The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
NO. 621.

.,,,or IN his Lordship's attention. They did So
h. Reed wrote a very courteous note to Lord
I.,;n. reciting the complaint OF the Chinese
nmmissioners, and saying that their manner
making it had been entirely unexceptiona-
l. while their complaint, if the facts were true,
ras clearly just-and he took the liberty
therefore,. of bringing il to his Lordships notice.
ord Elgin answered substantially that Mr.
ICED was engaged in negotiating treaty for
!. American Government, and that he was
yidently fearful that Mr.. Ley would interfere
nh II in some way, or prevent his securing all
h.. advantages he desired. He had only to add,
La, he approved of everything that Mr. Ley
II said and DONE After this, it is not at all
,a1r,bable that some English official SO far
.-,o, what was due to the ordinary intercourse
| /. 'e.ntlemen. as to tell Mr.. Reed-as the Times
thor exultingly alleges-that his sentiments
,.,a more Chinese than those'of the Manda-
M His answer to Lord Elgin, although the
Times will scarcely appreciate the fact was
l,t If a gentleman who could not permit HIM
m IN FORGET what was due to good manners,
won for the sake of rebuking unprovoked i'm
,rriinence.
:. II Is quite easy to see, from this narrative,
hat there was no little personal ill-will on the
.,rt of the British Envoy towards MIR. Reed
hal il had its origin in his early perception of
H.. fact that Mr. Reeds position with the
Cb;nes. Government was decidedly better than
~. OWN. and that he had advantages of temper
!. well as of manner, which proved to be
.ually available in the negotiation. And it is
lisa easy to see that it is only these same feel
mo-, u personal jealousy and resentment, on
h, part of the British legation, which have
smd Expression though the leading columns of
tn. London Times.
The Times charges Mr.. Reed with having
al the last moment suddenly sought solemn
audience with Baron Gros, and represented to
him that il was the height of oppression. to in
Isl alon anv resident embassy at Pekin that
rt.. free transit through the country was a most
,,le,s and offensive demand and that the ad
iional ports never could be agreed to- The
,upr,,sion sought to be conveyed is, that this
,a, done ciandestinely-tha mine was sprung
!. ,hr last hour, which, from its secresy and
rnidable character, came very near proving
t,ial 10 the English treaty. This impression is
1.rlv lmfounded. Mr.. Reed said nothing to
E.arm Gros which he had not said ii dozen
inc, To Lord Elgin. He said nothing secretly
.h,h Ia. had not over aud over again said
..-uly iIe did unqucstionably urge upon the
t4riIn Envoy the belief that he was making
| .Ul
Pen ar practical results, and would 80 exasper-
'- thu Chinese Government and people as To
render the practical execution of any part of
III. tr,.y matter attended with constant diff
rilt. and danger, even if 1T should not prove
nl4e,,ille lie had no concealments on this
POINT from Lord Elgin or anybody else; and
r4. plea which the Times puts forward-that it
telling nothing which was not freely talked
. a ia the heet-shows how absurd is the pre-
,.a,. that Mr.. Reed poisoned the mind of Baron
| Gao, IN secret and solemn audience Mr..
L,,.i i. also reproached for having endeavored
. To- preclude the smuggling of opium into China.
- tai ~ having used strenuous endeayors to
i.r,i ridc Lord Elgin to consent to such an eX-
fusion goes Mr.. Reed is fairly obnoxious to
'lr reproach and Lord Elgin is entitled to the
r.lit of having steadily refused to assent to
| ,lch a measure. But it is not true, the
Times alleges. that all the eminent American
house, in Hong Kong deal in that drug Be
nd the fact that it is sometimes used as a
uyenient mode of making remittances, we
have very reliable assurances that this sweep
.le assertion has no foundation whatever.
e. The remainder of the article of the Times
devoted to an exposure of the alleged worth
ig,,n,.,, of the treaty negotiated by Mr.. Reed.
That must remain a matter of opinion. 1t
ng,t be- remembered, however, that Mr. Reed
aru, out-not to press any large demands, or
sam any new concessions-but To reHeU the
| r,y>ions of treaty which was on the point
F rNpiring by It's own limitations. That he
aromIIished this object fully, any one who
,1ils the treaty, as given in our columns this
a,rnng, can readily see. A large portion of
clauses are in nearly the same terms as
ao,c Of the treaty of 1916, though some clau-
4 Il. l.,
a'ye an important bearing upon our CONNER
aa interests. Lord Elgin moreover, evident
did not think 50 badly of some of its provis-
rms Is the Times now affects to do. Under
ae old treaty, American vessels paid tonnage
lulcs at the rate of tire mace go cents) per
I- and this was reduced, through Mr. Reed,
fa''r mace perton, 10 cents, upon the ground
Eat the registered tonnage of our vessels is
yfth more than that of the British, this re-
i.clon of the rate was necessary, to make the
iir> equal. Lord Elgin, hearing of this
.-iion insisted upon similar reduction in
BE- British treaty, and thus sought to perpetu
h. the advantage of British vessels over our
But whether the treaty is advantageous or
t. a question for the Government and Peo
81 the Inited States exclusively, and we do
q icel called on Ia enter upon any vindica
BON Of ITS provisions against the structures of
'at London Times The result will undoubt
i.l show which nation pursued the wisest pol
l"r the wisdom of any national policy is
II tested 10y the practical benefits which fol
Is rs adoption