No man of his time had such a checkered political career.
He was an accomplished scholar, and one of the ablest lawyers in the United States. Few men of his generation rendered such important services to his country. Yet, notwithstanding his acknowledged abilities, his character was not such as to command public confidence. He was nominated by President Grant to be chief justice of the supreme court, but the Senate failed to confirm him. He is one of several examples in American history, where moral obliquity has, in the judgment of the American people, been an obstacle to a public man's preferment.
The negotiation of a treaty with France soon followed that made with the United States in 1844, and both the Chinese and foreigners began to adapt themselves to the new conditions. But more or less trouble was experienced at all of the five treaty ports and more especially at Canton. Here the unruly population resisted the proclamation, issued by the governor-general in execution of the treaties, to open the city to the intercourse of foreigners; riots occurred in which the American and other consulates and commercial houses were threatened, and the opposition continued so serious that the attempt to open the gates was abandoned, and Canton remained closed till the war of 1858.[1] In lieu of the observance of the treaties in this respect, the area of the foreign settlements outside the walls was enlarged, and in other respects the authorities manifested a fair degree of interest in the enforcement of the treaties.
- ↑ 15 Chinese Repository, 46, 364.
