The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-10
MR. REED IN CHINA.--THE POLICY OF HIS MIS-
SION 3. IA. SSH.

The New York Tribune justly compliments Mr..
Reed for the manner in which he has discharged the
high and delicate trust confded to him by the Pres
ident. That paper thus indirectly--for Mr.. Reed
acted under specific instructions from Gen. Cass-
compliments the administration
Mr.. Reed his arrival found the great body of the
American residents hot for joining in the English
against Canton We have ourselves repeatedly defended
him for not yielding to this foolish clamor and the JUS
caon which this letter puts in for his keeping out of
that seems entirely conclusive"
He had no power to yield to any clamor which
might demand his cooperation with the belligerent
States against China Gen. Cass, in his letter Of in
structions to Mr. Reed said
sThe objects which it is understood the allies seek to
accomplish by treaty stipulations
IL. To procure from the Chinese government recog-
milton of the right of other powers to have accredited
ministers at the court of Pekn to be received by the
Emperor, and to be in communication with the author-
ties charged with the foreign affairs of the empire
-. An extension Of commercial intercourse with Chi
ma which is restricted to five ports enumerated in
the treaty.
3 reduction Of the tariff of duties levied upon domes
tic produce in its transit from the interior the coast as
the amount imposed is said to be violation of the
treaty.
son this subject you will be able to ascertain the true
state of the alleged grievance when you reach China and
to act accordingly.
"A. stipulation for religious freedom to all foreign
ers In China.
IS. An arrangement for the suppression of piracy
80. Provision for extending the benefits Of the pro-
posed treaty to all the other civilized powers of the earth
These objects recognised by the President just
and expedient and, far you do by peaceful
cooperation, he expects that you will aid in their
plishment"
"Tha country you will constantly bear in mind, is not at
rr Nth ae government Of China, nor does seek 70 enter that
empire for other purposes Than those Of LAWFUL commerce. and
for the protection Of the lives and property Of its citizens
The whole nature and policy of government must
necessarily confne action within these limits and
deprive of all motives either for territorial aggran
dzement the acquisition of political power in that dis
tant region.
and it is well known that the policy of the President
in respect to the neutrality Of our envoy has never
been modified
On the 10th Of April last Gen. Cass addressed
note to Lord Napier on the subject, from which we
make this explicit extract:
1.-THE United States have not been exempt from SINH
lar aggressons auding to alleged grievances of the
British in Chna and have had of complaint also
for the injuries which their citizens have received in Chi
ma; but these have been generally adjusted by the Chi
authorities, redress has been obtained by the
prompt action of our officers, that my immediate pre-
decessor felt himself justified in saying to commits
sioner in China in despatch of February 81 1857 that
our relations with that country did not warrant resort
to war; If tho President could constutonay have
recourse TO that extreme measure.
careful examination of the reports and dispatches
in this department leads to in this opinion"
We have taken SO much pains to apply the COM
plmentary language Of the Tribune to the admins
tration which, as that paper viii readily sce is
titled to the credit Of whatever good has out Of
the peaceful policy of the government in reference to
the Celestial Empire. We do not intend in this to
reflect upon Mr. Reed He has acted with great
good sense and TO the entire satisfaction, have
no doubt of the President II is well, however,
since the public journals Of tho day publishing
lengthy accounts from China, and concur in award
ing Mr.. Reed exclusive credit for what is certainly
due to the admirable policy Of the administration,
that they should BIO referred to the record.