
over the pressing claims of China. This,
too, Notwithstanding the personal nterposi-
ton of such diverse politicians as w. II.
Seward of New York, and Senator Gwin Of
California, in favor of Mr.. Walker for Can
ton instead of Kansas,
But the whole Chinese movement Of our
government has been otherwise duly consid-
cred and almost perfected, with an eye to
the leading elments of Mr. Walkers pro-
gramme. The precise views of the admins
tration were laid by Gen. Cass before Lord
Napier in his note of Saturday, which was
followed up by the appointment Of VIM. b.
Reed of Pennsylvania, as full Minister to
the Celestial Empire. also understand
that Mr.. Reed, with all convenient despatch,
will proceed in government steamer to
Southampton, thence to London and con-
ference with Lord Palmerston; thence to
Paris and a conference with Lonis Napoleon;
thence across the Mediterranean in British
passenger steamer to Alexandria in Egypt
thence to Suex, tho Red Sea down which
he will proceed in British steamer to Alden.
From Alden Mr.. Reed will proceed direct to
China, where, simultaneously with his arri-
val all the American vessels Of war in the
East will be collected, with some important
additions, under the command, probably, of
Commodore Perry. This was feature of
MIR. Walkers programme of 1853.
The United States government declines
the entangling policy OF a military and po-
lit cal alliance with England ard France in
Chinese affairs. The reason assigned by
General Cass in the premises rest upon the
established policy of the country. He con-
ours in the opinion that no measures within
the reach of diplomacy should be left untried
to open the gates of China to the commercial
and political intercourse of the world but
he declines copartnership in Chinese war
as a contingent of the French and English
policy. Our government, independently,
will use its best efforts with the government
of China, whether of Hien-fung or Tae-ping-
wang, to the common ends proposed by the
two great European Powers; and the fact
that the Gushing treaty will soon expire by
act of limitation, creates the direct occasion
on our part for this movement for larger,
more universal and more permanent conces-
sions.
1t is possible, too, that Mr.. Reed in China
may receive some voluntary assistance in
support of the common cause of all civilized
powers from Russia. She has an agent at
Pekin in the double capacity of political am
bassador and local patriarch of the Greek
church, who may become useful assistant
of ours before the game is ended. Then,
again, it is believed here, that the hundreds
of thousands of Chinese, who have made tie
trip to the gold mines of California, will con-
tribute in considerable degree to tine en-
lightenrent of their government concerning
the power and resources of the United
States. In a word, the United States pur-
pose no holy alliance with England and
France, but an independent course Of con-
current diplomacy for the same common OBJ
jects of open ports, open rivers and open
country, and under the prestige Of power
full squadron.