Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-01-07

excluded from any other State were slavery
exists. And even if all the States had sep.
arate'y passed laws prohibiting the importation
OF slaves, these laws would have failed Of effect
Tor want OF q naval force to capture the slavcrs
and to guard the coasts. Such force no
State can employ in time Of peace without tho
consent Of Congress.
These acts Of Congress, it is believed. have,
with very rare and Insignificant exceptions ac-
complishcd their purposes For period OF
more than half century there has been no
perceptible addition to the number Of our do
mestic slaves. During this periol their ad-
vanccment in civilization has far surpassed
that OF any other portion of the African race.
The light and the blessings of Christianity
have been extended to them, and both their
moral and physical condition has been greatly
improved.
Reopen the trade, and it would be difficult
to determine whether the effort would be more
deleterious to the interests of the master or on
those OF the native born slave. Of the evils
to the master, the one most to be dreaded
would be the introduction Of wild, heather,
and ignorant bar:arians among the sober,
orderly and quiet slaves, whose ancestors have
been on the soil for several generations. This
might tend to barbarize, demoralize aud exls-
pcrate the whole mass, and produce the most
deporable consequences
The effect upon the existing slave would, If
possible, he still more deplorable. At present
he is treated with kindness and humanity. lie
IS well fed, we'll clothed, and not overworked.
His condition is incomparably better than that
Of the coolies which modern nations of high
civilization have employed as a substitute for
African slaves. Both the philanthropy aud
selGiEtercst Of the master have combined to
produce this human result But let this trade
be re-opened and what will be the effect? The
same, to considerable extent, as on a neigh
boring island-the only spot now on earth
where the African slave trade is openly tole-
rated; and this in defiance of solemn treaties
with Power abundantly able at any moment,
to enforce their execution. There the master.
intent upon the present gain, extorts from the
slave as much labor as his physical powers
are capable Of notwithstanding that. when
death comes to his relief, his place can be
supplied ut price reduced to the lowest point
by the competition Of rival African slave
traders. Should this ever be the case in our
country-which do not deem possble-thc
present useful character of the domestic i,,-
stitution, wherein those too old and too
young to work are provided for with care
and humanity, and those capable of labor are
not overtasked. would undergo an unfortunate
change. The feeling of reci procal dependence
and attachment which now exists between,
master and slave would be converted into
mutual distrust ard hostility.
But we are obliged us Christian and
moral nation TO consider what would be the
effect upon unhappy Africa itselfifewe should
reopen the slave trade. This would give the
trade an impulse aud extension which it has
never hal even in its palmiest days. The nn.
nnerous victims required to supply it would
convert the whole slave coast into perfect
Pandemonium, for which this country w":!!;;:
be held responsible in the eyes both of God
aud man. Its petty tribes would then be co,,-
stantly engaged in predatory wars against
eac!' other tor the purpose Of scizing slaves to
supply the American market. All hopes CT
African civilization would thus be ended.
On the other hand, when a market for Afri-
can slaves shall no longer be furnished in
Cuba, aud thus all the world will be closed
against this trade, we may then indulge in a
! reasonable hope for the gradual improvement
OF Africa. The chief motive of war among
the tribes will cease whenever there is no
longer any demand for slaves The resources
of that fertile but miserable country, might
thei, be developed by the hand of Industry
and afford subjects for legitimate foreign and
domestic commerce. In this manner Christi.
anity and civilization may gradually penetrate
the existing gloom.
The wisdom Of the course pursued by this
government towards China has been vindicated
by the event. Whilst we sustained u neutral
position in the war waged by Great Britain
and France against the Chinese Empire, our
late Minister, in obedience to his instructions
jut!ciously co.operated with the Ministers ol
these Powers in all peaceful measures to secure
ny treaty tho just concessions demanded by the
interests Of foreign commerce. The result is
that satisfactory treaties have been concluded
with China by the respective Ministers of the
United States, Great Britain, France and Rus
Sia Our "treaty, Of general convention o.
peace, amity and commerce. with that Empire
was concluded at Miehtsih on the 18th June
1888, aud was ratified by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate
on the 2lst December following.
On the 18th December, 1858, John T.
Ward distinguished citizen Of Georgia, was
duly commissioned as envoy extraordinary and
munster plenipotentiary to China He left the
United States for tine place OF bis destination
on tile 5th Of February, 1852 bearing will
him the ratified copy Of this treaty, and arrived
\ at Shanghae on the 28th May. Brom thence
! he Proceeded to Pckin, on the 10th June, but
did not arrive at that city until the 9th July
According to the terms Of the treaty the rati
ications were to be exchanged on or before
the 18th Of June, 1859. This was rendered
impossible by reasons and events beyond hi.
control, not necessary to detail; but Still it il
due to the Chinese authorities at Shanghae Il
state that they always assured him no advan
tage should be taken Of. the delay. and tli:
pledge has been faithfully redeemed
On The arrival of Mr.. Ward ut Pekin he re-
quested an audience Of the Emperor to present
his letter Of credence. This he did not obtai,
in consequence Of bis very proper refusal te
submit to the humilating ceremonies required
by the etiquette Of this strange people in az
|proaching their sovereign. Nevertheless thu
interviews on this question were conducted i,
|the most friendly spirit and with all due re
Igard to his personal feelings and the honor o
ibis country. When presentation to hi
Majesty was found TO be impossible the letle
? Of crcdence from the President Of the Unite.
,lStates was received with peculiar honors b,
Il lKwelling, the Emperors Prime Minister ant
u the seceud man in the empire to the Empcro
klhimsclf" The rati6cations Of the treaty wer
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