The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-08

In commenting the other day upon the singular
course pursued by Mr.. REED, our Commissioner to
China, with regard to commercial relations
with that Empire we undertook to show that
instead of co-operating-as he should have done
with Lord ELGIN and Baron GRos in their efforts
to get rid of the many absurd restrictions which
had been imposed upon the American and European
trade with China, he sought to oppose their OBJ
tanning concessions which were of as much
importance to the UNITED STATES as to England
and France. Had the line of policy which Mr..
REED adopted proved successful, the consequences
would have been no less injurious TO US than bene-
fetal to Russia. 1t was of paramount importance
to the interests of the latter, that the Northern
ports of China, and the navigation of the great
rivers, should be closed against foreign merchant
vessels. For nearly century the foreign trade
with the Northern provinces had been concentrated
at Kiachta, on the upper waters of the Amoor
river, and had formed an important source of
revenue to Russia; whereas if perfectly free in
tercourse with the interior of China were allowed
the overland trade with Kiachta would be proper
tionably diminished. The territorial acquisitions Of
Russia on the Amoor river, and the gradual ex-
tension of her boundary in the direction of Pekin
rendered it then absolutely essential that the
UNITED STATES, in conjunction with England and
France, should provide counterpoise against the
undue influence which Russia was capable of ex-
erting upon the Chinese Government. To accom-
pish this result, it not only necessary to have
the sea-board ports and the great navgable rivers
thrown open TO commerce, but it was also
necessary that there should be direct d.
r1o t,p nj, +l,o
Pekin. This advantage Russia has enjoyed for
more than century through the medium of the
Russian College established at the Chinese capital,
and it was her policy to prevent if possible, other
nations from obtaining similar privilege
The opening of the Northern ports, and
the free navigation of the ng-tse-Kang
and the Peiho rivers unsealed to commercial
competition, an immense territory aud
superintendent population. 1t was at the North
also, that European fabrics were more likely to be
in demand-the chief articles of export to China
being woolens coarse cotton goods and cotton
twist iron, steel, lead, zinc and quicksilver with
some clock work and machinery So long as
the trade in these commodities was restricted to the
Southern ports all the goods that were destined
for the Northern provinces had to be conveyed by
canals ana rivers some Twelve nunureQ miles, 10
cross the mountain barrier that separates the
Northern from the Southern districts of the En-
pire, and to be transferred to barges on the other
sde-whether the goods were destined for the Capt.
tai, or for any of the other cities the Yang-tse
Kiang or the Peiho. The consequence of this
tedious and expensive mode of transport was,
that in country where at least two hundred
millions of the inhabitants are in the constant
use of the coarser kinds of cotton goods, not more
than one ninth of the cheaper fabrics of England
and the UNITED STATES that were exported to
China ever reached the Northern provinces at
all-the chief trade, even in those articles which
we could have furnished to better advantage, be-
ing in the hands of the Russians, who had superb
or facilities for sending those commodities overland
from Kiachta and Maimatschin, on the Amor
river to Pekin and the Northern cities. Who, then
can doubt that it was the manifest policy of Russia
to discountenance the opening of the Chinese EN-
pire to foreign commerce, and thus to monopolze
a large proportion Of the trade which, under other
circumstances, would be successfully wrested from
her by American and English competitors2 We
may allude moreover, to the further advantage
TO be derived from the concessions made to the
English and French Commissioners and of which
the chief benefit will to us. The inland
navigation of the Empire will call into requisition
numerous steamers of light draught, in the build
ing of which we excel and while it will
task the skill of our ship-builders and ma
chinists on the Pacific, will give to a considera-
bile share of the coasting trade. But, in order to
secure all the advantages to which we may justly
Law claim, it becomes the duty of our Government
towork in unison with other commercial Powers
vbose interests are identical with our own; and,
above ALL there must be adequate provision made
for the protection of our merchants in that quar-
ter of the globe. Not only should they be
guarded from the insolence of Chinese officials,
hut also from the attacks that are so frequently
made upon coasting vessels by the piratical hordes
that infest those seas. Experience has long since
proven, that the larger class of war vessels is
..-, ,,saIaso for tho r,rofection of nur commerce