The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-12-31

. u :
nave excluded ii from the poss!bi,itv Of future y.
Ps@i OF amendment, TO which oIher portions OF Il
! SohSu'nuon were exposed. i v.ouI tLua. hly
oSeh wnoIIy unnecSSz.Iy 70 o.--!C ihe fifth art
S'N "i tue IonSttUtioo- pracrDG- ;he mode - j.
own future amendment III p-0ri>o -;sla. no araenl
meat whieh may ba made prior 10 the ycar on
thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any mar
ner affect" the provision in the Constitution secur
ing TO the States the right 70 admit the nportaric
OF African slaves previous 20 that period
According TO the adverse construction. the claus
itself. on which so much care and discussion hG
been employed by the .nbgrs Of the CouyentiDr
was an absolute nullity from the beginning. an
al. thar has since been done under il a mere usur
pation
1t was we'll and wise TO confer this power On Con
grcss because had been LETT 20 the States its Il
cient exercise would have been impossible. In tlla
event any State could have cficctuay continue,
The trade only for itself bur for all the othe!
slave States though never much against their viii
Aad why Because African slaves. when once
brought within the limits of any one state. in ac
cordance with its laws, cannot practically be eN
cludet. from any other State where slavery exists
And even f all the States had separately passed
laws prohibiting the Importation OF slaves. these
laws would have failed of effect for want of a naval
force TO capture the savers and guard the
such force no State can employ in time OF peace
without the consent of Congress.
These acts OF Congress il IS believed, have. with
very rare and insignificant exceptions. accomplished
their purpose. For period Of more than hall a
century there has been no perceptible addition 10
the number of our domestic slaves. During this
period their advancement in civilization has far
passed that of any other portion of the African
race The light and the blessings of Christianity
have been extended 10 them. and both their moral
and physical condition have been greatly improved.
Reopen the trade. and il would be difficult 10 de-
termine whether the effect ould be more delcerious
on the interest OF the those of the native
born slave. OF the evils of the master. the one
most To be dreaded would be the introduction OF
wild. heather and ignorant barbarilnS among the
sober. orderly and quiet slaves, whose ancestors
hta Tho. .f111f
tend TO barbarize, demoralize and eXasperate the
wholemass, and produce the most deplorablc conse-
quences.
The effect upon the existing slave would If posi-
be be still more deporabe. At present he is treat
ed with kindness and humanity. He is we'll fed. well
clothed, and not over-worked. His condition is in
comparaby better than that of the coolies. which
modern nations of high civilization have employed
substitute for African slaves Both the philan-
thropy and the sell interest of the master have
combined TO produce this humane result. But let
this trade be ra-opened and what will be the effect
The same, 10 considerable extent rs on neigh
ooring island-the only spot earth where
the African s!avet.ade is openly tolerated. and this
in defiance of solemn treaties with power abun-
dainty able at any moment 10 enforce their eXccu-
ton. There the master, intent upon present gain,
eNtorts from the slave much labor rs his phvSi-
cal powers are capable of enduring knowing thai
when death comes 10 his relief his place can be
supplied at A price reduced to the lowest point by
the competition of rival African slave traders
Should this ever be the case in our country-which
do not deem possible-thc present useful character
of the domestic institution. wherein those olu
and 100 young to work are provided for with
and humanity. ana those capable of labor are not
over-tasked, would undergo unfortunate change.
Tho feeling of reciprocal dependence and attach
ment which now exits between master and slave
would be converted into mutual diStrust and hos
tility.
But we are obliged. as a christian and moral ma
ton, 10 consider what would be the effect upon un
happy Africa itself. if we should reopen the Slave
Trade. This would give the trade an impulse and
extension which it has never had. even in its palm
lest days. The numerous victims required to supply
il would the whole slave coast perfect
Pandemonum for which this country would be held
in the eyes both of God and man. Its
petty tribes would then be constantly engaged in
predatory wars against each other for the purpose
of seizing slaves to supply the American market
All hopes of African civilization would thus be
ended
On the other hand, when Il 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 in,-
provement of Africa. The chief motive OF
among the tribes will cease whenever there IS no
longer demand for slaves The resources Of that
fertile but miserable country might then be deyel-
oped by the hand OF industry and afford for
legitimate foreign and domestic commerce. In this
manner christianity and civilization may gradually
penetrate the existing gloom.
The wisdom of the course pursued by this Gov
ernment toward China has been vindicated by the
event. While we sustained neutral position in the
war waged by Great Britain and France against the
Chinese Empire, onr late minister, in obedience TO
his Instructions Judiciously co-opcrated with the
ministers of these powers in all peaceful measures
to secure by treaty the just concessions demanded
by the interests of foreign commerce Ene results
that satisfactory treaties have been concluded with
China by respective ministers of the United
States, Great Britain, France and Russia. Our
" treaty, or general convention of peace, amity and
with that Empire concluded at
Tien,sn the lS;h of June, 1858. and was ratified
by the President by and with the advice and consent
OF the Senate, on the 2lst of December following.
On the 18th of December, 1858, John T. Ward. a
citizen of Georgia, was duly commits
missioned envoy extraordinary and minister p!eni
poteatiary to China. He left the United States for
the place of his destination the 18th of February
1859. bearing with him the ratified copy OF this trea
ty and arrived at Shanghai the 2Sth of May.
From thence he proceeded to Pekin on the 18th of
June but did not arrive N that city till the 9th
of July. According to the terms of the treaty the
ratiticatons 10 be exchanged on or before the
lSth OF June, 1859 This was rendered impossible
by and events beyond his control not neces-
sary detail but still it is due TO Chinese author
ties at Shanghai to state that they always assured
him that no advantage would be taken OF the delay
and this pledge has been faithfully redeemed.
On the arrival of Mr.. Ward at Pekin, he request
ed audience of the Emperor TO present his letter
of credeace This he did not obtain. in consequence
of his very proper refusa. TO submit TO the humia
ting ceremonies required by the etiquitte of this
strange people in approaching their sovereign Nev-
ertheess the interviews on this question Were con-
regard 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 honSrs by
kweillang, ''the Emperors Prime minister, and the
second man in the empire 10 the Emperor himself" "
The notifications of the treaty were aterward. on
the 10th OF August, exchanged in proper form at
Pci-tsang. As the exchange did not take place
until after the day prescribed by the treaty 1t Is
deemed proper before its publication. again 10 sub
init it TO the Senate.
Ii is but simple justice to the Chinese authorities
10 observe that throughout the whole transaction.
they appear TO have acted in good faith and IN u
friendly spirit toward the United States. Ii is true
this has been done after their peculiar fashion,
but we ought 10 regard With lenieht eye the an
cicnt customs OF an empire dating back for thou
sands OF far this may be consistent with
own national honor. The conduct OF our min
lister on the occasion has received my entire appro-
batiuu
In order to carry out the spirit Of this treaty and
give il full effect II became necessary 10 conclude
two supplemental conventions-the one for the ad-
justmenI and satisfaction OF the claims of citi
zens and the other To fix the tariff imports and
exports and regulate the transit duties and trade OF
our merchants with China This duty satisiacto-
rily performed By our late minister These canven-
tons bear date NJ Shanghai on the Sth November,
lS5S. Having been considered III the light Of bind
ing agreements subsidiary to the principal treaty.
and be carried into execution without delay they
do not provide for any formal ratification or eX-
change OF ratihcatons by the contracting parties.
are already proceeding in good faith TO satisfy the
claims of citizens and ii is hoped 10 carry
the other provisions OF the conventions. Sull |
thought it was proper submit them the Senate,
by which they were ratified the Sd Of March,
1859. The ratified copies, however. did not reach
shanghai until AFTER the departure of our minister
ekia, and these conventions could not therefore.
be exchanged tie time with the principal
treaty. No doubt is entertained that they viii be
ratified and exchanged by the Chinese government,
should this be thought advisable bur, under the
circumstances presented shall consider them bind
ing engagements from their date ON both parties,
and them to be published ia such for The intor
nation and guidance OF our merchants trading with
the Chinese empire.
Ii affords me much satisfaction inform you that
all our difficulties with the republic Of Paraguay
have been satisfactorily adjusted. 1t happily did not
become necessary TO employ the force Tor this pur-
pose which Congress had placed at my command,
under their joint resolution of I'd June, 1858. On
the contrary, the President OF that republic, in =
friendly spirit acceded promptly the just and
sonable demands OF the Goyernment OF the United
States. Our commissioner arrived At Assumption,
the capital of the republic the 18th OF january
1859 and left It the l7th OF February, having N
three weeks ably and successfully accomplished all
the objects OF his mission. The treaties which he
has concluded will be Immediately submitted TO this