Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-06

The American Policy in China Mr. Reed
'begs" Treaty-T Tho American Minis
terra Tool ofthe Russians &c. Goa Blast
from Printing House Square.
From tho London Times, Oct. 70.


| American newspapers their reflex Of tho public
opinion of the United States upon the recent trea.
| ties with China. II s not n fnvor,tc subject with
our cousins, Cor il is one upon which they ron
not possibly persuade themselves that their dov-
ernnent has played manly part; but we are
pleased to TINT the nation, and especially that
the mercantile community, see cause for much
quiet Joy in the advantages TINT have been obtained
| II is not our custom here in England to crow
| very long and very loudly over successes won, or
after the event is over. to indulge in invldnous
comparisons between our own exploits anu those
| of other nations. wv can remember without
vaunlng, and trust to history to write our Annals
| true In the observations we are nbont to make.
therefore we have no intention of wounding tho
national VANITY of American citizens, or OF dong
more than To appeal to their own common sense
and to their own patriotism how inr they them
selves have hecn well served in the recent nego-
| tialiona.
! From the commencement Of the rupture with
thu Chinese authorities, tho position OF America
has been one Of complete security. Her interests
dill not res, rs they did previously to the treaty
| Of r t. upon n mere confidence, however we'll
grounded that England would continue to pursue
generous policy, and would hold open Tor tho
wor! ihc door which she had forced open by her
own power The United States had n direct stip-
ulatian with the Chinese Government, that they
| should participate in any privileges thht might
thereafter be granted to any other Power. IL was
quite open TO them. therefore, to look ON from n
distance. and to quietly take possession ot com
mon interest in my CONCESSIONS TINT England
might obtain Perhaps it had been wiser
course, it certainly would have been II less cx-
rcns,e course had she contcnted herself with
this attitude She, however thought otherwise.
Mr. Reed was despatched to China US the Plcni-
poicniinry Of this irst-ratc Power. The pnciho
character of his mission was shown hy hls he
ing sent out in IL ship which was more powcrless
tlnn ,,lIn far
of coercion Before leaving the shores OF his
native country Mr.. Reed was feted by the COM
lncrcia community. lie Toasted that he was
not II profes siona dipomatist, but n man of plain
mother wit; he rcnounccl all crooked proceedings
and secret ntrigucs, and promised To act ns III
fact all frst-rate dpomatists do act with candonr
and resolution. In due time Mr., Reed arrived in
the Chinese waters We pass over the iirst cir
cumstanceS of his ambassndorlal career. His Sc
crS ever'nres to ich. were not. perhaps, very de
muslraiyc of his candour, and the resignation
with which he submitted to the snubbing admin
ist.rcd to him by Ich was not very crcdltablc la
his resolution Such aS it was, however, Il was "
Diplomatic future. 1t was the essay Of n tyro in
thelowcr walks and hy.paths of diplomacy. II
wns like the rude attempts ofa countryman to I'M
itae the tricks of uselcr Had he sturk To his
hotcst common sense he might have held his
own: but his clumsy attempts at sleigbt of hand
only made the old rroicssed jngglcrs smile at his
AM the Of action was moved to the Peiho.
Thther Mr. Reed followed, and Ivy the MD and
| ullcr the protection Of the English and French
gus lac was enabled to proceed up the river. Wo
! dunot ask what night have been expected Of linn
| th,rc ls the representative Of IL close ally and
| kiismau Power we ask only what he might DO
expected Ia do as the agent Of his own counrymcn
| W, had right to speculate that the man who
WI sent out by the American people to watch this
important business should look closely after Amer
| icai interests We knew that next to ourselves
| TIN Amcricaus are interested in commerce wtl,
! Gina.
! looking liIc ahead mud having regard to her
| intoasinr population. lcr growing ofcottpn. and
hei sumption Of tea and silk and il is scarcely
todmurh To say that the American people are
| mr" vitality interested in opening up tins great
RECON 10 the industry md to the wants Of ihc An
| gldSaxon race than even We humebrcd English
are The interests oi tho two nations were insrp-
arahc. We both had tho Z" favonrcd nation clause
and therefore, the utmost that either got must he
shard by the other. II might have been magi-
ned lnt man of common sense and - mother
wit would have taken u plan business view uf
| the question. and would have been content to give
the moral weight Of his oountry's influence to tho
caus Of civilization. To the astoushment even
of tn Russian, who had not hoped for so fond
dupe the American Minister was found to he
Ameica's most intractable enemy. Whether he
had ome private crotchets of his own or whether
he tn ught-a common error with sniatterers--that
the Ways of diaplomntist must necessarily he
tortuous, he was always on the side OF the China
.nnd always against his own countrymen. He
oncewe are told, in no confidential or diplomatic
conversation. was told by English official that
his sediments more Chinese than those Of
the Mnnrins, and that he would be better at the
! Cour of Pekin than a Minister for II civilized
State and his answer avowal that he
thou hit very much as tho Chinese thought upon
| II. Il. IL
the hglish aud French demanding natural
right for all mankind Mr.. Reed begged atrcaty
for hmselfand his nation. That treaty is now be-
fore 1t consists of thirty articles, and is the ex
act rHasnre Of what America would have obtained
if, evn with the advantage of the English and
Frenh guns, her interests had been left to the
Management of her own Representative.
Th first article of this document provides that
'If nv other nation shall act unjustly OF oppres
sive, the United States will exert their good
Office, on being informed of the case, to bring
abou an amicable arrangement of the question:"
not fvery substantial stipulation, and only re-
| marhble as commentary npon Mr.. Reeds doca.
red csire to avoid entanging alliances. The fifth
artic, confers on the United States the right to
send, Minister to Pekin. but under condition
that is not to stop there, or to have more than
| 20 pesons with him, or to come into the Pelo in
n shi of war. to stay when his business is done
or to,ome without having business to do. Tho
l4hArtcle opens 10 American commerce the new
| pot Swatow and Tai-wan both of which al
repdy in undisturbed exercise offoreigh commerce.
BIT this most unnecessary article, as we read the
t,atys is clogged will the provision that any sub
| iet of the United States engaging in contraband
tide shall be dealt with by the Chinese local au-
tbrties, without protection from the Government
| othe United States.
/ When it is remembered that Mr. Reed was most
creful to use terms which should include the
| i,portation Of opum-in order, as it was sug
| lEted, to spite the British for their crusade