New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-02-13
Proposed American Mediation between th
Anglo-Franco Alliance and China.


Proposed American Mediation between the
Angio-Franco Alliance and China.
special meeting of the Board of Trade was re-
Gently held at Boston, whenthe following preamble
and resolution were adopted:
Whereas, the ambassadors of England and OF
France, while on their way recently to Pekin to
exchange the treaties between their respective
Governments and the Emperor of China, were in
terrupted in their progress, and accidentally or
treacherously fired upon by some Chinese forts :
and whereas, large naval forces have been dis
patched to the Celestial Empire to obtain redress
for the alleged wrong,
Resolued, That the Government of this Beard
prepare memorial to the President of the United
States, respectfully suggesting that he tender to
the three Powers above mentioned the mediation
of the United States for the amicabe adjustment of
all pending difficulties; and further, that the said
memorial be entrusted to the Hon. William Apple
ton, with the request that he present the same and
make such statements touching the subject matter
thereof as he shall deem proper.
We certainly have as high an opinion of interna-
tional courtesy as anybody has; and also are as
deeply impressed with the horrors and eruelties Of
war. But there are some considerations connected
with the present difficulty between the Allies and
the Chinese that influence US to think that the best
and most digniied policy for Brother Jonothan to
follow with reference to it, is just to do nothing at
out as they best can.
When, some months ago, the Ministers of the
United States, England and France were respect
lively knocking at the door of Chinese exclusive
ness, there was marked difference in the manner
that the former conducted himself as compared
with the behavior of the other two. The Ameri-
can Minister approached the Chinese Emperor as
one power should approach an equal, and in terms
Of friendliness and good will asked, not as right
but favor, the establishment Of diplomatic and
commercial relations between the two nations,
showing how such would be to the great benefit
of both, and could not possibly be to the detriment
Of either. Not SO, the English and the French.
They appeared in the Chinese waters backed by a
formidable feet, and insolently knocking at the
gates of the Celestias. demanded that they should
be opened to their Ministers and commerce, under
pain of having them blown from their hinges at the
cannon's muzzle. They gave the Chinese no
choice, nor any time to frame reply ga treaty
or your life,n was the form OF their demand
Not content with this singular system Of di-
plomacy for themselves, they insolently insisted
that the United States should also adopt it by
joining with them in their threats and violence
This onr Minister very rightfully refused, and for
that refusal we were called upon for months to see
him made the object of the grossest attack and our
Government the target for the most outrageous rid
icule that it is possible to imagine. The English
Government was painted mighty lion ready
to pounce upon and slay his prey while the United
States was but sneakng jaekal, skulking near, to
lap up the offa and lick the bones left by the king
of beasts after he had completed hisrepast Again.
the Allies were the gallant soldiers who were to
fight and win the battle while the Americans were
the eampfollowers, lowering near, to pounce upon
the spois as soon as the danger was entirely past
These and thousand other SMILES were hazarded
merely because the United States did not see in
the refusal of the Cinnamon to buy British opium
and manufactures a cas,ts beRi But the American
Minister did not depart from his original line of
policy. And as consequence, he obtained a
treaty, and was admitted to the capital of the En-
pire where it was duly ratified while neither the
British nor the French have advanced an inch in
their enterprise, and have had to put up, besides
with terrible drubbing from the long. tailed war.
riors who manned the guns at Peiho.
We say, then, since the Allies were so disposed
to beiitte the American policy in China and to
vaunt their own superior sagacity and greatness,
our duty is to let them alone, and thus permit
the two policies to stand out in bold contrast Let
them go to war with John, if they please. Such
action will not injure US. On the contrary, the
concentration on the coast of Asia of large naval
and land force of English and French soldiers, may
open market for the surplus of the California and
Oregon grain crops, which need an outlet We,
therefore, are opposed to all intermeddling by our
country. II England and France instead Of throw
ing dirt upon US. had followed our example, there
wonld be no war in China. They saw fit to act
differently. Let them take tho consequences.
A CHuRcH BUYING A SLAVE. The New Yorh
Sun says that on Sunday morning, 5th inst Rev
Henry Ward Beecher's congregation subscribed
$1,000 OF to secure the freedom of a little slave
girl, nearly white. The sum required was onl,
$500. Beside the contributions OF money, there
was neat gold ring, set with opal, which the pas
tor placed upon the child's finger, bidding hel
remember it IS her freedom ring.',
BRlIF TINE FOR CEREaosY.-The politest maj
in Massachusetts, is Mr.. Chase. treasurer of tht
Pemherton Mills who, in passing out from the fall
ing hnilding through door that was 1t TINT nstan
forced open by the pressure, afhbly paused, and
allowed another person to precede him.