Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-31

neal on amendment. 70 Ncn otisef pofiivhA q 1ie
Constitution = ere exposed. Il would. tlSen. have
ec wholly unnecessary 70 ensraft on otffls aTti
ele Of the Constitution, prescribing toe mode % us
0ua future amendment, tbs proFlso siai 40 aiaeil
nent which may be made prior 70 the year one 4
thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any man
per Affect the provision in the Constitution secuI-
ing 10 the States Che right 10 admit the importation
Of African slaves previous to that period
According TO the adverse CONSTRUCTION, the clause
itself on which so much care and discussion naail
been employed By she members OF me u,,
was an absolute nullity from the beginning and
az that has since been done under i mere usuf-
patton -.
i was well and wise to confer this power on Con
ress because had il been LETT to the States Us en-
ciert exercise would have been impossible In mat
event any one State could have efectualy continued
the f,ade not only for itself, bur for all the other
slave states though never so much against iheir wal
6od .xbv2 Because African slaves. when once
rouaht within the limits of any one state. IN ac-
card,see with its laws cannot practically be ex-
clude, from any other State where slavery exists.
And even # all the States. had separately passed
laws prohibiting the importation OF slaves, these
laws would have failed Of effect for want OF nav
force TO capture the savers and to guard the coasts
Such n force no State can employ in time OF peace
without the consent Of Congress.
These acts Of Congress. it is believed, have. with
very rare and insignificant exceptions, accomplished
their purpose. For period Of more than half
century there has been no perceptible addition TO
the number Of our domestic slaves During TINS
period their advancement in civilization has TAR sur
passed that of any other portion OF the African
race. The light and the blessings OF Christianity
have been extended 70 them, and both their moral
and physical condition have been greatly improved.
Reopen the trade, and it would be difficult to de-
termne whether the eectT Ould DC more delsterious
on the interest of the master or on those oil the naSe
horn slave Of the evils of the master, the one
most to be dreaded would be the introduction OF
wild heather and ignorant barbarlans amoag the
sober orderly and quiet saves5 whose ancestors
heve been on the soil for generations. THIS might
tend to barbarize, demOralize and eXasperate iie
wholemass, and produce the most depiorable eonse-
quences
The effect upon the existing slave would, II posi-
bic be still more deporable. At present he IS treat
ed with kindness and humanity. lie IS ell ted wen
clothed. and not over-worked hls eondiuoh Is IN
comparably better than that of the coolies, winch
modern nations of high civilization have employed
as substitute for African slaves. Both the phnlan
thropy and the self interest of the master nave
combined TO produce this humane result But let
this trade be roopened and what will be the erect
The same to a considerable extent, as on neigh
BORING island-the only spot now on earth where
the African slavetade Is openly tolerated. ana ms
| in defiance of solemn treaties with power aour-
| dainty able at any moment to enforce their eXecu-
ton. There the MASTER intent upon present gam,
EFFORTS from the slave much labor as ms phy 81
! cal powers are capable Of enduring knowing that
when death comes to his relief, his place can De
supplied at price reduced TO the lowest point by
! the competition Dl FiNal AitlCdh SlifN
! Should this ever be the case in our countTy-whch
do not deem possiblethe present useful charact6r
of the domestic institution wherein those too ola
and too young TO work are provided for with care
and humanity. and those capable Of labor are not
over-tasked. would undergo an unfortunate change.
/ The feeling Of reciprocal dependence and attach
ment which now exists between master ana Save
would be converted into mutual dlstrust ana nos
tility.
But we are Obliged as a christian and moral ma
1 20 ifantT hat
happy Africa itself if should reopen the slave
| Trade This would give the trade an impulse and
extension which il has never had. even IN ITS PAIN
! lest DAYS The numerous victims required to supply
it would convert the whole slave coast INTO perfect
| Paudemonium, for which this country would be held
responsible in the eyes both of God and man. Its
petty tribes would then be constantly engaged III
predatory against each other, for the purpose
of Selling slaves to supply the American market
All hopes Of African civilization would>thus DC
| ended.
On the other hand, when a market for African
slaves shall no longer be furnished in Cuba and thus
all the world be closed against this trade, we may
then indulge a reasonable hope for the gradual I'M
/ provement of Africa. The chief motive OF wal
| among the tribes will cease whenever there Is NJ
longer any demand for slaves. The resources OF tina
| fertile but miserable country might then be deYei
Oped ny the hand OF industry and afford subjects o
! legitimate foreign and domestic commerce. In TIM
manner christianity and civilization may gradually
| penetrate the existing gloom.
| The wisdom of the course pursued by this Gov
eminent toward China has been vindcated by thu
! event While we sustained neutral POS ton in tn
war waged by Great Britain and France against tn
Chinese Empire, our late minister, in obedience f
his instructions. JudiciJusly co-operated with th
! ministers of these powers in all peaceful measure
to secure by treaty the just concessions demanded
by the interests OF foreign commerce. ne result j
that satisfactory treaties have been concluded witt
China by the respective ministers of the Unlte
States. Great Britain, France and Russia. Ou
es,.-, 80 ifv an
commerce +" with that Empire concluded a
Tiensin on the 18Th of June, 1858 and was ratified
by the President by and with the advice and conSen
of the Senate. On the 2lst Of December following.
On the 10Th Of December, 1858, John h Ward
distinguished citizen Of Georgia was duly eommls
missoned as envoy extraordinary and minister pien
pOteatiarv to China. he left the United States 70
the place of his destination on the 9TH OF February
1853 bearing with him the ratified copy OF tins trea
| ~ and arrived at shanghai the Zsth OF May
From thence be proceeded TO Pekin on the 10th o
June, but did not arrive n that city tall the at
of July. According to the terms Of the treaty, TN
notifications were to be exchanged on or before IN
| 18th of June 1883 This was rendered lmposslbl
by reasons and events beyond his control not neces
sarY 10 detail but still it is due TO Chinese author
ties at Shanghai to state that they always assure
him that no advantage would be taken Of the delay
and this pledge has been faithfully redeemed.
On the arrival Of Mr.. Ward at Pel1n, he reques
ed an audience Of the Emperor to present his lette
of credeace. This he did not obtain, IN consequence
of his very proper refusal to sdbmit to the humllil
| ting ceremonies required by the ctiquitte OF TIN
strange people in approaching their sovereign. NeE
| ertheless the interviews this question were con
Quoted IN the most friendly spirit and with all du
regard to his personal feelings and the honor OF III
| country. When a presentation 10 his majesty wa
found TO be impossible the letter of credence tror
the President was received with peculiar honors b
| Kweang. 'the Emper0r's Prime minister, and IN
second man in the empire 30 the Emperor himself.
The Publications of the treaty were afterward, o
= the 10th of August, exchanged IN proper form :
! pei-tsanU. As the exchange did not take plaC
until after the day prescribed by the treaty, it
deemed proper, before its publication again to SUI
= NIT il to the Senate.
1t is but simple Justice to the Chinese authorize
to observe that throughout the whole transaction
5 they appear to have acted in good faith and IN
friendly spirit toward the United States. 1t Is tru
this has been done after their own peculiar fashion
but we ought to regard with lenieht eye the al
cient customs of an empire dating back Tor tho'
sands of years far this may be consistent Wit
our own national honor. The conduct OF our mn
lister on the occasion has received my entire appr
T. baton.
In order to carry ont the spirit of this treaty, an
to give il full effect it became necessary 10 conclud
two supplemental cOnvenuons-the one for the
iustmenI and satisfaction of the claims of our cit
zens and the other to fix the tariff on imports an
exports and TO regulate the transit duties and trade
our merchants with China. This duty was satsiact
I riy performed by our late minister. These Oavel
tlons bear date at Shanghai on the sth Novembe
e 1858 Having been considered in the light Of bin,
ing agreements subsidiary to the principal treat,
: and to be carried into execution without delay, the
r do not provide for any formal ratification or e
change of notifications by the contracting partlc
This was not deemed necessary by the Chinese, VIII
are already proceeding in good faith to satisfy tn
claims Of our citizens and il is hoped. TO carry on
the other provisions of the conventions. Still
thought it was proper to submit them to the Scnat
; bv which they were ratified on the 81 Of Marc!
1859 The ratified copies, however, did not reac
Shanghai until after the departure of our mlniStc
Ito Pen and these conventions could not, therefore
! be exchanged at the same time with the princP'
treaty No doubt is entertained that they viii b
ratified and exchanged by the Chinese government
I should this be thought advisable but, under tn
circumstances presented, shall consider them bln'
ing engagements from their date on both parSie
and cause them to be published as such for the ino
nation and guidance of our merchants trading wit
the Chinese empire.
Ii affords me much satisfaction 10 inform Won tina
+ all cur difficulties with the republic OF Paragua
have been satisfactorily adjusted 1t happily did NJ
become necessary to employ the force for this pul
, pose which Congress had placed at my command
, under their joint resolution Of ID June, 1855. q
the contrary, the President Of that republic. in
friendly spirit acceded promptly to the just and II.
sonable demands of the Government Of the | mite
States. Our commissioner arrived at Assumption
the capital of the republic, on the 18th of Januar,
1859 and left it on the 18th of February, having