New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-04-15
Affairs with the Chinese Empire.

The deputation of gentlemen appointed by the
merchants of New York and Boston engaged in the
China trade to come to Washington and present to
the President their views in relation to that great
mercantile interest, have performed their errand, we
understand, and says the National Inteligencer of
the sth, their report will probably be made public on
their return home. In the meantime the Importance
of the subject induces to anticipate that report
by copying from the Washington correspondence of
the New York Evening Post theannexed information
substantially correct, We supposed the views and
intentions of the Government communicated by the
President to the deputation
The deputation Of Boston and New York merchants
who have been attempting toprocure the operation
of this Government with Great Britain and France in
the demands OF further commercial privileges from
the Court of China have left Washington tolerably
satisfied with the success of their mission They de-
sired no begerent alliance with foreign Powers, but
only that special diplomatic agent of the United
States of high grade should be hand at the close
of the war, so as to unite with the representatives
Of France and England in presenting claims for a
more extended intercourse with the interior of China,
and in sharing the general advantages of the expect
ed victory. The result, however, of their visit in
Washington is the assurance from MI. Buchanan that
sufficient naval and military force shall be sent to
protect the interests OF American commerce at the five
Chinese ports now open to it, although no partiCipa
ton can be taken in the hostilities waged by the
Allies. ..
I" Mr. Buchanan also intmated to the committee
that in accordance with their DESIRE Commissioner
should be sent to China clothed with special powers
to obtain such more liberal terms Of commercial rela
tOns with that country may be deemed practicable
Ii is understood that the President concurs in the
wishes of the French and English Governments in
reference to the concessions to be sought from China
by the leading powers SO far as such wishes have been
indicated by their respective Ministers at Washington
| The suggestion made by the commercial delegation
meets his approval 1t proposes union for the pur-
pose of obtaining direct face to face negotiation
with the Emperor himself including, of course, the ap-
| pointment Of full Minister at Pekin.
" The mercantile delegation at the White House
unanimously urged the pane of eX-Attorney General
Cushing, who, as Commissioner, had negotiated our
first diplomatic convention with China and although
the President is not apparently disposed to favor any
of the intimate friends OF his predecessor he has sig
ni6ed a readiness to yield to the application
Washington dispatch of the sth inst announced
that the mission to China had been rendered to til,
Hon. William, B. Reed, Of PHILADELPHIA and dspatel
of the 18th, from the place, declared that he hat
accepted the appointment. Both these dispatche
were published by us, and therefore the information
will not be news to our readers,
4 We have no admiration for Caleb Cushing as a man
but we are free to express the belief that his selection
would have been the best for the difficult and intrcat
Chinese mission at this time. He has had ntercours
with them-has met them in a diplomatic capacity
and this experience, necessarily, clothes him with ad
vantages of no ordinary character The Chinese ar
peculiar, selisolated people and must be approach
ed as SUCH FIVE would not have negotiations prov
fruitless. man who might make splendid Am
bassador to England and France would in all proba
biity, turn out worse than useless among the Celes
/ tials.
If acts speak louder than words,' it is positiv
that Mr.. Buchanan is determined to osracise til
friends of his immediate predecessor in office. Non
of them have been called to important position an
many of them have been superseded Well, this
the way of the world. Four years ago Mr. Pierce wa
regarded as the best Democrat in the land. Now hi
friends are repudated. Four years hence the sam
thing may happen to the adherents of the present
cnmbent. The wheel of fortune revolyes strangely
sometimes.