The New York herald., 1870-02-24


Brooks OF South Carolina, he made long speech In
| the House or Representatives on the subject, de.
nouncng the attack a. unwarranted by the remarks
OF the Senator and as cowardy In the extreme. lie
| closed his remarks by saying that che was ever
ready TO defend hts sentiments upon any field III
| which they might be assailed" Brooks, who was
no coward Notwithstanding his faults, In reply to
TINS speech, promptly forwarded challenge 10 Mr.
Burlingame who as promptly accepted 1t. The inten-
ton at first was TO light either In the District OF
Columbia or IN Maryland. However, the friends
OF Mr Burlingamc represented to him the dangerous
position in which he might probably place himself
py engaging IN duel within the limits or the United
States lie was member OF Congress, and so was
his adversary Both were liable to expulsion for the
act. Yielding to these representations, he through
MS second notified his opponent that he would aght
~ canada. ana, accordingly, Mr.. Burlingame pro-
ceeded Immediately TO New YORK where ne wrote TO
friend TO meet him. with pair or rifles mentioned
IN his letter. But the hostile meeting never took
place. Mr.. BROOKS refused TO fight elsewhere than
at a point south OF Philadelphia alleging surse-
quentiy II Is said, that the feeling IN the North
hostile TO HIM and IN the event OF his adversary
falling his person. II not his life, would be subject
mdignity on MS way home. BE this explanation
true or not, II Is certain that the duel was never
| fought.
Much as he had already done Tor the achievement
games career IN Congress was destined to be
MINOR incident IN his life. During the exciting can
vass or 1850, wnicn resulted IN the election OF Mr..
Lincoln, he had been an active an ecient supporter
OF thar gentleman, delivering speeches In his behalf
ana contributing in other ways to his success. Soon
after the Inauguration Of the new President Mr..
Burlingame was tended the mlsson to Austria. He
accepted the appointment and had started for
Vienna, when he was informed that the imperial
| government would not receive HIM as the
| diplomatic representative OF the United States.
me ,, reason lor TINS was -, that ne mad taken
| from a second TO first class. Absurd as was the
ground on which Austria based her determination to
md nGn ilnt : 70 Inn Inttnl
! States, our government could do nothing In the
| premises Aggantic war was on our hands, which
| clements. Accordingly, the insult, II any was In.
tended. was quietly ignored, Mr., Burlingame's name
was wlthdrawn for Austria ana subsequently sent III
| Tor the position OF Ambassador to China.
Although the grade Is second on the list OF diplo-
| matte positions, at no time has the Chinese mission
| oecn other than fun OF difficulties The increas-
ing trade OF the United States with Cnina
coupled with the fac, tina. our government
did not then. as 1t stl does not, seek ter
| rltorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In the East, had in
| a measure, placed us IN antagonsm with
Great Britain and France. whose ann has been for
| years past TO dismembcr the Celestial Empire The
interests Oi the United States were opposed to this
| policy. China, independent was q source of com.
mercia benefit 10 u.s. reduced 10 territorial cond-
ton by European governments her commerce
would naturally fall INTO their hands by means oil
y the advantages which would follow the political
tla to oar success in ihe East that che should re-
her commerce TO far rivalry. 1t was
| fortunate for the country Vhat Mr.. Bur-
ngaulc, although firIn aud consistent Christian,
aid not cherish any preiudces against the
! Chinese aud their government, either because OF
their Pagansm because OF their having ut various
| times murdered MISSIONARIES. AS member OF tsrg
become nor or & ,..- s~."a.-'s aoauaintel with the
cophls.on OF AFFAIRS In China. The question Of our
which mad already decided upon % what our settled
policy should be- Still, there were delicate matters
which would require the attention Of Q Minister, for
which no provision could be made In ADVANCE. An
&c boVneas vS 9Hese pirates might capture S1e
| American vessel-in T0ru, thousand eventuali-
| ties beyond present calculation confronted the new
| Minister. IT,
HIS DIPLOMATIC CAREER IN CHINA
| Late In 1861 Mr.. Burilrgame arrived at Pekln and
Of once opened diplomatic relations with the Chinese
| government. AT ilrst he dld not inform his col.
ne oeer Sre @ haos ws. ms
rience to demonstrate that his was the correct
MIR. Burlingame, therefore, proceeded to solve the
| Chinese problem. Up to the time OF his arrival Eu
| ropean diplomacy with China had been slmple. The
moment tnere was an entanglemcny cannon balls
! rife bullets and cold steel were employed 10 unite
| the Knot. Death and desolatlon were the agents
used by CHRISTIAN ciyiizatioh 10 make al
| new American Minister instituted numerous
| inquiries he closely investigated the various ques
question careful consideration he found his orlgna
IDEAS fully confirmed He saw that the line OF pollcl
pursued by foreign nations was unjust. 1t had gIvei
rise TO abuses OF the most 1agrant chnrac
ter. HIS broad, prcnensive mind recognized tho
fact that the best way to impress China with the ad
nec an equal, sovereign and independent nation
! Mr. BurlInganie at once took issue with his diplo.
| matte colleagues. He boldly told them that their
| governments were unjust to CHINA aud the Chinese,
and proposed that they try new policy. Fortunately
for his IDEAS, MIR. Burlngame had contracted warm
friendship for SIR Frederick Bruce. then British MIN
sger to PekiD, which was returned by tnat gentle-
| man. The Two studied tine Chinese language to-
Qether spending some five hours each day learn
ing the tongue OF the Ceestials. Thrown thus ire
| quentiy INTO each others society interchange OF
thoughts made eacn fully acquainted with the
others ideas. Sir frederick had tried the gunboat
policy without success anu was open TO suggestions.
NJ Bertnemy, the French Minister ana the Russian
Minister we're literally inclined, and they, after CON
sdering the subject, decided npon supporting the
views of the American Minister. Thus was lad
poilcy,' which is now generally acceded to
by the representatives Of foreign nations
draft of this policy and submitted 1t TO his col
| leagues with explanations, and they endorsed It.
1 s ne an e Of ths
analyzing their text and clearing up many doubtful
| points The concession doctrine wDica proposed
| TO take lands at tne dinerent treaty ports he
zeaousy opposed. he argued Justly that II foreign
| Powers had no designs upon the sovereignty Of
| China they should not compel these concessions,
| which we're Of themselves q fruitful source OF rrltd-
| lion and an insult TO the dignity OF the Chinese
| government. step by step Mr.. Burngame pursued
his freeing China from the incubus of grape sno
| arguments. His success was great triumph for
American diplomacy, and as such 1t VIII be recorded
| IN history.
/ MR.. BuRLISoAME AS A CHINESE AMBASSADOR.
Early In 1867 the subject Of this sketch determined
|
| United States. lie had been absent for SIX years,
| excepting ono brief visit, and he was anxious to
return to his home, as he then supposed he had
| effected all tine good that ne could and more than
| he had anticipated, IN persuading his diplomatic
colleagues TO try little moral suasl9n before batter
ing down Chinese towns. Accordingly he announced
his intention OF rendering ms resignation to
| the President As soon ~ the Prince Ol
! Kung the present able Prime Minister OF
| China, became cogdlzant OF this fact he
| invited the retiring diplomat TO q farewell
| banqueJ at the Foreign Office. AS might ne sup
| posed, the Chinese government mad watched Mr
| Burlingaine's course ana the development OF his
policy with keen interest, but the rulers Of the EN-
pire had tntimated to him any desire on thci
| port VI employing his services In a diplomatic ca
| pacity. All he knew was ChaI his course was held
IN appreciation. and that no possessed certain In
fuence with the government above that possessed
nv the other Ministers. While the entertainment Il
| which we have referred was al It's height Wen
tsiang, u prominent olcia inquired Of MIR. Burltn
game n ne woud be wilr9 10 represent China
at the courts Of the different treaty nations
IN an Official capacity. The American Minister sup
posing the question pus humoroasly, replied In a
ike manner That he would have no objection. Ills