Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-01-05

frcan slaves shall no longer be furnished
n Cuba. and thus all the world be closed
against this trade we may then indulge
reasonable hope for the gradual Improvement
IF Africa. The chief motive of war among
The tribes will cease whenever there is no
longer any demand for slaves. Theresources
Of that fertile but miserable coiIitry might
then be developed by the hand Of Industry
and afford subjects for Legitimate foreign and
domestic commerce. In this manner Chris
tianity aud civilization may gradually pene-
tratc the existing gloom
The wisdom Of the coursc pursuctl by this
towards China has been vindi
Gated by the event. Whilst We sustained
neutral position in the War wagod by Great
Britain aud France against the Chinese En-
prc, orr late minister, in obedience to his
judciously co-operatcd with the
of these powers in all peaceful
measures to secure by treaty the just conces-
siolh 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, am
ity, aud commerce." with that empire was
concluded at Tientsin on the 18TH June
1853, and was ratified BY the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate, on the 2lst December following.
On the 18th December, 1868, John f
Ward, n distinguished citizen of Georgia
was duly commissioned as envoy cxtraordi
nary and minister plenipotentiary to China
He left the United States for the place of hi
destination on the 9th of February, 1859
bcarin with him the ratified copy of th
treaty, aud arrived at Shanghai on the 2Stl
May. From thence lie proceeded to Pekir
on the 10th June. but did not arrive in lha
city until the 9th July. According to thu
terms of the treaty, the Publications were t
be exchanged on or before the 18th June
1859. This was rendered impossible Ivy rea
sons aud events beyond his control, not nee
cssary to detail but Still it is Que to the Chi
ncsc authorities at Shanghai to state that they
always assured him no advantage should be
taken Of the delay and this pledge has beer
faithfully redeemed
On the arrival of Mr.. Ward at Tekin he
requested an audience Of the Emperor 70
present his letter of credencc This he did
not obtain, in consequence Of his very proper
refusal to submit to the humiiiating ceremo-
MES required Ivy the etiquette Of this strange
people IN approaching their sovereign. New
ertheless. the Interviews on this question were
conducted in the most friendly spirit aud
with all due regard to his personal feelings
and the honor of lis country, Vixen pre-
scntatou to lis Majesty was found to be i'm
possible the letter of credcnce from the Pre-
sidcnt was received with peculiar honors by
kwcil0ng. 1.-THE Emperors prime minister
and the second man i'll the empire to the En-
peror himself" The ratitications of the treaty
were afterwards, on the 10th OF August, cX-
changed in proper form at Pei-isang. AS
the ex hange did not take place until after
the day pres ribbed by the treaty, it is deemed
proper, before its publication, again TO sub
init it to the Senate.
1t is bat simple justice to the Chinese an.
thorities 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 an
cicnt customs of an empire dating back for
thousands of years, Sc far as this may be con-
siStCnt with Our own national honor. The
conduct of our minister on the occasion has
received my entire appreciation
In ORDER to carry cat the spirit of this
treaty, and to give it full effect, II became
necessary to conclude two supplemental con-
vcntions--the one for the adjustment and sat
istaction of the claims Of our citizens, and
the other to fix the tariff on imports aud ex-
ports, and to regulate the transit duties and
trade Of our merchants with China. This
duty was satisfactorily performed by our late
I.ar dat of
Shanghai on the Sth November 1858. HAY
agreements subsidiary to the principal treaty,
and to be carried into execution without de-
lay, they do not provide for any formal rat
itication OF exchange Of Publications 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 citizens, and, it is hoped, to carry out
the other provisions of the Conventions
Still ! thought ii was proper to submit them
to the Senate, by which they were ratified on
the Sd March, 1859. The ratified copies,
however, did not reach Shanghai until after
the departure of our minister to Pckiu, and
these conventions could not, therefore, be OK
changed at the same time with the principal
treaty. No doubt is entertained that they
will he ratified and exchanged by the Chinese
government, should this be thought advisa-
bic; bit, under the circumstances presented
shall consider them binding engagement:
from their date Oh both parties. and cause
then, 10 lie published as such for the informa
ton and guidance Of our merchants trading
with the Chinese empire.
II affords me much satisfaction to inform
YOU that all Our difficulties with the Republic
Of Paraguay have been satisfactorily adjusted
1t happily did not become necessary to EN-
ploy the force for this purpose which Con
gress had placed at my command, under tn
pint resolution of ID June, 1858. On TIN
contrary, the President OF that republic in
friendly spirit, acccdcd promptly to the jus
aud rcas ,nable demands of the Government
of the United States. Our commission ar
public, on the 25th Of JAN, 1859, and left
on the 18th Of Feb, having in three week
ably and successfully accomplished all til
objects of his mission. The treaties whc
he has concluded will be Immediately sub
mited to the Senate.
In the view that the employment Of othe
than peaceful means might become necessar
to obtain "just satisfaction from Paraguay
strong naval force was concentrated in til
waters of the La Plata to await contingencie:
whilst our commissioner assembled the rive
IL assumption. The Navy Department
entitled to great credit for the promptncs'
efficiency and economy with which this expo
dition was fitted out and conducted. 1t con
sisted of nineteen armed vessels, great an
small, carrying 200 guns and $500 men, a
under the command of the veteran and gal
liant Shubrick The entire expenses of tn
expedition having been betrayed out Of til
ordinary appropriations for the naval ser
vice, except the sum of S289,000, apple
to the purchase of seven Of the steamers
constituting part Of it, under the authorlt
of the naval appropriation act of the 3D. {
March last 1t is believed that these steam
crs are worth more than their cost, and the
are all now useiully and actively employee
-, tba M col