The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-03-28
From ~. Y. HerAii. Jan. J. q
Mr.. BurliDgaIne in Luck and
the United States Ahead in
China.
~. Y. Herall. Jan. ].

Mr.. Burlingime, Minister Of the United States
10 China, has, IL appears, been appointed by his
Imperial Majesty of the - Central Flowery King
dom" a. his special Ambassador ID the great
Powers touching their relations with China 1t
is presumed that the purpose of the embassy is 10
revise the treaties existing between said Powers
AMI the Chinese empire and to settle the numerous
AMI deiicatc complications which have arisen I'M
der said treaties during several years past. Ii
further appears that Mr.. Burlingame has accepted
this appointment, that the diplomatic corps resi-
dent near Pekin cordially approve Of his selec-
ton. and that he will leave Immediately eastward
ON his Dew mission by way Of san Francisco.
This l. an extraordinary case. There IL hardly
n precedent for il in the history Of the interna-
tiOnal affairs Of any two nations of modern or
ancient times. We send out Mr.. Burlingame to
China to look after the interests of the United
States IN tkat quarter as our representative before
the Emperor, but our agent becomes sd much n
hyOrite with the Brother of the Sun and Uncle
Of the Moon that he is appointed as the special
envoy Of China 10 all the great Western Powers
of the outside bartarians' in the very impOr-
isnt matter of a settlement Of all the treaty diff
culties existing between them respectively and tile
Chinese government. Our Minister to China.
therefore, in accepting this Oriental appointment
and in setting out upon the responsible mission
thus assigned him by way of San Frarrisco, will
make his first call upon his own government; and
in dropping in ut Washington-shOuld he drop in
az he now officially stands-he will appear before
II ENrl'AGh ObAATO IA Nt - A1~ VI
Minister Of the United States TO China and Min
lister from China To the United Stases.
But what says the constitution bearing upon
this matter? Ii says ~(article /, section y =
s'No title of nobility slall. be granted by the
United States; and no person holding any Office
of profit or trust under them slall, without the
consent of Congress, accept of any present emol-
uIDent, Office, or title of any kind whatever, from
any king, prince or foreign State" The consent
OF Congress, then, is required before Mr.. Burling-
anne can positively announce his acceptance OF
this Chinese appointment. We presume that he
has 30 stated the case 10 the Emperor. and that,
trusting TO the consent OF Congress, Mr.. ID. has
agreed to try the experiment. In this view he
will proceed first Ia Washington and lay his case
before the President. If the President then, shall
approve the undertaking tas he doubtless will, in
recognition of the high compliment tn the United
States inyOlyed), he will tHnsmit the facts of the
case TO Congress and ask the consent of-thc two
houses a. required by the constitution. y joint
resolution then, We expect, viii be passed giving
BurlingaIne of tho Office rendered him, and of the
title thereof md the e~molumcnts and presents
thereunto appcrtaining, be they large or small.
Assuming that this reported appointment has
been made by the Chinese Emperor, We cannot
doubt that il will be approved by Congress, in
view OF the new epoch close upon US touching our
commercial and political relations with China,
japan and all thO~e Oriental nations lying along
the eastern and southern sides of Asia, and with
Australia and all tho countless tropical islands,
great and small of those Indian seas. In this
view this Chinese appointment of Mr.. Burling-
anne offers diplomatic advantages to the United
States which we cannot imagine either the Prcsi-
dent OF Congress viii be slow to accept.