M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-01-12

anu LNhootos OhA NfN"NJ
or general convention Of peace, amity
ani commerce" with that empire was
concluded at Tientsin on the 18th OF
June, 1858, and was ratified by the
President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, on the 21st OF
December following.
On the 18th December, 1858, John
E. Ward, a distinguished citizen Of
Georgia, was duly commissioned as
envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to China. He left the
United States for the place Of his des'
itination on the 9TH Of February, 1859,
bearing with him tho ratified copy OF
this treaty, and arrived at Shanghai on
the 2Sth of May. From thence he
proceeded to Pekin on the 18th June,
but did not arrive in that city till the
9th July. According to the terms
OF the treaty, the ratifcations were to
be exchanged on or before the 18th
June, 1859. This was rendered i'm.
possible by reasons and events beyond
his control, not necessary to detail;
but still it is due to Chinese authori.
ties at Shanghai to state that they al
ways assured him that no advantage
wond be taken Of the delay, and
this pledge has been faithfully re.
deemed.
On tue arrival Of Mr.. Ward at Pc
kin, he requested an audience of the
Emperor to present his letter OF ere.
dence. This he did not obtain, in
consequence of his very proper refusal
to submit to the humliating ceremo-
nies required by the etiquette OF this
strange people in approaching their
sovereign. Nevertheless the inter.
views on this question were conduct
ed in the most friendly spirit and with
all due regard to his personal feelings
and the honor of his country. When
presentation to his Majesty was
found to be impossible, the letter. Of
credence from the President was 70.
ceived with peculiar hohors, by Kweil-
lang, "the Emperors Prime Minister,
and the second man in the empire to
the Emperor himself" The ratifca-
tions Of the treaty were afterward, on
the 18th Of August, exchanged in
proper form at Pei.tsang. AS the cx.
change 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 to the Chinese au.
thorities to observe, that, throughout
the whole transaction, they appear to
have acted in good faith and in a
friendly spirit toward 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
national 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 sup.
elemental convehtions-the one for
the adjustment aud satisfaction of the
claims Of our citizens, and the other to
fix the tariff on imports and exports,
and to regulate the transit duties and
trade Of our merchants with China
This duty was satisfactorily perform
ed by our late minister. These con.
ventions bear date at Shanghai on
the Sth November, 1858. Having
been considered in the light of bind
ing agreements subsidiary to the
principal treaty, aud to be carried in,
to execution without delay, they do
not provide for any formal ratifica ton
or exchange of ratifications by the
contracting parties. This was not
deemed necessary by the Chinese, who
are already preceding in good faith to
satisfy the claims cf our citizens, and,
it is hoped, to carry out the other pro-
visions OF the conventions. Still |
thought it was proper to admit them
to tie Senate, by which they were
ratified On the Sd OF March, 1850
The ratified copies, however, did rot
reach Shanghai until after the depar.
ture OF our minister to Pekin, and
these conventions could not, therefore,
10 exchanged at the same time with
the principal treaty. No doubt is en-
tertaiisd that they will he ratified and
exchanged by the Chinese Govern.
menl, should this be thought advisa.
bic; but, under the circumstances pre-.
sented, | shall considerIhem binding
engagements from their dates ON both
parties, and cause them to be publish.
ed as such for the information and
guidance of our merchants trading
with the Chinese empire.
1t affords me much satisfaction to
inform you that all our difficulties
with the republic of Paraguay have
been satisfactorily adjusted. 1t happi.
ly did not become necessary to EN-,
ploy the force for this purpose which