Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-01-06

lltion. There the master, intent upon present
gain, EFFORTS from the slave as much labor q.
bis physical powers are capable Of enduring
knowing that, when death comes to hi:
relief, his place can be supplied at price
reduced to the lowest point by the competi.
tion, Of rival African slave traders. Should
this ever be the case in our country which
do not deem possible-the present useful
character OF the domestic institute on,
wherein those too old and too young to
work are provided for with care aud hu
manity, and those capable Of labor are not
4 over. .tasked. Would undergo An unfortunate
change. The feeling of reciprocal depend
ence and attachment which now exists
between master and slave would be convert
ed into mutual distrust and hostility
/ But we arc obliged as . Christian and
moral nation to consider what would be the
effect upon unhappy Africa itself, if We
should re- .pen the slave trade. This would
give the trade an impetus and extension
which it has never had even in it's palmies,
days. The nuMerous victims required to
supply it would convert the whole slave
coast into q perfect Pandemonlum, for
which this country would be held respons bic
in the eyes both of God and man. Its petty
tribes would then bs constantly engaged in
predatory wars against each other for the
purpose Of sciz'Dg slaves to supply the
American market All hopes of African
civilization would thus be ended.
| On the other hand, when o market for
African slaves shall no longer lie furnished
in Cuba, and thus all the world be Q osed
against this trade, We may then indulge u
reasonable hope tor the gradual improve
ment Of Africa. The chief motive Of war
among the tribes will cease whenever there
is no longer any ,ema for slaves. he
resources Of that fertile but miserable
country might then be developed by the
hand of Industry and afford subjects for
legitimate foreign and domestic 'mmerc..
In this manner Chris ianity and civilization
may gradually Penetrate the existing gloom.
TREATY WITH CHINA.
The wisdom of the course pursued by this
government toward China has been vindica-
ted by the events. Whilst we sustain
neutral position in The war waged by Great
Britain and France against the Chinese en-
pire, our late Minister, in obedience to his
instructions, judicious'y co-operated With
the Ministers of these Powers in all peaceful
measures to secure by treaty the just con-
cessions demanded by the inter ests OF foreign
commerce. The result is, thar satisfactory
treaties have been concluded with Lhina by
the respective Ministers of the United States,
Great Britain, Frlnce and Russia. Our
treaty, or general convention Of peace.
amity and commerce" with thlt empire was
con cluded at Mientsin on the 18Th OF June,
1856 8, and was ratified by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Sen.
ate, on the 2lst December following.
On the 10Th of December, 1858, John E.
Ward, distinguished citizen Of Georgia.
was comm ssioned as an envoy extraordina-
ry and minister plenipotentiary to China.
He left the United States for the place Of
his destination on the 9Th of February,
bearing with him ratified copy of this ,rea-
ty, and arrived at Shanghai on the 28th Of
May. From thence he proceeded to Pekn,
on the 10th of June, but did not arrive at
that city until the 9th of July, According
to the terms of the treaty the ratiGcationS
wore to be exchanged on or before the 18th
I of June, 1859. This was rendered impossi-
BILE by reasons and events beyond his control
not necessary t. detail but sti.l it is duo to
the Chinese authorities at Shanghai to state
that they always assured him NJ advantage
should be taken Of The delay, and the pledge
has been faithfully redeemed.
On the arrival Of Mr.. Ward at Pekin, he
requested an audience of the Emperor to
present his letter of credence J his he did
not obtain in consequences Of his very proper
refusal to submit 10 the humiliating cere-
monies required by the etiquette Of is
strange people in approaching their sover
eign. Nevertheless the interviews on this
question were conducted in the IN st friend
ly spirit and with all due regard to his per-
sonal feelings and the honor Of Ills c. un ry
When preservation to his NJ ,jesty Was
found to b. impossible, the letter of cred
| cnce from the President was received with
honors by Kweiling, "ihs Emperor's Prime
Minister and the second man iii the empire
to the Emperor himself" The rati6catious
Of the treaty were afterwards, on the 10th of
August, exchanged in proper form at Pei
tsang. AS the exchange did not take place
until the day prescribed by the treaty, it i,
deemed proper, before its publication, again
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 tai and in friendly spirit to-
wards the United States. It is true this has
been done alter their own peculiar fashion:
but we ought to regard with lenient eye
the ancient customs Of an empire dating
back Tor thousands of years, so far as this
may be consistent with our own national
honor. Tho conduct of our minister on the
occasion has received nay 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
csnventions-tile one for the adjustment and
satisfaction of The claims of our citizens and
the other to fix the tariff on imports aud
exports, and to regulate the transit duties
and trade of our merchants with China.
! This daty was satisfactorily performed by
our lats minister. These conventions bear
date at Shanghai on the 9Th of November,
1858 Having been considered in the light
of binding agreements subsidiary to the
principal treaty, and to be carried into
execution without delay, they do not provide
for any formal ratification or exchange of
ratifcations 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, tits hoped, to carry out the
other provisions of the conventions Still
thought it was proper to submit them to
the Senate. ,.by which they were ratified on
; the Sd of March, 1859 Toe ratified copies,
however, did not reaci, Shanghai until after
the departure Of our minister to Pekin, AMI
! these conventions could not, therefore, be
exchanged at the same time with the prin-
, cipal treaty. No doubt is entertained that
. they will be ratified and exchanged by the
, Chinese government, should this be thought
advisable but, under the c.rcums; ances
presented, Il sh.If consider them binding
! engagements from their date On both
. parties, ami cause them TO- be, published as
} such for the information and guidance of
our merchants trading with the Chinese
!, empire, 'sa' asa2e Y 'l.-i 2'',s.', ..
snniainoI y PARAGUAY. .niis1 .Sia-
VI It affords me much satisi action to inform
!, you that all our difficulties with the repnblic
3 Of Paraguay have been satisfaclo orily
. adjusted. II Ithappily did mot become neces