Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-05
PRESENTATION OF THE CHINESE
EMBASSY.
Addresses Of Minister Burliusam e-Re-
spense of the Presideut


Extraordinary, Of the first rank, and Cnih
Kang and Sun Cha Ku, Ministers OF the sec.
ond rank, from China with Messrs J. Nc
Leary Brown, Mons. de Champs, first and
second secretaries, and six natl We interpreters,
were presented to the President by Secretary
Seward in the Blue Room, at the Executive
Mansion.
The announcement that the Embassy would
lie presented to-day drew large crowd Of Ia
dies and gentlemen at the White House, who
expected that the presentation would be pub
c, but they were sadly disappointed, as no
one was allowed in the blue parlor except the
members of the Cabinet, (all OF whom were
presently and the Presidents Secretaries Pre-
vious to the pres entatlon of their credentials.
Mr.. Buriingame addressed the President
follows
Kr. President If you had not asready,
through the Secretary of State, kindly relieved
me from embarrassment my first duty on the
present occasion would be to explain 10 you how
1t rs that I,who left this capital seven years ago
a Minister of the United States to China have
now returned here a Minister from CHINA to
the United States. You will permit me- trust,
to renew In this formal manner the expression
OF my thanks tor the kindness and libeality
with which this change of representative
character and responsibility on my par has
been allowed by the American people
President, the Imperial Chinese Government
having, within the last three years, accepted
the laws of nations as they are allo owed and
practced by the Western Powers, that Gov.
eminent has further concluded, If permitted
tomary diplomatic way, with the United
States, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great
Britain, Holland, Italy, North Germany. Prus-
sia, Spain, and Sweden. This desire Of the
Chinese Government Is fully expressed in let
ters addressed TO those powers. respectively
We are charged at the expense Of what might
bear the appearance Of egotism, to say that
there are nine official ranks III China
By way of showing the greatest pos
sible respect to the Western Powers,
the letters TO which 1 refer Were committed to
the care OF myself of the first rank, and TO Chh
Talen and sun Tajen of the second rank, my
self being invested with extraordinary and
plenlpotenliary functions, and all of Us being
accredited to you a. high Ministers and En-
voys.
We have now the honor to deliver the letter
of his Imperial Majesty, which is thus ad.
dressed to the President of the United States
In doing 80 we obey charge given us by the
Emperor OF Chm to assure YOU OF his sincere
desire for your personal health, honor and
happiness, and for the welfare and prosperity
of the great nation over whom, by the au thority
OF Heaven, you have been called to preside
To which the President replied as follows
Iour EyceNeRet s. States like individual MEN
nave two distinct characters in fields of &C.
witty, the one domestic. the other socrI II
A. he true, as trust il is, that the several po-
htlcal communities OF the earth are now more
actively engaged than at any previous period
and mellorating their respective Constitutions
and laws, IL certainly is not less manifest that
they are Zealously engaged IN melIorating and
perfectng assistance of International iuter-
course and commerce. The appearance here
OF this, the first mission from China to the
western Nations. Is IN this respect, not
more singular than ii is suggestive
During the first eighty years Of our indepen-
dence foreign nations generally evinced hesi-
tton, caution, and reserve, not to say ieaI-
ousy, i'll regard to advances of the United
States. OF late these features have seemed to
disappear. There remains scarcely one civil
lied and regularly constituted State with which
We have not formed relations of cordial friend
IN inn fat
upon our commerce. as heretofore, nearly alf
nations now Invite us to establish free trade
Our national thought, that the American
continent and islands are rightfully re-.
served for the ultimate establishment of
independent American States is no
longer anywhere contested. Vigorous and
well-established European powers now freely
c. de to for fair equivalents such OF their CO.
lonial possessions in this hemis phere as we find
desirable for strength and commerce The in-
nHrent right OF man to choose and change dom.
Icile and allegiance. a principle essential to
human progress, is conceded in our recent
treaties. These changes, although not less i'm
portant, are less striking than the extension
OF our friendly Intercourse with the Oriental
nations. We have recently opened reciprocal
and equal intercourse with Greece, with the
Ottoman Porte, and with Japan. China hav-
ing accepted the laws of nations as they are
explained in our own approved compilation,
now avails herself through your mission of
our friendly introduction to the Christian States
OF Europe and America. These events reveal
the pleasing fact OF q rapid growth OF mutual
trust and confidence among the nations, result.
ing from general suspension of the policy of
war and conquest. and the substitution OF a
fraternal and benevolent policy in its place.
four eXcellencies, we have not failed to appre-
ciate the sagacity with which the Chinese En-
pire have responded to this change of policy
by the Christian nations We ACKNOWLEDGED.
with pleasure, the cordial and enIighted ad op-
ION OF that policy by the Western nations act
ing in concert with the United States, especial
~ by Great Britain, France, Russia, North
VkarY 0rtr 4 lnIra
and Belgium.
deem At not unworthy of this occasion to
bear witness to the merit of the representative |
agents whose common iabors at Pekin have
eliminated in bringing the empire of China so
early and so directly into the family circle OF
civilized nations; namely, Prince kung and
enshian, on the part of China yourself, Nr.
Burlingame, on the part of the United States;
the lamented Sir Frederick Bruce, on the Brit
ish part; Mr. Berthemy, on behalf of France:
and Messrs Bailuzeck and VIaugally, on the
part OF Russia. Reasoning from the harmony
which has thus prevailed hitherto, feel my
self justified. on this occasion, no only IN CIV.
ing you cordial reception here, but also in
assuring you of a welcome equally cordial by
the several powers to which you are accred-
tied.
In conclusion, trust that the intelligent and
enlightened Chinese Government and people
Will allow me TO build upon this days trans
action an expectation that their great Empire,
instead Oh remaining, as heretofore, merely
passive, Will henceiOrth be induced to take an
u
uon. here are several lires of navigation be-
tween Europe and China; citizens of the Uni.
ted States have already constructed a road
across the lsthmus of Panama, with a line of
steam service across the Pacific ocean. In two
or three years more there will be added TO these
facilities OF intercourse the Pacific railroad
across our our own continent, and ship canal
constructed under French patronage across
the lsthmus OF Suez. But there will yet remain
besides all these, and more important thai
all OF them, the great work of connecting the
two oceans by a ship canal to be constructed
across the Isthmus of Darien. To doubt the
Feasibility Of such a work would imply an ig-
noranee of the science and the wealth of the
age in hioh we live. Your important mission
Will enable you 10 contribute largely to the
achievement of that great enterprise. / re-
speetfully invite you, therefore, to commend it
to the favor Of the United States of Columbia
as we'll as to the Government of China and the
several European States 10 which you are ac-
credited.
CUSTOMS RRCEIPTs.-The following are the
receipts for customs duties from May 25th to
30th, inclusive at the ports below mentioned
Boston, S3si,G3l; New York, g, ,222 800; Phila.
delpbia. SIo3OO9; New Orleans, MAY 18th to
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