, 1859-12-30

u 6fbENAuSA GOhCI uE1pIG I'LL NrpQlultA
10y, necessarily involved Tho right to exercise
his power after that day had arrived.
Il this were not tue case. the framern Of the
Constitution had expended much 1nbor in rain. |
IIad they imagined that Congress would dposscss |
20 power to prohibit the trade either before or |
after 1908, they would not have TAKEN so much |
care to protect The States against the exercise Of
this power before that period. Nay more, they
would not have attached such vast Importance
10 this provision N to hare excluded il from the
possibility of future repeal or amendment to
which other portions Of the Constitution were
cxppaed. twou'd then have been wholly ua-
to cugraft ou the fi:ah article Of the
Constitution, prescribing the mode Of its own
future amcndmen,, the provise, "tbat 10
amendment which may be mado prior 10 the
year l606 shall iu no t.lnner affect the provis-
ion il tho Constitution securing to the States
the right to admit the importation Of African
slares previous tn that period,
According to the adverse construction the
elauae itself, on which so much care and discus-
s.on had been employed by the members Of the
convention, was au absolute nuIlity from The
beginning, aud all that las since been done un-
der It mere usurpation.
1t was well and wise to confer this power on
Congress-, bacauseflad II been left to the Stntes
its efficient sxercite would hare been impossible.
In that event any one State could have etlectu-
alty continued the trade not only for itself but
for all the other slave States, though never SO
much against their will, And why? Because
African slureR, when ouce brought within the
limits o&1pny one State, in accordance with its
ls,Fs, cdhrot practically be excluded from any
other State where slavery exists. And even if
al tho States had separately passed laws pro-
hibitiny The importation Of slaves, these laws
would have fued Of effect for want of a nnvul
force to capture the slavers and to guard the
coasts. Such g force 10 State can employ in
time Of peace without the consent Of Congress.
These acts of Congress. it is believed, have,
With xe1y 5ase and Insignificant exceptions, &c.
than half century there has been no percepti-
biz addition to the number Of our domestic
slaves. During fills period their advancement
in civilization has fur surpassed that Of any
other portion ofthe African rsce. The light and
1he blessings of Christianity have been extend
ed to them, and both their moral and physical
condition has been greatly improved.
Re open the trade, and it would be difficult to
determine whether the effort would be more
de1cterious to the interests of the master or On
those Of the native born slave. OF the e1ils to
the master, the one most to be dreaded would
| be the introduction OF Wild heather and icnor.
7! ant bRrtarians among the sober, orderly and
| quiet Slaves, whose ancestors have been on The
| sod for several generations. This might tend
| to harba13xe, dcmornlze and exasperatc tiie
whole mass. aud produce the most deplorable
| consequences.
| ne eueCt upon Tue C11SLlTb h!0Ee WOulu. Il
possible, be still more deplor4ble. At presen
he is treated with kindness and humanity. II.
I is well fed, well clothed, and not oycrworked
uix condition ia ipeomparnbly better than tia
OF the coolies which modern nations Of higt
civilization hare employed as a substitute 10
Afs5cau sEases. Boththc philanthropy and Feli
interest Of the mRsteF hare combined to produc,
this humane result but let this trade be n
opened and what will be the effect: The same
to q considerable extent, rs on a ncfglboriu:
island-the only spot now on cartf where I'll
African slare trade is openly tolerated; and thi
in defiance Of solemn treaties with u powe
/ abundant1y able at any moment 10 enforce thei
| execution. There the master. intent upo
the present gain, extorta from The Stare q
much labor as lis phys'cat powers are capt
bic Of enduring thut, when dcat
comes to his relief, his place can be supplied Il
price reduced To the lowest point By :ie con
petition Of risal African slave truders, Shoul
this ercr be the case in cur rcountrY-wfiich d
+ not deem pnssibIa-the present useful chara
ter Of the domestic institution, wherein thu.
too old and too young to work arc provided Fl
with caru and humanity, and those capable
| labor are not orertaskcd, would undergo all u
, fortunate change. The feeling Of reciprocal d
/ peDdence and attachment whi Il now exists b
tween master and sEife would te converted in
: mutual district md hostility
| But we are Obliged US Christian and NOR
nation to consider what would be the effect u
, on unhappy Africa itself if we should re.op'
; the slavc trade. THIS would give the trade
/, | impulse and extension which il has never IT,
i, even in its pat.nicst DAYS. The numerous VI
tins required to supply it would convert Il
: wl'o1c slave coast into perfect Pandcnopm
+ for which this country would be held rcspon:
h lie in the ewes both Of God and man. 1ts pct
= tribes would then be constantly engaged in p'
r daiory wars asainst each other for the purIsu
" of seizipg slaves to supply the American nj
d kel All hopes Of African civilization not
thus be ended.
On the other hand, when market for Afric
:, slaves shall no longer be furnished in Cuba, Il
i thus MI tue world will be closed against Il
- trade, VIC may then indulge in reasonable ho
r. for The gradual improvement Of Africa 7
i chief motive Of war An,ong the tribes will ce:
:. whenever there is no longer any demand
=. starcs. The RESOURCES Of tliat fertile but N
?; erabse country, might then be developed byt
=. hand OF industry aud afford subjects for leg
= mute foreign and domestic commerce. In
:. manner Christianity and civilization may CT:
- ually penetrate the existing gloom.
ir OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
81 The wisdom Of Tie course pursued by l.
Ic government towurds China has bcen yindica
ID by the crent. Whilst We sustained neat
:, position 10 the wnr waged by Great britain .
L. France against the Chinese Empire, our !
x Minister. IN obedience To his instructions, ju
se ciously CO operated with the Ministers Of III
ss Powers in all pcacefuf measures to secure
d, treaty the just concessions demanded BY the
= tercsts of foreign commerce The result
- that satisfactory treaties have been conclut
y with China by The respective Ministers Of
III United States, Crest Britain, Frnuce and Il
pit sia. Our "treatT, or general convention
-. pence, auasty and commerce." with that EmE
Ill was concluded at Misntsin on the 18th Ju
III 1855, aud was ratified by the President, by I
.. with The adyice and consent Of the Senate,
1lN fT,s WAT oEnr frt1otrinr
D. On the 18th December, 1858, John E. Va
',e distinguished citizen Of Georgia, was d
u, commissioned rs enroy extraordinary and III
he lister pleuipotentiary to China. lie left the |
se ted States for tie place his destination on
Id 9Th of February, 1859, bearing with him the
oil hac on the 25th May. From thence be proce
he ed to pekng, On the 10th june, but did not
[ul rire at that city until the eth July Accc
te. ing to the terms of the treaty the ratitieati
were to be exchanged on or before the 1stl
he June, 1859. This was rendered impossible
'fy essary to detail; but still it is due TO the Chin
nj authorities OF Shanghae 10 state that they d
9s' alwsys assured him 90 advantage should be
r. r. eeq Of the delay, and this pledge has been ia
st. IN the arrival Of Mr.. Ward at Pelin b.
as- quested M audience Of the Emperor to pres
Of bis letter Of credence.' This he did not OH
to in Consequence Of bis very proper refusa
'e* 4 submit to the huuifiaGng ceremonies reaui
ir- by the etiquette of this strange people III
u preaching their sovereign. Nevertheless
lc Interviews on this question were conducted
I'LL the most friendly spirit and with all due
lie gard to his personaf feelings and the horo
ro- his country When presentation t. bis Ma
n ty wxa found To be impossible the letter nf,
or dence from the President Of theUnised ST.
was received With peculiar houors BY kwell
" 1.-THE Emperor's Prime Minister and the sec
1 l. T.
zen lbc rati6cations Of the treaty were afterra,
err on the 18th Of August, exchanged in pro
10 form at rei-tsang. AS the exchange did
on take- place until the day prescribed by
to treaty. it is deemed proper, before its pull
as tion, again to submit it to the Senate-
on 1t is but simple justice to the Chinese au!l
oM tiles to obscrre, that, throughout the ri
a.. TRANSACTION they appeared to here a:ted ln 6
og- faith aud in ftiendly spirit towards the Uu
'ni- States 1t is true this has been done sfter 4
'ss- own peculiar fashion-but VIC ought to reg
with ienicnt eye the ancient customs OF an
~ as this may bc consistent With our natl,
~. honor. The conduct Of our minister on the
M. casion has received <ny entire appreciation
~. In orderto carry out the spirit Of this tire
r., aud 10 give it full effect, il became ncces
mn 10 conclude two supplemental convention
M. OF the claims Of our citizens, md the o
.ar 10 fix the tariff on imports md exports,
NOT Vlrfa.i sI rt.: Th:s 49, ~sS 49,: =:
~ torily performed By our late minister. T
'o' conventions bear date at Shanghai On the 81
November, 1855. Having been consiaere
on hne NSnt " ntuaS a.NssS 80
,sEs cution without dclas, tl,cy do not protid.
the my 'osmal .a.'easea W ~; =. . .as
-;sa ;s, deemed necessary by the Chinese, who ar
l ian in <tcnH faith tn enffSfr
the feaoy pfoeeeolnE 70 so90 te!'I W saus'! ~
| EIAtN1A 04 our E4k1xCUSA QQQA II IL AUQCut +"