130 Kenneth S. Latotirette, 



the Senate when an act was passed forbidding the President to 

 do more than recommend a new mission, and because he feared 

 the possible disgrace of having an ambassador rejected. ^^* 

 Opposition did not discourage the missionary, however, and in 

 June, 1842, he again saw Adams and again asked him if he 

 would accept the position of envoy if one should be appointed. 

 Adams answered that he might consider it, but that he still 

 believed it better to send a commissioner with full powers to act 

 rather than an envoy. ^^^ 



The news of the Treaty of Nanking roused the administration 

 to decision. It felt that the time had at last come when the 

 United States could begin negotiations in safety, and when it 

 must do so if it were to obtain advantages equal to those of Great 

 Britain. Consequently, December 31st, 1842, the President sent 

 a message to Congress stating his views, and advising that a 

 commissioner be appointed to "reside in China to exercise a 

 watchful care over the concern of American citizens, 

 empowered to hold intercourse with the local authorities, and 

 ready, under instructions from his government, should such 

 instructions become necessary .... to address himself to 

 the high functionaries of the Empire, and through them to the 

 Emperor himself." The message expressed the view which 

 Adams had held, tliat an ambassador should not yet be appointed, 

 since an official would have to be accredited to the sovereign 

 and would very probably be rejected. ^^"^ Webster seems to have 

 been the moving spirit in the step, as it was he who wrote the 

 message.^^' The document was referred to the Committee on 



^" Stevens, Life of Parker, p. 220. He quotes Parker's Journal for 

 September 16, 1842. 



"'^ Adams, Diary, 11:166. June 2, 1842. At this point, Parker ceased 

 his efforts and returned to China. Just how much influence his work 

 had on the origin and conduct of the mission cannot be stated with 

 certainty. However, he had married a relative of Webster, and had 

 enjoyed quite a little popularity, and it seems probable that he was an 

 influential factor in preparing the way for future action. 



"^ Ex. Doc. 35, 27 Cong., 3 Sess. 



"' The Works of Daniel Webster, Boston, 1856, 6 : 463. The message 

 is given there with a footnote attributing it to him, and the work was 

 compiled under his direction. 



