Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-19

On tue 18th December 1888, John r. Ward, q dlsn-
gushel citizen OF Georgia, duly commissioned as en-
extraordinary and minister pienipotenary to China
He left the United States for the place Of his destination
on the 9TH OF February 1852 bearing with him the ati
fled copy of this treaty, and arrived at Shanghai the
18th MAY From thence he proceeded to Peking the
18th June but did not arrive in that city until the 9th
July. According to the terms of the treaty the ratca
tons to exchanged before the 18th June 1852
This rendered impossible by and events be-
yond his CONTROL not necessary to detail but still
due to the Chinese authorities at Shanghai to state that
they always assured him no advantage should Oe taken OF
the DELAY and this pledge has been faithfully redeemed
On the arrival Of Mr. Ward at Picking he requested
audience OF the Emperor to present his letter OF credence
This he did not obtain, i'll consequence OF his very proper
refusal submit to the humating ceremonies required
By the etiquette of this strange people in approaching
their sovereign Nevertheless the interviews this
question conducted in the most friendly spirit and
with all due regard to his personal feelings and the honor
of his country When presentation to his Majesty was
found to be impossible the letter Of credence from the
President was received with peculiar honor by Kwciang,
1.-THE EmperOr's prime minister and the second man III
the empire to The Emperor himself The rltiiicaUns
of the treaty afterwards the 10th of August
changed in proper form ut Pe-sang As the exchange
did take place until after the day prescribed by the
treaty it is deemed proper before its publication again
to submit it to the Senate
It is but simple justice to the Chinese authorities to OBJ
serve that throughout the whole Transaction they appear
to have acted in good faith and in friendly spirit To-
their peculiar fashion but ought to regard
with lenrnt eye the ancient customs of empire da-
ting back for thousands OF years. 50 far rs this may be con-
ssunt with our own national honor The conduct of
minister on the occasion has received my entire appro
! baton.
In order carry out the spirit o. this treaty and to
give it full effect it became necessary to conclude two
supplemental conveutions-tlc for the adjustment
aud satisfaction of the claims OF our citizens, and the
other fix the tariff imports and exports, and to reg
ule the transit duties and trade OF our merchants with
China. This duty satisfactorily performed by our
late minister These conventions bear date at Shanghai
on the Sth November 1853 Having been considered in
the light Of binding agreements subsidiary to the princi-
a treaty and to be carried into execution without delay
they do not provide for any formal ratification or eX-
change OF Publications by the contracting parties This
was not deemed necessary by the Chinese who already
proceeding in good faith to satisfy the claims OF our cltl=
zcns, and it is hoped to carry out the other provisions
OF the conventions Still thought proper to submit
them the Senate, by which they ratified on the 81
March, 1859. The ratified copies, however did not reach
Shanghai until after the departure OF our minister to PeknS,
and these conventions could not therefore, be exchanged
the time with the principal treaty No doubt Is
entertained that they will DO ratified and exchanged by
the Chinese government should this be thought advisable;
but under the circumstances presented, shall consider
them binding engagements from their date on both par.
es ard Cause them to be published such for the IN
formation and guidance of merchants trading with
the Chinese empire
II affords much Satisfaction 10 lnlOi you tll al
our difficulties with the republic OF Paraguay have been
satisfactorily adjusted 1t happily did not become neces-
sary employ the force for this purpose which Congress ha
placed at my command under their joint resolution OF
"a june 1858. On the contrary the President OF that
republic in friendly spirit acceded promptly to the just
and reasonable demands of the Government oil the United
States Our commissioner arrived ut Assumption, tue
capital of the republic the 2jth Of January, tS99, and
left it on the 18th of February, having in three weeks
ably and successfully accomplished all the objects OF his
mission. The treaties which he has concluded VIII be
immediately submitted to the Senate
In the view that the employment of other than peace
tul means might become necessary To obtain Just sails
faction from Paraguay, strong naval force WAS cohcen-
tr.ttd III the waters OF the IL Plata to await conhgcA
ces whilst our commissioner assembled the rivers to Is
sumption The Navy Department is entitled to great
credit for the promptness efficiency and economy with
which this expedition was fitted out and conducted. IL
consisted Of nineteen armed vessels great and small car
rying 200 guns aud ? 500 men, all under the command
of the veteran and gallant Shubrick The entire eXpe-
Of the expedition have been betrayed out OF the ordi
nary approat for the naval service except the sum
OF $3.50 900, applied to the purchase Of seven OF the
steamers constituting part of it, under the authority "i
the naval appropriation act OF the 81 March Last 1t Is
believed that these steamers worth more than their
cost and they are all usefuy and actively employed
in the naval service.
Tie appearance OF so large force, fitted out In such
prompt manner in the far distant waters of the La Plata
and the admirable conduct of the officers and men en-
poyed in it, have had happy effect in favor OF our coun
try throughout all that remote portion OF the world
Oar relations with the great empires of France and
Russia well with all other governments on the CON
tncnt of Europe, unless we may except that o spun,
happily continue to be OF the most friendly character
In NY last annual message presented statement o!
the unsatisfactory condition of relations with Spain
and regret say that this has not materially improved
Without special reference other claims, even the ecu
ban claims" the payment of which has been ably urged
bv our minister's and in which more than hundred oi
our citizens are directly interested remain utsatsisd
notwithstanding both their Justice and their amount
SIPS 35 5i had been recognised and asccahed by Tie
Spanish government itself.
| again recommend that an Appropriation be made 10
be paid the Spanish government for the purpose OF
distribution among the claimants in the Amistad case
In common with two of my predecessors entertain no
doubt that this is required by treaty with SPAN oil
the 9th October 1895 The failure To discharge tins
obligation has been employed 10y the cabinet Ut Madrid
as reason against the settlement OF our claims
need not repeat the arguments which urged in my
last annual message in favor Of the acquisition Of Cu
by fair purchase Ny opinions that measure remain
unchanged l. therefore, again invite the serious atel-
ton of Congress to this important subject. Without
recognition OF this policy their part will be almost
impossible to institute negotiations with any reasonable
prospect Of success.
Until recent period there good reason to believe
that should be able to you on the present
occasion that our difficulties with Great Britain, arising
out of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty, had been finally
adjusted in alike honorable aud satisfactory TO
both parties From causes however which the British
government had anticipated they have not yet com
plced treaty arrangements with the republics OF Hondu-
ras and Nicaragua i'll pursuance OF the understanding be-
tween the two governments. 1t Is nevertheless,