The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-04
BY the l,and ofindustry and afford subjects for

may gradually penetrate the existing gloom.
The wisdom of the course pursued by this
Government towards China has been vindicat-
ed by the event. Whilst we sustained a neu-
trail position i'll the war waged by Great Britain
and France against the Chinese empire, our
late minister, iii obedience to his instructions,
! judciousiy cooperated with the ministers of
these powers in all peaceful measures to
cure 10y treaty the just concessions demanded
by the interest Of foreign commerce. The re-
suit is that satisfactory treaties have been
concluded with China by the respective min
listers OF the United States. Great Britain, Rus
sia and France. Our treaty, or general con
vention OF peace, am;ty, and commerce." with
| that empire was concluded at Teintsia on the
| 18th June, 1855, and was ratified by the Pres
ident, by and with the advice and consent of
| the Senate, on the 2lst 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 destination
on the 5th of February, 1859, bearing with
him the ratified copy of this treaty, and arriv-
ed at Shanghai on the 26th May. From thence
he proceeded to Pekin on the 10th June, but
did net arrive in that city until the 9th July.
According to the terms of the treaty the rati-
ifcations We're to be exchanged on or before
the 18th June, 1859. This was rendered i'm
ossible by reasons and events beyond his con-
troll, not necessary to detail; but still it is due
to the Chinese authorities at Shanghai to state
that they always assured him no advantage
should be taken of the delay, and this pledge
has been faithfully redeemed
On the arrival of IHr. Ward at Peking he
requested ali audience of the Emperor to pre-
sent his letter of credence. This he did not
obtain, in consequence of his very proper re-
fusal to submit to the humliating ceremonies
required by the etiquette of this strange peo-
pie in approaching their sovereign. Never
theless the interviews on this question were
conducted 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 he impossible, the
letter of crcIence from the President was re-
ceived with peculiar honors by Kweiiang,
"the Einperot's prime minister and the second
man in the empire to the Emperor himself"
The ratihcations of the treaty were afterwards
on the l6th of August, exchanged in proper
form at Pe-tsang. As the exchange did not
take place until after the day prescribed by
the treaty, it is deemed proper, before its pub
LEGATION, again TO submit it to the Senate.
1t IS but simple justice to the Chinese au-
thorities o observe; that, throughout the whole
transactions, they appear to have acted in
good faith and i'll 4 friendly spirit towards the
United States. 1t is true this has been done
after th3ir own peculiar fashion; but We ought
to regard with lenient eye the ancient Gus
toms of an empire dating back for thousands
of years, so far as this may be consistent with
our own national honor. The conduct of cur
minister on the occasion has received my en-
tire appreciation.
In order 20 carry out the spirit of this treaty
and to give it full effect, it became necessary
to conclude two supplemental conventions
the one for the adjustment and satisfaction of
the claims Of orr citizens, and the other to fix
the tariff on imports aud exports, and to regu-
late the transit duties and trade of our mer-
chants with China. This duty was satisfac-
torly performed by our late minister. These
conventions bear date at Shanghai on the Sth
of November, ] SIS. Having been considered
in the light of binding agreements subsidiary
to the principal treaty, ald to be carried into
execution without delay, they do not provide
for any formal ratification or exchange of rati-
fications 10y the contracting parties. This was
not deemed necessary by the Chinese, who are
already proceeding in good faith to satisfy the
claims of citizens, and, it is hoped, to car
ry out the other provisions cf the conveu-
tons. Still l thought it was proper to sub
nit them to the Senate, by which they were
ratified on the Sd of March, 1859. The ratified
copies however did not reach Shanghai until
after the departure of our minister to Peking,
| and 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 circumstances presented, | shall
consider them binding engagements from their
| Of hot orti her In be
published 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 oi
| Paraguay have been satisfactory adjusted. II
happily did not become necessary to employ
the force for this purpose which Congress had
placed at my command, under their joint res
olution of 81 June, 1858. On the contrary
the President of that republic, in friendly
spirit, acceded promptly to the just and rea-
sonable demands of the Government of the
United States. Our commissioner arrived al
Assumption, the capitol of the republic. on
the 25th of January, 1859, and left it on the
9th of February, having in three weeks ably
and successfully accomplished all the objects
of his mission. The treaties which he has
concluded will be Immediately submitted to
the Senate.
In the view that the employment of ether
than peaceful means might become necessary
to obtain s:just satisfaction" from Paraguay, a
strong naval force was concentrated in the
waters of the La Plata to await contingencies
whilst our commissioner assembled the rivers
to Assumption. Tho Navy Department is en-
titled to great credit for the promptness, eff
cheney, and economy with which this expedi.
tion was fitted out and conducted. 1t con.
sisted of nineteen armed vessels, great and
small carrying 200 guns and $500 men, al
under the command of the veteran and gal
! liant Shubiick. The entire expenses of the
expedition have been betrayed out of the ordi
nary appropriations for the naval service, eN
cept the sum of $3.50 900, applied to the pur
chase of seven of the steamers, constituting
part of it, under the authority of the nava
appropriation act of the Sd of March last. i
lis believed that these steamers are worth
more than their cost, and they are ali now use
fully and actively employed in the naval ser
vice.
The appearance of so large force, fitted ou
in such prompt manner, in the far distan
waters of the La Plata, and the admirable con
duct of the officers and men employed in il
have had happy effect in favor of our coun
ron hout all that remote portion of th