The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-12
The Presentation OF he Chiuese Embassy to
t the President.
Previously to the delivery of their credentials,
Mr. Burlingame made the following remarks:

Previously to the delivery Of their credentials
Mr.. Burlingsme made the following remarks:
Mr.. President-lf you had not already through
the secretary of state, kindly relieved me from
embarrassment, my first duty on the present occa-
sion would be to explain to you how 1t is that T.,
who left thus capital seven years ago minister OF
the United States to China, have now returned
here minister from China to the United States.
You will permit me, trust, to renew, ia this
formal manner, the expression OF my thanks for
the kindness and liberality with which this change
Of representative character and responsibility on
my part has been allowed by the American peo-
pie.
mept having within the last three years accepted
the laws of nations as they are allowed and prac.
ticed by the Western powers, that government has
further concluded, il permitted, to enter into
communication, through the customary diplo-
Denmark, France, Great Britain, Holland, Italy,
North Germany, Russia, Spain and Sweden. This
desire of the Chinese government Is fully ex-
PRESSED in letters addressed to those powers, re-
speciivey. We are charged, at the expense of
what might bear the appearance OF egotism, to
say that there nine Official ranks in China. By
way Of showing the greatest possible respect for
the Western powers, the letters to which refer
we're committed 10 the care OF myself, Of the
first rank, and to Chh Tajeu and sun Tajeu, Of the
second rank, myself being invested with the ex-
traordinsry and pleuipotentisry functions, and
ell Of Us being accredited to you as high minister's
and ENJOYS.
We have now the honor to deliver the letter Of
bis imperial majesty, which Is thus addressed to
the president Of the United States. In doing so,
We obey charge given us by the emperor Of
China 70 you Of mis- sincere desire for your
personal health. honor, and happiness, and for the
welfare and prosperity Of the great nation over
which, by the authority Of Heaven, you have been
called 10 preside r..Iufsif fa.a - p
To which the president replied, as follows:
Your ELceHencses-States, like Individual men,
have two distinct characters in fields Of activity
the one domestic the other social. II II be true,
as trust it is, that the several political communi-
ties Of the earth are now more actively engaged
than at any previous period in meliorsting their
respective conditions and laws, it certainly is not
less manifest that they are zealously engaged in
melioratiDg and perfecting assistance OF interna-
TO ,sl intercourse and commerce.
The appearance here OF this the first mission
from China TO the western nations, is in this re-
.pect not more singular than II Is suggestive.
During the first eighty years Of our indepen-
denee foreign nations generally evincsd hesitation,
to advances Of the United States. OF late these
symptoms have seemed 10 disappear, and there
| remains Gcarcely one civilized and regularly con-
| stituted state with which We have not formea re-
laiions of cordial friendship. So farffom SEEKING
/ 70 impose letters upon our commerce. Is neieto-
| FORE nearly all nations now invite Us 70 estsoisn
| free trade Our national thought, that the Amer.
icsn continent and islands are rfgntfuiiy reserved
for the ultimate estaonsnmsn. o. noepsn. ,ea
Vigorous Vigorous and wen established European powers
nov cede 10 ma for fair equivalents such Of their
Colonial possessions In this hemisphere 81 we ind
desirable for strength and commerce. The in.
herent right of man 10 choose and change domicil
and allegiance-a, principle essential TO human
prorress-is conceded 10 our recent ueaues.
These changes, although not less important, are
less striking than the extension OF our intercourse
with the Oriental nations.
We have recently opened reciprocal and equal
intercourse with Greece, with the Ottoman forte,
q nations az they are explained In our own ap'
J proved compilation, now avsils herself, through