The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-28

AT the date of the last accounts from China, our
Minister, Mr.. WARD, was on the eve of starting
for kuang-chow, for the purpose, it was said, Of
comforting with the Governor-General of that
province, on the subject of the anticipated troubles
with France and England. BY previous arrival.
we had been advised of the rumored desire of the
Chinese Government to submit its difficulties with
those powers to the mediation of this country. and
this proceeding Of Mr.. WARDS would seem to give
some color to the statement. The fact if such it
should turn out to be, would be at once an in
structive commentary upon the change which has
taken place in the relations between China and those
whom the Chinese are wont to consider as outside
barbarians and a substantial Acknowledgement Of
the superior wisdom, as we'll as Justice of the
policy pursued by our own Government in its
dealings with the Celestias. That policy has been
uniformly pacific one. We have adhered to if
through good report and evil, and under the pres
sure of many adverse circumstances, and much
untriendly criticism. During the late war, par
ticuarly, our refusal to cooperate with the Allies
was stigmatised as savoring more of the cunning
of the Fox, than the courage of the Lion. We
were accused of q disposition to reap
where we had not sown, and of seeking
10 profit by the successes of the Allies, with
out being willing TO participate IN the sacri-
fees by which they were purchased. Our ma
tional Bird was described as a vulture following
in the wake of battle, and battenng on the car
casses of the slain. Even our good faith was
called in question, and our Minister represented
as by turns the accomplce and the dupe of Russian
intrigue and treachery. When Mr. WARD went to
Pe-kiuO The ridicnlonr a.,
about his journey thther and the manner of his re-
ception The English public believe now that the
American Minister and his suite were carried
to the Chinese capital, boxed up like so much
freight, or Gagged like wild beasts in a caravan.
All this-because we preferred to be neutral where
we did not feel called upon to be beligerent, and
declined to use force for the accomplishment of
ends which we considered could be more easily eff
tected by peaceful means. England, on the con-
trary, adopting the theory entertained by Lords
PALMERsToN and MAcAULAY respecting the Orient tai
character, and acted upon by Englishmen
everywhere throughout the East-which is
that the only way to gain the respect
of an Asiatc is to beat him-has a rod
in readiness for every offence, without refer
ence to the merits of the case or considera-
tAOAio Va haluIil JuslCC OllUd refused TO grant q
passage to the allied squadron up the Pei-ho, and
successfully resisted the attempt made to force
one. This, England chooses to consider in the
light OF great outrage, and proposes to punish
with proportionae severity. Apart from the alb
sract question of right involved in the attempt to
compel the Chinese by force of arms to open ,heir
rivers to foreign commerce, and their capital to
foreign visitors, it may well be doubted whether
the means adopted by England are not likely to
defeat her own purposes, and whether the pacific
solution proposed by China would not be much
more in accordance with English interests Thrash
ing the Chinese, ii has been well said, is very
much like thrashlng water, and not even the but-
BILE reputation comes of it. The Chinese have no
appreciation of military glory, and none of the
European pride IN arms "The greatest hero in
their estimation, says intelligent writer, sfs
'ar below master of etiquette and ceremonial
'and a PoLoNGUs with them would be incompara-
"bly higher in honor than a WELLINGTON or a Ma
''PoLEoN." When they defeat Europeans as
happened in the affair Of the Pei-ho, they areproud
of having beaten the barbarians at their own
weapons; but ''they still regard the weapons as
1.-THE weapons of barbarism far below the fine
''arts Of flschood fnesss, and deceit" When,
on the other hand, as oftenest happens, they are
beaten themselves, they comforted by the re-
Election that eggs are more precious and less
"hard than tiinstones." Well may it be asked
What is the ne of going to war with such a
people? The conquest of their country is, OF
course, out of the question. China, besides pos.
sessing an immense extent of territory, extending
over 743 degrees Of longitude, and SO degrees Of
latitude, and embracing an area of more than
5000, 600 square miles contains population which
may be roundy estimated at 500, OO0 600, or full
one-haIf of the entire human race. Although no
military people, and not animated by any strong
spirit Of nationality, or high sense of personal o.
individual honor, the conquest of such an empire
would be a task far beyond the utmost capabili
ties of France and England to accomplish. Al
the troops which both nations could spare for tn
purpose, would be but handful compared witt
the my riads that the Chinese could bring agains
them; and although man is stronger than bee
1t should not be forgotten, that a number of bee
may prove too much for man. Besides
the affair on the Pe-ho showed that with all thei
contempt for barbarians, the Chinese had not beef
above taking lesson or two in the art of punnerv
The precision of the fire from the forts on that or
casion was pronounced by Commodore TATNAL
equal to any he had ever witnessed. But we d
not consider it worth while to discuss further tn
probabilities of an event, so far removed from tn
contemplation of the Allies, as the conquest an
subjugation of China. So far rs England is inter
esed, the overthrow of the Chinese Government
would be to her decided,d disadvantage This Englis
statesmen and journalists sufficiently understand
and it has become question how much punish
inent can be inflicted upon China without endanpel
ing the sufferers life and injuriousy affectin
England in whose Office that life is insured. It
desirable to stop short of such punishment as woul
leave the Chinese Government in crippled O
critical condition. 1t is not for the interest r
England, to weaken the power of the EMPEROR t
impair his prestige in the eyes of his subjects, or
DIMINISH his ability to suppress rebellion, and pre-
serve order throughout all portions of his vas
dominlons. JOHN BULL cannot afford to play tn
bull in his own China-shop. He is large
buyer of Chinese commodities and hopes t
ind in China a profitable customer 70
many wares of his own. At present, b
ls compelled to deal chiefly for cash but he ex
poets, by degrees, to bring about an exchange O
commodities, which will be more to his ADVANTAGE
To realize this expecta ion, it is absolutely essen
ual that peace and good order should prevail i,
China Anarchy would strike death-bIow f
his hopes of trade. Such being the case, it is ne
cessary that hecastigation to be inflicted for tn
affair in the Pei-ho should stop short, not only O
conquest but even of serious injury to the I'm
perial Government The difficulty is to decid
how far it should proceed. Shall it be to the csn
ture or bombardment of several of the princina
towns, and the occupation and devastation of som
of the provinces of the coast7 1t is notorious tina
the inhabitants Of one city or province in Chin
care very little for the fate which may befal thos
ofanother. The slaughter of 100, 600 Cantones
would scarcely make stir in Picking. The mas
ter of 500 900, 600 Of human beings can scarce
be expected to feel the loss of so small number @
his subjects During the siege of Canton, YE1
executed more men within the walls of the CITY
than persisted in its defence or taking at tn
hands OF the Allies. Human life is dirt-chea
in Chlna-so cheap that substitutes for OK
ecution can be had for a coaple =
hundred dollars AHEAD, and for a much less SIM
than the Expedition is certain 10 cost, the Allie
could procure tomorrow much larger numhe
OF Chinese willing to cut their own Threats. O
surrender themselves into the hands of the publ
executioner, than their soldiers are at all likely t