Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-07
RICHMOND WHIG.

: In the House of Commons on the 18th ultimo Mr.
Cochrane rose to call the attention OF The House th
rclitions with China 1t was desirable that the Hous
should express an opinion rs TO the instructions to b
,ivcn IN the officers row in command there lie wout
o refer to the past war; which, in his opn on was th
primary cause of the present difficulties, 70 Lor,
Elgins blue book except where absolutely essen
,ia to DO so T. explain the present position of ar5-
Ole would regard the question from the treaty of Ten
tsin Early in 1857 Lord Elgn was appointed specia
,nvoy 70 China but owing 10 the disturbances in India
e did not arrive there till the close of 1857 The otgi
mi demands in December 1854, only two-frst IN,
ompete execution OF treaty eugasemens secondly com
uensaton TO British subjects Tor losses incurred in 1857
But most unfortunately in February 1858 Lord Eigir
took step further aud demanded The power of making
! additional demands on the Chinese government and o
entering into such treaties conventions and agreement,
Is might obviate future misunderstanding; and still
more unfortunately, OF the demands thus made on
the Chinese government was the right 20 have a Br
fish Minister resideAt at the Court of Pekin lie
now came 10 the most interesting, and he might
say extraordinary, part OF these proccedngs.-
On the 10th of Juuc Admiral Hope arrived at the mouth
-of the Peho on the 2ih Mr.. Bruce arrived. Between
The 10th and the 2Otn Admiral Hops discovered that the
orts were fortified and that barriers had been placed
Eacross the riyer-and that ia fact not intended 20
allow them to proceed 10y the Ptiho to Ten-.sin And
with some Justice because 10 was admitted IN Lord Egns
own despatch that had hight TO navigate the PeihO
till after the ratica0n ci The treaty. When NJ Bruce
arrived however he took tine most uuwGrraulaLle step
Of ordering the Admiral to clear the river for him H.
ordered him DO this the 2l't Of Jane but the Adj.
ural most wisely delayed in giving effect that order
aud had been for the attacks "hh had been made
uop a gallant officer nov member of that house (Sir
! u. StymOurj-thcar. beIrl-he believed that Admiral
Hope would have had the good sense not to carry the
instructions all. On the 2lh the attack have
commenced but an interval having been permitted 10
elp-c the 25,h uine o'clock IN the morning, Mr..
Bruce received despatch from one OF the highest o-
ciis in China stating that he had arrived one of the
muaths OF e PeihO miles To tine north, for the pur-
pose OF treating and stating thai he was instructed to
conduct him. with all possible dignity. 10 the Court Of
Pekiu Mr. Bruce received this communication at nine
O'Clock In the morning. but would the House believe
that he declined to send nine niles making an excuse
/ that il Was too distant, because Admiral Hope
must have commenced operations? The operations,
however had commenced till two o'clock, anu ei-
fort had been made 10y Mr. Bruce TO prevent the slaughter
of our troops. out OF 100 men Who went into action
/ 4aI we're killed or wounded Nothing could exceed the
galautry Of the officers and meu engaged. They had
heard the first night OF tie session OF the galIntry Of
Admiral Hope-how he shifted his flag from ship 20 ship
after being wounded and they could refuse 10 sym
pathze with the officers under las Communicates.
Chadweli, Lemon, Heath Fisher and Others. The action
continued until uightall while Hr Bruce, who vas only
nine miles distant AID was aware that the Chinese gov
ernmeut had tGlled IL, obligations made no effort TO
stop the carnage. (lear, hear lie was disposed 10
svmpathi1e d.,ry with auy Minister placed at SO great
distance from lis country, but he compelled say
that this occasion their Minister bad msused ts au
thOFity. Aud how did Mr. Bruce aer~ards defend his
conduct: BY saying that the Chinese abused their autho
rty the treachery being that the batteries Of the Chinese
we're masked and that there gunbOa,s the river
| WHY Lord Elgin himself before he left China knew
that the batteries were maskcdEe intmaed that they
we're foryug the mouths Of the Peiho, and that they
were justified in doing so. lie might also refer to tl-
letter OF Captain Langley, HGo saa tn4t Il has on
our part the declaration OF war was made-that
there treSchery on the part OF the Chinese az all
that we knew there guubOats the river-that
one Of them was actually fred TO warn rs 10 Withdraw
our force; aud stated bis opinion that II the Chinese
had opened al their batteries az that tme not OF our
boats would have been left ilear) There was ano-
tber matter in which Mr. Bruces conduct deserved to be
cauyasSel .lr. Brtce Staf.d that NJ. Ward me liner
lean Maister s;O ,sisel dit h0, cOOpefa's cin him At
all, mas yecsirsd rih insult and ooHiaHaeiy rheH he
| wsnt 10 PckUi Would IL be bsiisuea that 0it THIS pds
| fotaliy Imaginary Mr. Ward bmsel states that he
had been received by the Chinese officials with the great
est respect and consideration that everything had been
dOIe 10 facilitate his Journey 10 Pekiu; that lunks had
been sent to convey him up tne ri,es aa 10: the yn-
nee had shown courtesy which lett nothing 70 be de-
sired Wr Buchanan, Hs President of the United States,
hare SiBl tsstmoqy iu his recent nsSd1e. aud decidr
edthat ihs conduct oJ Mr. llird ot-GsiO tdd
ceiusi his entire appreciation. Taking all the circum-
stances OF the case into consideration ho thought that
Mr.. Bruce had acted in peremptory aud precipiiae
manner and in the spirit Of Minister who went out
| 70 rttllY treaty OF peace near, near.
Lord j. Russo--nir, suppose nG one IN Thu House
questions the professional opinions of the gallant Adm
rtl nor will any question his zeal in the ser
Woe of the Crown and country The gallant Admiral has
received the appreciation of the Admiralty, his immediate
superors and therefore think quite unnecessary in
deed impossible TO 20 into all the questions to which he
has adyer;ed as h- conduct aaa his differences with
the noble lord who her Majesty Ambassador there
doubt too whether this is opportunity when can
conveniently discuss the whole matter but at the same
time, the honorable gentleman anO brought forward the
question made many charges and went into so much
detail that cannot altogether avoid questioning some
parts Of the narrative which he has given us. The House
will recOlect that Mr. Bruce sent 10 China for the
purpose of obtaining the ratification Othe treaty of Tier
,sn. Before he went, lac laid paper before Lord Nal
mesbury asking Instructions and saying that parts OF
the treaty OF Ileu-tSu likely 10 DE unpadtabe 10
the Chinese and that there might be difficulty which
had not been iCreseen in carrying them into effect Tie
did mention that the entrance 70 the PeihO was like
" to be resisted but be did ask was he to insist upon
going up to Pekin. Lord Malmesbury in reply, gave
him orders to 90 to Pekn and with regard the mode
Of proceeding there gave him orders to this effect
You will probably hnd il adyisaLe, before your depar-
ture 10 send Information 10 len Of your approach, so
that suitable arrangements may be made for your recep-
ton az the Peiha mouth, and the admiral IN command IS
directed TO send up TO the OF the Pe!ho naval
force" Let suppose Mr.. Bruce had taken different
course that which he pursued and let consider what
would have been the consequences, and what sort cf
Judgment would have been passed upon him IA ihis coun-
Try If Ar Bruce had said he would not attempt 10 pass
up the river by force but that he would submit TO the
proposals of the Chinese what would have occurred at
home For my Ogn p.tt am Inclined 10 think that, after
the scccSf fm resistance made hg hf French Ind British
torcsS, The Chinese authorities ''ers dYOSCh Ia be more
cial 10 the AH,ricans than Hy 90d haze Js,H and it
was their obvious policy that they should show to the
Americans how peaceful and amcable they could be -
Now il Mr. Bruce had received the treatment which the
Americans ecciyed-that he had been conveyed 10 the
capital and that having arrived at Pekiu, be was re-
ceiyed a. Mr. Ward was-h0t he ,oas fod 10 Jstr lis
| head 10 He lroi9id iH the presence Of tie EMPEROR
must suppoSe that N, Bruce roVid hare Shoc he sale
sDir.t ,S l!r W,.rd 3D. GHf tat ks .yotg Aags said
he ,cO,id not submit 10 9Ey oihsr ceremony Hm hat
| ,,iaHy rec0gRi-sd dt the Western Courts, and hdt
he x.d not submit 10 Il ,sraroay .oheh oO,i6 he de-
Urdiqiioa 10 his s0Uerfigo. The Chinese would have
said to him. as they said 10 Mr. Ward-"Then what was
the use OF your coming here we cannot rafy the treaty
here. we counsel yOu to back again" Nov, suppose
all that had taken place what would have been said in
this country yby thu" You had instructions from
your government 10 get the treaty ratified you have not
got that done: vOu have submitted to the Chinese, and
YOU have not obeyed the instructions which you received
from your government and all upon what excuse why
this that YOU found resistance which you supposed you
could not overcome" Although there not strong
Briti.h ior5e at tie MOUTH of the Peho su Mr.. Bruce
would nave been told that on former OCCASION British
force had met with and the resistance Of the
Chinese with the greatest ease and that their character
as We have heard to-nght-was not of warke des'
| criptiou Mr. Bruce would have heard complaints that
he ought 10 have yeptured face this militia and rabbe
and that be would haye dspeied them la hail an hour
Can any one doubt that this would not have been the
charge in this country? Hear, hear) Well them |
| say Mr. Bruce had no alternative.
MoprRv WATER AprAR4TUs.-Dr. Charles NJ. Wind