The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1860-01-06

ShN AAsAAeNSA PAOuiROtOhtAoAy W Oulu6s III
left the United States for the place of his
destination on the 5th Of February, 1859,
bearing with him the ratified copy of this
treaty, and arrived at Shanghai on the 18th
of May. From thence he proceeded to Pekin
on the 10th June, but did not arrive in
that city until the 9th July. According to
the terms of the treaty the ratifications were
to be exchanged on or before the 18th June,
1859. This was rendered impossible by
reasons and events beyond his control, not
necessary to detail but still it is due to the
Chinese authorities at Shanghai to state
that they always assured him no advantage
should be taken of the delay, and tLis pledge
has been faithfully redeemed.
On the arrival of Mr.. Ward at Pekin he
requested an audience of the Emperor to
present his letter of credence. This he did
not obtain, in consequence of his very proper
refusal to submit to the humiliating ceremo-
nies required by the etiquette of this strange
people in approaching their sovereign
Nevertheless the interviews on this question
were conducted in the most friendly spirit
and with all due regard to his personal
feelings and the honor of his country. When
a presentation to his Majesty was found to
be impossible, the letter of credence from the
President was received with peculiar honors
by Kweiliang, "the Emperor's prime minister
and the second man in the empire to the
Emperor himself" The ratifcations of the
treaty were afterwards, on the 10th August,
exchanged in proper form at Peitsang. As
the exchange did not take place until after
the day prescribed by the treaty, it is deemed
proper, before its publication, again to
submit it to the Senate.
1t is but simple justice to the Chinese
authorities to observe, that, throughout the
whole transaction, they appear to have
acted in good faith and in friendly spirit
towards the United States. 1t is true this
has been done after their own peculiar
fashion; but we ought to regard with
| lenient eye the ancient customs of an empire
dating back for thousands of years, so far as
this may be consistent with our own na
tionai honor. The conduct of our minister
on the occasion has received my entire
appreciation.
In order to carry out the spirit of this
treaty, and to give it full effect, it became
necessary to conclude two supplemental
conventions-the one for the adjustment
and satisfaction of the claims of our citizens,
and the other to fix the tariff on imports
ard exports, and to regulate the transit
duties and trade of our merchants with
China. This duty was satisfactorily per-
formed by our late minister. These con-
ventions bear date at Shanghai on the 9Th
November, 1858. Having been considered
in the light of binding agreements subsidia-
ry to the principal treaty, and to be carried
into execution without delay, they do not
provide for any formal ratification or ex-
change of ratifcations by the contracting
parties. This was not deemed necessary by
the Chinese, who are already proceeding in
| good faith to satisfy the claims of our citi-
zens, and, it is hoped, to carry out the other
| provisions of the conventions. Still I
thought it was proper to submit them to
the Senate, by which they were ratified on
the Sd of March, 1859. The ratified copies,
however, did not reach Shanghai until after
the departure of our minister to Peking,
and these conventions could not, therefore,
be exchanged at the same time with the
principal treaty. No doubt is entertained
that they will be ratified and exchanged by
| the Chinese government, should this be
thought advisable; but, under the circum-
stances presented, shall consider them
binding engagements from their date on
both parties, and cause them to be pub
lished as such for the information and guild
ance of our merchants trading with the
Chinese empire.
PARAGUAY.
| 1t affords me much satisfaction to inform
| you that all our difficulties with the republic
of Paraguay have been satisfactorily ad-
justed. 1t happily did not become necessary
to employ the force for this purpose 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 to the
just and reasonable demands of The Govern
ment of the United States. Our commits
sioner arrived at Assumption, the capital of
the republic, on the 25th of January, 1859,
and left it on the 18th of February, having
in three weeks ably and successfully ac-
complished all the objects of his mission.
The treaties which he has concluded will be
Immediately submitted to the Senate.
In the view that the employment of other
than peaceful means might become necessary
to obtain 'just satisfaction" from Paraguay,
a strong naval force was concentrated in the
waters of the La Plata to await contingent
cies, whilst our commissioner ascended the
rivers to Assumption. The Navy Depart
ment is entitled to great credit for the
promptness, efficiency and economy with
which this expedition was fitted out and
conducted. 1t consisted of nineteen armed
vessels, great and small, carrying 200 guns
guns and $500 men, all under the command
of the veteran and gallant Shubrick. The
entire expenses of the expedition have been
betrayed out of the ordinary appropriations
for the naval service, except the sum of
$289,O0O, applied to the purchase of seven
of the steamers, constituting part of it,
under the authority of the naval appropria-
tion act of the Sd March last. It is be-
lieved that these steamers are worth more
than their cost, and they are all now use.
fully and actively employed in the naval
service.
The appearance of SO large a9orce, fitted
out in such prompt Manner in the far
distant waters of the La Plata, and the ad.
mirable conduct of the officers and men EN-.
ployed in it, have had happy effect in fa-
| nov IF counfrx, khrovpbout IL 4L.x -.