The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-06

Idte minister, 10 OBEDIENCE 10 MS lnSlFuCtloASt
judicIousiy co-operaled with the ministers o.
these powers 10 all peaceful measures to secure
by treaty the just concessions demanded by the
interests OF foreign commerce. The result !;
that satisfactory treaties have been concluded
with China blythe respective ministers OF the
United States, Great Britain, France, and Rus
sIa. Our ''treaty, or general convention oil
peace, amity, and commerce" I" with that empire
was concluded az IIentsin on the 18th June,
1888, and was ratified by the President, by
and with the advice and consent OF the Senate.
on tbe 2lst December iollowlng.
On ,h5 18th December, 1858, JOAN E.
Ward, distinguished citizen OF Georgia, was
daily commissioned as envoy extraordinary and
minister pleniPotentiary to China. He left
the Unitei States for the place OF his destina-
ton on the 3sh OF February, 1889, hearing
with him the ratified copy Of his treaty, and
arrived at Shanghai on the 28th May. From
thence be proceeded 10 Picking on the 10th
June, but he did not arrive in that city until
the 9th July. According to the terms Of the
treaty the ratiications were to be exchanged
on or before the 18th Juns, 1859. This was
rendered impossible by reasons ami events be-
youd his coatroI, not necessary to detail but
still it IS due 10 the Chinese authorities Of
Shanghai 10 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 Mr. Ward at Pek:ng be
requested an audience of the Emperor to pre-
sent his letter Of credence. This he dId not
obtain, in consequence of his very proper refu-
sal to submit 10 the humiiiatIng ceremonies re-
T. E ~,
in approaching their sovereign. Nevertheless
the lntervuws on tdis question were conduc-
ted in the n7st friendly spirit and with ali due
regard 10 bis personal feelings and The honor
OF his counlry. When a presentation to his
Majesty was found 10 beimposslble, the letter of
credsnce ffom the President was received with
peculiar hoaorS by KwejIiang, ''the EnperJr's
prime minister and the second man 10 the en-
pire 10 ibe Emperor himself" The raiifications
OF the treaty were afterwards, on the 10th OF
August, exeaanged in proper form al Pei-tsang.
As the exchange did not taGe place until ai.er
the day described by the treaty, 1t is deemed
proper, before IFS publication, again to submit
it to the Senate.
1t is bat simple justice 10 the Chinese authori-
ties to observe, that, throughout the whole
transactions, they appear to have acted ln good
faith and friendly spirit towards the Uniteu
States It's sgae that tbs has been done after
their own peculiar fashion but we ought 10
regard with enIent eve the ancient customs
of an empire dating back for thousands OF years,
50 far as this may be consistent with our own
national honor. The conduct OF our minister
on the occasion las received my entire aPPro-
bdlion.
In order 10 carry OFT the spirit of this treaty,
and 10 give it foil effect, It became necessary
10 conclude two supplemental conventions
the one for the adjustment and satisfaction OF
the claims of our citizens, and the other TO fS
the tariT on imports and exports, and 10 reg
ula'e the transit duties and trade Of our mer-
chants with China. This duty was SATISFACTORY
ly performed by our late minister. These con-
yeatioas bear date al Shanghai on ths Sth No
vemb1r 1898. Having been considered in the
light Of binding agreements subsidiary to the
Driacipal treaty, aad to be carried into execu-
lion without delay, they do not provide Tor any
formal ratification or exchange of IatIhcatIons
bv the contracting parties. This was not dee
med necessary by the Chinese, who are already
proceeding in good faith TO satisfy the claims OF
our citizens, and, 1t Is hupeJ, to carry out the
other provisions Of the conventions. Still l
lhouht it was proper to submit them TO the
Senate, by which they were ratified on the Sd
March, 1859. The ratified copies, however, /
did not reah Shanghal until after the departure
of our minister tl Peking, and these conven- !
tions could not, therefore, be exchanged at The /
same time with tae principal treaty. no +.
doub. is entertained that they will be ratified |
and exchanged by the Chinese government, !
should this be thought advisable bat, under the |!
prespated, I shall consider them
bindinr engagements from their date on both /
parties. and cause them TO be puoiisaed as such
lor the information aud guidance CT our meE-
chants trading with the Chinese empire.
l. affords rnp much satisfaction to inform yoa
that all our difficulties with the republic OF
Paraguay have been satisfactorily adjusted. It |
happlly did not become necessary 10 employ !
the force for this purpose which Congress bad /
placed at my command, under their joint resolu- /
ton of Cd June, 1888. On the contrary, the |
President Of that republic, in friendly spirit,
acceded to the Just and reasonable demands OF
the Government of the Uni'ed States. Our |
arrived at Assumption, the caPl- /
tai OF the republic, on the 25th of January, |
1859 and left it on the l7th 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 other
than peaceful means might become necessary
to obtain 'just satisfaction" from Paraguay, a
strong naval force was concentrated in the
waters of the La Plata TO await contingencies,
whilst our commissioner ascended the rivers 10
Assumption. The Navy Department is entl-
tied to great credit for the promptness, eiicien-
CIV and economy with which this expedition
was fitted out and conducted. 1t consisted of
nineteen armed vessels, great and small, car
rying 200 guns and 1900 men, ali under the
- IL,