Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-01-07
LANCASTER, WIS, SATURDAY. JANUARY I, 1860.


Icon,tautly engaged in predatory war.
against each other for the purpose of seq
ing slaves tosupply he American market
All hopes Of African civilization would
thus be ended.
On the other hand, w,,en market fol
African slaves shall no longer be Furnish
ed in Cuba, AMI thus all the world be clos
ed against this trade. we may then indulge
a reasonable hope for the gradual i'm
provement OF Africa. The chief motive 81
war among the tribes will cease whenevet
there is no longer any demand for slaves
The resources of that fertile but miserabl,
country might then be developed by the
hand Of industry and afford subjects for
legitimate foreign aid domestic commerce
In this manner Christianity and civilizl.
ton may gradually penetrate the existing
gloom.
rREiTf writ CHINA.
The wisdom Of The course pursued by
this government towards China has been
INDICATED BY the event. Whilst we sus-
tanned neutral position in the war waced
by Great Britain and France against the
Chinese empire, orr late Minister, il obe-
dieuce to lis instructions, iudiciously co
operated with the Ministers Of those pow
ers in all peaceful measures to 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 respec-
tive Ministers of The United States, Great
Britain, France and Russia. Our 'streaty
of general convention of peace, amity and
commerce" with that empire was conclu-
ded at Meintsin on the 18th of June, 1858,
and was ratified by the President, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate,
on the 2lst Dec following.
On the 18th Of December, 1858, John
E. Ward, distinguished citizen of Geor-
gia, was duly commissioned as an envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiarv
to China. He left the United States for
the place Of his destination on the 9Th of
February, bearing with him a ratified copy
of this treaty. and arrived at Shanghai on
the 28th of May. From thence he pro-
ceeded to Pekin, on the 10th Of June, but
did not arrive at that city until the 9th
Of July. According to the terms Of the
treaty tbs Publications were to be exchan-
ged on or before the 18Th Of June, 1859.
This was rendered impossible by reasons
and e+ents beyond his control, not neces-
sary to detail; but still il is due to the
Chinese authorities at Shanghae to state
that they have always assured him hat
no advantage should be taken of the de
lay, and the pledge has been faithfully re-
deemed.
On the arrival Of Mr.. Ward at Pckin
he requested an audience of the E pcroi
70 present his letter Of cgedence. This be
did no obtain in consequence of his very
proper refusal to submit TO the huinilia.
ting ceremonies required by the etiquette
|of this strange people in approaching their
sovereign. Nevertheless the interviews
on this question were conducted in the
most friendly s,irit and with all due re-
gard TO his personal feelings and the hon
or of bis country. When a presentation
10 b S Majesty was found to be impossible,
the etter of credence from the President
was received with peculiar konors by
Kaolling, sihe Emperof's Prime Minister
and tho second man il the empire to the
Emperor himself" The Publications Of
the treaty were afterwards, on the 10Th
of August, exchanged in proper form at
Pcitsang. AS tue exchange did OF take
place until the day prescribed by the trea-
", it is deemed proper, before It's publica-
ton, tgain 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 a friendly spir-
it towards the United States. 1t IS true
this has been done after their own peca-
liar fashion; but we ought to regard with
4 lenienL eye the ancient customs Of an
empire dating back Tor thousands of years,
so far SIS this may be consistent with our
own national hoLor. 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
one for the adjustment
and satisfaction of the claims of oar citi-
zens, and the other to fix the tariff on i'm
ports and exports, and to regulate the
transit duties and trade OF our merchants
with China. This duty was satisfactorily
performed BY our late minister. hese
bear date at Shanghai on the
9Th of Nov, 1858. Having been consid-
cred in the light Of binding agreements
subsidiary TO The principal treat, and 10
be carried into execution without DELAY,
they do not provide for any formal ratifi
cation or exchange of Publications BY the
parties. This was not deemed
necessary by tie Chinese, who are alrea-
dy proceeding in good faith 10 satisfy tie
claims Of our citizens, and, it is hoped, :B
carry out the other provisions Of the con-
senlions. Still | thought it was proper
to submit them to the Senase, by which
they were ratified on the sd March, 1859.
The ratified copies, however, did not reach