Des Arc citizen., 1859-12-21
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 s;s5i fie i wisdom of the course pursued by his Government toward China has been indicated by the event Whilst we sus- tained neutral position in the war waged by Great Britain and France again7t the Chinese empire, our late minister, in ooe- dience to his instructions, judcidouslv CO., operated with the ministers of these Pow CTS in all peaceful measures to secure by treaty the just concessions demanded oY the interests of foreign commerce. me
 ,esult is that satisfactory treaties have
 been concluded with China by the respec- i've ministers of the United States Great Britain, France and Russia. Our "treaty | or general convention of peace, amity and commerce." with that empire. was con cluded at Tientsin on the 18th June, 155s, and was ratihed by the President, by and with the advice and consent oe the Sem
 ate, on the Fist of December following.
 On the 18th of December, 1858. John
 E.. Ward, a distinguished citizen of Geor- gia, was duly commissioned ns envoy ex- 2 traordinary and minister plsnipotentiary 3 to China. He left the United States fol T the place of his destination on the 9th oi s February, 1859, bearing with him the rati l. fled copy of this treaty, and arrived 'e Shanghai on the 2Sth of May. Fro1 f n- thence he proceeded to Pekin on the loti e. June. but did not arrive in that city untl to the 27th of July. According to the term as of the treaty the notifications were to he exchanged on or before the 18th of Jun' nd 1859 This was rendered impossible b in reasons and events beyond his control, m ni- necessary to detail: but still it is due ,n- the Chinese authorities at Shanghai,
 state that they always assured him no we vantage should be taken of the delay, al be this pledge has been faithfully redeeme the On the arrival of MT. Ward at Pek re- he requested an audience of the Emper lsts to present his letter of credence. This uh- did.not obtain, in consequence of his we 'ver proper refusal to submit to the humiliati into ceremonies required by the etiquette the ghis strange people in approaching tn and sovereign. Nevertheless the intervie un- on this question were conducted in usly most friendly spirit, and with all due cess gard to his personal feelings and the ho nber of his country. When a presentation
 His Majesty was found to be impossi' rs of the letter of CT ,dence from the Pr' na- dent was received with peculiar honors rade. Kweliang, the Emperor's prime mins' pedi and the second man in the empire to on to Emperor himself The notifications of hibit treaty were afterward, on the 10th of such gust, exchanged in proper form at sting tsang. As the exchanges did not 0 the place until after the day prescribed by
 treaty, it is deemed proper, before it's I on on lication, again to submit it to the Sen ed to It i but simple justice to the Oh per to authorities to observe that, throughput It did whole transaction, they appear to trade acted in good faith and in friendly s @ find towards the United States. It is true
 Con- has been done after their own pec' re pe- fashion; but we ought to regard wi "a and lenient eye the ancient customs of aa should pire dating back for thousands of V gn na 90 far as this may be consistent witt gre ex- own national honor. The conduct ol e 10th m mister on the occasion has receive
 entire appreciation.
 had Tn order to carry out the spirit Of al pri- treaty, and to give it full eff ct, it be' and to necessary to conclude two supplem ade at conventons--the one for the adjust ious to and satisfaction Of the claims or on'