The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-15

it until the Emperor declared his willingness to
sign the treaty Of 1872, by which the Island Of
Hong Kong was ceded to the British. aud Annoy,
Foo-Choo, NDgpo, ShaDghae and Canton opened
to the world. Caleb Gushing on behalf of the
United States, signed similar treaty to that Of
the English 1--WE give 1t in another column) in
the year 1874.
Such is the diplomatic history of the past As
to the facts the treaty has been partly evaded
by the Chinese, and partly by our people. We
have frequently heard of lawless behavior on
the part of Englishmen aud Americans in China;
ano of The five ports only Canton and Shanehae
bave ever beea Of the slightest USE Into Can
ton no foreigners have been allowed to pene-
tuate. There have been squabbles from time to
time between the authorities of China aud
our representatives abroad; but nothing of sny
moment
The main reason why we require to send out a
new Minister to China. and to arm him with pc
culiar powers is that our treaty expired by liui-
taton Oh the Sd July, 1856. Mr.. Reed will
thas ftd the ground clear. 1t is to be hoped
that he will be able TO fulfil the plan traced by
Mr. Walker and to obtain from the Chinese not
only permission to trade to all parts of the coast
without hindraDce, but to penetrate the cOuntry,
and build railroads, telegraphs and steam ma
chipery wherever the people can pay for them
The Great W Ork or the Ago the Laying or
-. the Telegraph Cable. -
Various correspondents and editors in different
parts Of the country eudeavor to excuse Mr..
Toucey for refusing to permit our reporters to
accompany the expedition which is about to lay
the telegraph cable, by laying the blame of the
act on certain petty clerks in the Naval Depart
ment at Washington. 1t may be true that Mr..
Toucey has bad little to do With the ungracious
refusal we have met with; it certainly smacks OF
the ignorance and impertinence Of the clerks in
the circumlecution Office; but we put 1t to the
correspOp dents who have written to US on the
| subject, can we under any circumstances go be-
hind Mr.. Toucey? Are we not bound to hold
him responsible for the acts of his Department?
We beg to assure these gentlemen that they are
in error in imputng to US hostility to their friend
Mr.. Toucey; what we know Of his past career is
not to his dscredit, and we are fully prepared
to do him ample justice. But under the circum
stances how could we act?
Undoubtedly, measuring things by their eff
fects the laying of the telegraph cable between
Newfoundland and Ireland is the leading event
of the nineteenth century. This is made appa-
rent by the least reflection. instantaneous CON
munication between the shores of Europe and
America-and We have the best reason for be-
lieving that communication will be instanta-
neous-wil necessarily revolutionize trade 30
ciety, government and civilization. Speculs-
ticn in cotton corn aud money will be continued.
no doubt, but on entirely different principles.
The purchaser In London will be made aware OF
the receipts of cotton at New Orleans aud Sa-
vannah on the very day on which he concludes
his purchase and our corn and stock brokers' in
this city, will have on a placard before them,
when they meet in the morning. in their ex-
changes, the ruling,London, Paris and Hamburg
prices Of the came day. Politically, the coBse-
quences Of the submarine telegraph must be mo-
mentcus For all practical purposes it will rem.
| der Europe and the United States coterminous
States. They will necessarily participate in our
political movements, elections and 20 forth; and
We, in like manner, shall be made eye witnesses
of theirs. Every morning at breakfast they will
hear what new vindicaton of the principle of
selfgoverpment and human dignity has seen the
light the day before in America; and we, in our
turn, will know, several hours before the actual
occurrence, what the great men of Europe have
said and done for science for letters, for econo-
my, and for truth. In one word, the submarine
telegraph will do mere to demolish exclusive
national barriers, and to spread healthy hu-
name cosmopolitan feeling among the leading
nations of the world than any other enterprise
/, or event that is recorded in the history of the
human race.
7 II was for this reason and on account of the
vast Importance to science, civilization, and
commerce of the laying of this first trans
oceanic cable, that we proposed to 60 TO un-
usual expense for the purpose OF presenting the
public with the earliest, most accurate, and most
complete account Of the ceremony. We deter
mined to secure the services Of two thoroughly
competent persons, whom we could send abroad
in the Niagara and her consort; engaging them,
at no common cost, to accompany the expedi-
ton from its departure till its return and 10 pre-
I pare full, correct and popular narrative for
public information. Actuated by the motives
which usually govern a leading daily paper,
we we're anxious to be beholden to no one, and
We proposed to pay for the loard aud other ex-
pcDses Ct our correspondents during their alb
sence; so that the only favor which we had to
ak Of the Secretary of the Navy was permission
for our representatives to stand on the decks of
the vessels during the day, and six feet OF space
for their hammock at night.
That favor has been refused, on the ground
that there is a rule against ia id old OBJ
solete Iuie" and that the carriage of passen-
gers Is announcement 10 the navy.
We have no desire TO impute to Mr. Tou,ey
Guy worsc fault thon recent appointment to
\ ov1 xro l.osri IN A.