Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-31

I hODeN
OF African civilization would thus be ended
On the other hand, when a market for African
slaves snail no longer be furnished in Cuba, ana
thus all the world be closed against this trade We
may then indulge reasonable hope for the grad.
ual improvement of Africa. The chief motive of
war among the tribes will cease whenever there
is no longer any demand for slaves. The re.
sources OF that fertile but miserable country
might then be developed by the hand of industry
and afford subjects for legitimate foreign and do.
nestle commerce. In this manner Christianity
and civilization may gradually penetrate the ex-
listing gloom.
| OUR TREATIES WITH CHINA.
The wisdom Of the course pursued by this gov.
eminent towards China has been vindcated by
| the event. Whilst sustain a neutral positio
| in the war waged by Great Britain and France
| against the Chinese empire, our late minister in
obedience to bis instructions, jadiciously cooper
ated with the ministers Of these powers in all
| peaceful measures to secure by treaty the Just
concessions demanded by the interests of foreign
commerce. The result is that satisfactory trea.
| ties have been concluded with China by the re-
| specuve ministers of the United States Great
| Bitsln, France aud Russia. Our treaty, or gen.
| al convention of peace, amity aud commerce."
WITH that empire was concluded at rientsin on the
| Is june 1888, ADD was ratified by the president
| by aud win the advice and consent of the Senate
| on tue 2l>t December following.
GA the 10Th of December, 1858, John +. Ward,
adls'lneuished citizen of Georgia, was duly com.
| misso' ed as envoy extraordinary and minister
| plenipotentiary to China. He left the United
States for the place of his destination on the Sch
of February, 1859, bearing with him the ratified
copy OF tois treaty, and arrived at Shanghai on
| the 18th May. From thence he proceeded TO Pekin,
on the 16ih June. but did not arrive in that city
| until the 9Th July. According to the terms OF
the treaty the notifications were to be exchanged
on or before the 18th June, 1859. This was rem
dered impossible by reasons and events beyond
his control, not necessary to deta bat still it is
| due TO the Chinese authorities at Ssanghae TO
state that they always assured him no advantage
should be taken OF the delay, and this pledge has
| been faitht uly redeemed.
On the arrival OF Air Ward at Pekin, he re.
| quested an audience of the emperor to present
his letter of credence. This he did not obtain, in
consequence OF his very proper refusal to submit
| to the Illuminating ceremonies required by tue
| etiquette of this strange people Ia appro aching
their sovereign. Nevertheless the interviews on
| the question were conducted in tue most friendly
spirit ana with all due regard 10 his personal
| feelings and the honor of his country. When a
presentation TO his majesty was found to be i'm.
possible, the letter of credence from the presiden,
was iecsived with peculiar honors by Kweiliaug,
the emperor's prime minister and the second
man in the empire TO the emperor himself" The
Publications OF the treaty were afterwards, on the
10th of August, exchanged in proper form at
Peitsang. AS the exchange did not take place
until after the day prescribed by the treaty 1t Is
deemed proper, before rs publication, again to
submit it TO the Senate.
1t is but simple justice to the Chinese authori.
ties TO observe that, throughout the whole tran
shCuOu, tuty appear W nave hCtcu III SOOu fatQ
and in friendly spirit towards the United States.
IL is true this has been done after their own pc.
cullar fashion; but we ought TO regard with u
lenient eye the ancient customs of an empire dat
ing back for thousands of years, so far as this
may be consistent with our own rational honor.
The conduct OF our minister on the occasion has
received my entire appreciation.
In order to carry out the spirit Of this treaty,
and to give it full effect, 1t became necessary to
conclude two suPResmneents one
OF our citizens, and the other to fix tue tariff on
imports and exports, and to regulate the tran sit
duties aud trade of our merchants with CHINA
This duty was satisfactorily performed BY our
late minister. These conventlois bear date at
Shanghae on the Stu of November, 1858 Having
been considered IN the light Of binding agree.
ments subsidiary to the principal treaty and 10 be
carried into execution without delay, they d. not
provide for any formal ratification or exchange
OF ratihcatons by the contracting parties. This
was not deemed necessary by the Chinese, WIN o
are already proceeding, in good faith, to satisfy
tue claims OF Que citizens, and, it is hoped, TO
carry out the other provisions OF the conventions
Sull thought II was proper to submit them to
the Senate, ny which they ratified on the
81 March, 1889 The ratified copies, however
did not reach Shanghae until after the departure
of oar Tainister 10 Pekin, and these conventions
could not, therefore, be exchanged ut the same
time with the principal treaty. No doubt is en-
tertaned that they will be rallied and exchanged
by the Chinese government, should this be
thought advisable; but, under the circumstances
presented, shall consider them binding engage.
ments from their date on botn parties, and cause
them 10 be published as such for the information
aud guidance of our merchants trading with the
Chinese empire.
THE PARAGUAY EXPEDITION.
1t affords me much satisfaction TO inform you
that all our difficulties with the republic of Para
quay have been satisfactorily adjusted II happily
did not become necessary TO employ the force fol
this purpose which Congress had placed at my
command, under their joint resolution of ID June
IA ha tna Ia, - Al
public. in friendly spirit, acceded promptly 10 the
just and reasonable demands of the government
o. the United States. Our commissioner arrived
at Asuneion, the capital of the republic, on the
25th of January, 1859, and left 1t on the 18th Of
February, having in three weeks ably and success
fully accomplished all the objects OF his mission
The treaties which he has concluded will DO i'm
mediately submitted to the Senate.
In the view that the employment of other thar
peaceab'e means might become necessary to OBJ
tain Just satisfaction" from Paraguay, a strong
naval force was concentrated in the waters of til,
La Plata to await contingencies, whilst our com
missioner assembled the rivers TO Asunciou. Tn,
navy department is entitled to great credit for III,
promptnesS, efficiency and economy with which
this expedition was fitted out and conducted.
consisted OF nineteen armed vessels, great anC
small, carrying POO guns and 500 men, all unde
tae command OF the veteran and gallant Shu
brick. The entire expenses Of the expedition
have been betrayed out of the ordinary appro
priations for the naval service, except tie sum o
steamers, constituting part of 1t, under the au
thority OF the naval appropriation act of the 81
OF March last. II is believed that these steamer
are worth more than their cost, and they are al
now usefully and actively employed in the nava
service.
The appearance of so large a force, fitted GU
in such prompt manner, in the far distan
waters of the La Plata, and the admirable con
duct of the officers and men employed in it, hav
had happy effect in favor of our countr
throughout all that remote portion of the world
OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
Our relations with the great empires of Franc
aud Russia as well as with all other government
on the continent of Europe, unless we may OK
cept that of Spain, happily continue to be of tn
most friendly character.
OUR DIFFERENCE WITH SPAIN YET UNSETTLED
In my last annual message presented a state
ment of the unsatisfactory condition of our rels
lions with Spain; and regret TO say that this ha
not materially improved. Without special refel
ence TO other claims, even the "Cuban claims,
the payment of which has been ably urged b
our ministers, and in which more than hundre
of our citizens are directly interested, remain III
satisfied, Notwithstanding both their Justice an
their amount (sl2s.035 54) had been recognize
and ascertained by the Spanish government ltsel