Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-01-06
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1860

thls government toward OuHa bas oeeh
vindicaied by the event Whilst we suS-
tanned neutral position in the war waged
by Great Britain and France against the
/ Chinese empire, our late Minister, in obe-
dience to his instructions, judiciou>ly Co
operated with the Ministers Of these
Powers in all peaceful measures 10 secure
by treaty the just concessions demanded
by the interests Of foreign commerce
The result is, that satisfactory treaties
have been concluded with China by the
respective ministers Of the United States,
Great Britain, France and Russia. Our
" treaty, or general convention Of peace,
amity and commerce" with that empire,
, was concluded at Tientsin on the 18th
June, 1858, and was ratified by the Pres
, ident, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, on the Dist December fol-
lowing.
On the 18th December, 1858, John f.
Ward, distinguished citizen of Georgia.
was duly commissioned as envoy extra
} ordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
, China. He left the United States for the
: place Of his destination on the 9th OF
: February, 1859, bearing with him the
! ratified copy of this treaty, and arrived
; at Shanghai on the 28th May. From
thence he proceeded to Pekin, on the 9th
June, but did not arrive at thar city until
the 27th July. According to the terms
: OF the treaty the notifications were to be
exchanged on or before the 18th June.
z 1859. This was rendered impossible bv
reasons and events beyond his control.
j not necessary to detail but still il is due
: to the Chinese authorities at Shanghae
to state that they always assured him no
: advantage should be taken of the delay.
: and this pledge has been faithfully re-
) deemed.
= 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 hu-
initiating ceremonies required by tho
i. etiquette of this strange people in ap-
8 preaching their sovereign. Neverthe-
=, less, the interviews on this question were
q conducted in the most friendly spirit and
q with all due regard to his personal feel
ings and the honor of his country. When
a presentation to his majesty was found
to be impossible, the letter Of credence
from the President of the United States
!. was received with peculiar honors by
Kweiling the Emperor's Prime Minister
and the second man in the empire to the
himself The ratifcations of the treaty
were afterwards, on the 9Th of August
exchanged in proper form at Peitsang.-
q AS the exchange did not take place unit
$ the day prescribed by the treaty, it j,
e deemed proper, before its publication
again to submit it to the Senate.
e 1t is but simple justice to the Chinese
e authorities to observe, that throughout
Il the whole transaction they appear to have
r acted in good faith and in a friendly spri
| towards the United States 1t is true
Il this has been done in their own peculiar
I, fashion; but we ought to regard with q
o lenient eye the ancient customs Of ar
= empire dating back for thousands o
u years, so far as this may be- consistent
! with our own national honor The con
\ duct Of our Minister on the occasion ha.
h received my entire appreciation.
- In order to carry out the suirit of thii
st treaty, and to give it foil effect, it becam,
necessary to conclude two supplements
d conventions-the one for the adiustmrn
,e aud satisfaction Of the claims of our citi
if zens, and the other 10 fix the tariff OF
is imports and exports, and to regulate th,
< transit dufies and trade Of our merchant,
in with China. This duty was satislactoril,
Is performed by our late minister Thes,
le Conventions bear date at Shanghai OF
E. the 9Th Of November, 1858. Hayin,
~ been considered 10 the light Of bindin,
ID agreements subsidiary 10 the prineipa
,e treaty, and to he carried into execution
r. without delay, they do not provide TO
j. any formal ratification or exchange G
II. raiifeations by the contracting parties.-
IN This was not deemed necessary by th
Chinese, who are already proceeding i
or good faith to satisfy the claims of on
b. eiiizrns, and, il IS hoped. 10 carry onl tb
Oe other provisions Vi Ehe conventions. Sti
n | thought il was proper r. submit thef
al TO the Senate, by which they were raiili-
o. on the 30 Of March, 1883 The rattle
Sc copies, however, did not reach Shangh.
nd until after the departure Of our minisis
lie to Pekin, and these conventions coul
Ie- not, therefore, be exchanged al the sam
af- time with the principal treaty. No doul