Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-09
fUatnhman s. Journal.
WEDNEsDAY. ATGusT 3. is7l.
The Corean Expedition.

- '"t P"iN "ittiih N'ii'N n'N'tf''
The Corean Expedition.
. We have, from time to time, published tn,
{ official reports Of the doings Of our navy il
p Coroa A later and fuller exposition Of tn,
objects sought to be attained by this expedi
tion has recently been brought to light by tn,
! publication Of certain correspondence botwect
Secretary Fish aud Secretary Robson, a,
well as by the instructions given by Secretary
Fish to Mr. Low, the L. S Minister at China
From this correspondence, it appears that
D the proposition for an expedition originated
; with Mr. G f. Seward, T. S Consul Genera
to Shanghai, who states that the objects Of
such an expedition should be to provide for a
treaty securing the kind treatment Of scamcr
shipwrocked along the coast Of Corea, and
} incidentally. if possible to negotiate com.
mcrcial treaty In his communication, Mr.
Seward expressly states that he doe. not re-.
gard the objects to be attained by q merely
commercial treaty as Of sufficient importance
to warrant the use Of force or even a display
Of force but if the Coreans were prepared
TO 90 TO the extent of opening up their coun.
try to our merchants, that opportunity was
not one which should be lost. The first OBJ
jet Of the mission should be to procure in
formation of the loss or destruction of the
American schooner General Sherman, aud in
case the reports OF the wrongful treatment of
the crew prove correct, indemnity or satisfbc-
ton therefor He further states that we owe
something to the Coreans for their kind treat
mcnt Of the crew Of the wrecked steamer
Surprise, in 1866 The settlement of the
Sherman affair and the negotiation Of COM
mercial treaty, he thought might be secured
without great difficulty but in order to OBJ
tain general treaty with that country, he
regarded the display of considerable force
as necessary He distinctly discaims any
idea Of the use Of force in this matter, but
only the display Of it,
On the fourth Of April, 1870, Secretary
Fish wrote to Secretary Robson stating that
owing to the peculiar relations existing be-
tween China aud Corea be desired to leave
the negotiating Of a treaty with the depart
ment Of State, rather than with the navy de.
parment, and asked that Admiral Rodgers
might be dispatched with a fleet sufficiently
formidable to impress the native authorities,
for the purpose Of conveying Minister Low
to Corea. He adds Should. unhappily.
any cause for hostilties occur during this
mission it is hoped that the Navy Depart.
meut will instruct Admiral Rodgers in such
case to advise with Mr. Low, and to leave
with this department the responsibility of war
or peace"
In Secretary Fishs instructions to Minister
Low he directs him to secure treaty for the
protection Of shipwrecked mariners at the
hands Of the Coreans and, should the oppor.
tunty seem favorable, to obtain such CONNER.
cial advantages as were possible. He also
directs him before commencing on his work
to secure the good offices of the Pekin gov.
ernment; to consult freely with Admiral
Rodgers upon the best course to pursue, con.
Guiding as follows: " The department relies
upon you, in fulfilling these instructions, to
exercise prudence and discretion, to maintain
firmly the right Of the United States to have
their seamcn protected, to avoid conflict by
force unless it cannot be avoided without dis
honor, and to seek in all proper ways the
harmonious and friendly assistance Of the
Chinese Government"
This is the substance Of all orders which
have eminated from Washington upon this
subject. Orthe unfortunate collision between
our Navy and the Coreans, our readers are
already fully appraised. A conflict is undoubt-
edly at this time, going on between them, Of
the details of which, however, the department
does not expect to receive information until
the 18th instant
While we hope that every proper means
will be taken to secure the objects Of the ex.
petition without further bloodshed, we vet
sincerely trust that it will at least secure
treaty by which our shipwrecked sailors may
be treated humanely The honor Of our coun.
try demands it, and if necessary the guns of
our navy will enforce it,
So