Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-10-05
The War in China

ASSo a. SiiC WOuIu VI Cuc IcluO, HAS much SgnlQ-
,ance, and may be pregnant with important results
All the accounts represent the British as having
been disastrously repulsed. The last Washington.
Constitution contains Dispatches from Commodore
Tatnall Of the United States Navy, narrating with
minuteness the recent events in China. We give
the following condensed statement: lass.
"Flag Officer Tatnall says the British officer in
charge of the gunboats having visited him. said moth
ing about aid, but his silent appeal was powerful
indeed. During the few moments he was on board
the Powhatan he would look anxiously at his ad-
miral and at the boats. latter he left" continues
officer Tatnall ~ held conversation with our
Commissioner, Mr.. Ward, and he agreed with me
perfectly that under the circumstances of our posi-
ton with the English and the aid the admiral had |
rendered me the day before could not do less than
tow the boats to his relief made the offer, which
was thankfully and promptly accepted. While the
boats were making fast to the hawsers which I
veered astern, insisted on Mr.. Ward and his suite
leaving the Ioey. Yam and going on board one of
the junks for reasons which will be obvious. He
at first reluctantly yielded and left us, but
turned in one of the English boats, declaring that
as the 7oey YAM was his home, and going under
fire with his his appreciation and concurrence, he
would remain in her, 1 reluctantly yielded to his
gallant impulse"
Capt Tatnall towed the boats through the Brit
ish line, to within short distance of the Admiral
whose flag was flying when casting them off he re-
tired to the rear of the line and anchored for the
night He took up this position as it might enable
him to aid the wounded and should the boats be
sunk to rescue the crews. In other words, to afford
all the aid consistent with neutrality.
Having been informed by British officer that the
Admiral was dangerously wounded, Capt Tatnall
went in barge to vsist him. When within few
feet of the Cormorant, round of shots struck the
boat, killing the coxswain, Mr.. Hart of Brooklyn,
New York, and slightly woundng Flag-Lieutenant
Trenchard They reached the Cormorant before the
boat was entirely sunk.
Capt. Tatnall says the Chinese Commissioners had
previously notified Mr. Ward of their arrangements
and requested him to accompany the British and
French Ministers to Peiho. 10 this he consented
thereby, to a certain extent, assuming the same
platform with the latter. The sincerity of the Com
missoners was much doubted at the time
1t seems to us that Commodore Tatnall, prompted
as he naturally and properly by feelings Of gen.
rosty towards his British friends, went farther than
the rules of neutrality strictly construed will justify.
He was influenced, no doubt, by Mr.. Ward the
American Minister.
The Chinese people and government have uni
formly manifested more friendly feeling towards
the United States than Great Britain. There are
three good for this: 1st the United States
| permitted them to come to California and gather
gold, requiring them only to demean themselves as
good citizens while SO employed Great Britain has
not so treated them in Australia 3D. The United
States government is opposed to the Cooie trade :;
Great Britain founded that trade and annually carries
away thousands of Chinese and dooms them to per-
petual slavery or death in the West Indies Sd,
| A..
observed the principles of justice in its intercourse
with the Chinese government, and has made no
effort to force particular articles of commerce. as
Great Britain has done, on the Chinese people.
These advantages which our government has thus
obtained, ought not to be put in jeopardy by the
inconsiderate or impusive action of either Min.
lister or our naval officers
We give further particulars as follows:
1.-THE City of Baltimore and Vanderbilt brought us
ample details of the disaster at the mouth of the
Peiho, but the papers now at hand contain addition
al particulars. IAN Eyewitness" in letter to
the London Times thus speaks of the attitude oil
the Americans: 81 cannot end without referring
to one matter that in connection with this battle
should be ever remembered. Were we children oil
the same mother we could not have received more
sympathy and kindness thar met with from the
hucIiCdllS NcStI hcIc iicu iuoiC I'LL" iIiiuSiJ
neutral. As we passed in to the assault Flag Off
Tatnall was heard to say. Blood is thicker thar
water" and in hundred different ways he and all
his people, to the very cabin boys, acted up to this
homely proverb. When he heard that our Admra
was wounded, at great personal risk he went or
board the Cormorant to see him. Many Of our mel
slept i'm the American tender on the night of thu
fight. Segars, coffee brandy-evcrythng a mar
could want-was placed before theI. The Ameri
can crew forgot themselves, and thought only of thu
British.
A few days after the fight Chinese junk. with
flag of truce brought fresh provisions to the Pow
hatan, United States frigate. These were immedi
ately sent to our wounded. The bond of American
brotherhood was indeed deeply cemented in ou
in the fleet who did not feel it growing up within
him, and am sure there are thousands, if | ma.
not say millions, at both sides of the Atlantic VIII
will Join me in the fcrvent wish that that feeling
brotherhood may take deeper and deeper root ii
both lands.
The London Times, in an editorial in which
censures Admiral Hope for his too great confidenc
and consequent defeat, concludes its remarks as fol
lows: 1t is more easy to found than to restore su
premacy, but in the execution of the duty whic
devoves upon England and France it is an unspeak
able qualification to find that we may rely, at a
events, on the sympathies of the great Anglo Saxo
, republic. Whatever may be the result of the fight
, England will never forget the day when the deed
and words of kindly Americans sustained and CON
forted warriors the waters of the Peht
! Other English journals also acknowledge the kint
ly sympathy of the Americans.
The official dispatches of Admiral Hope are pull
lished in the Gazette, but add little of mportanc
, to the accounts already published" .'.
i W Henry S. Foote, formerly Of Mississippi
formerly of California still later of Mississippi br
now, we believe, of Tennessee has taken ground
:, Judge Douglas for the Presidency. Foote is pr
!. cious specimen in the way of political consistenc
J. and honesty In speaking of squatter soveregnt
d Mr.. Foote uses the following language: land no
J. should like to know what enlightened friend
cicn and RELIGIOUS freedom in this country will ca
u this doctrine in question:" Now, we should lii