Mr. Low to Mr. Fish..
Sir: When the consul general was last in Washington he made to the Deparnment several suggestions with a view to increasing the efficiency of the consular system in China. It is understood that one of his recommendations was, that a salaried consul be provided for Tien-tsin in lieu of Chinkiang. The latter port, he thought, might be attached to Shanghai, with a consular agent to do the local business. His recommendations failed, I believe, to receive the sanction of Congress.
[Page 228]The consul now at Tien-tsin is a British subject. He was appointed some years since because he was the only competent person to be found who would accept the office for the emoluments; and although the duties are performed in a satisfactory manner, the fact of such an important post being filled by a foreigner is a subject of unfavorable criticism and complaint by our own citizens.
Tien-tsin is situated at the head of steam and ship navigation on the Petho River. It is the port nearest the capital, and the official residence of the viceroy of the province of Chihli, the superintendents of trade for the three northern ports, and other high Chinese officials. It is regarded by the Chinese as the “gate of the empire.” An American line of steamers do a large part of the carrying trade to and from Tien-tsin. Aside from this our commercial interests are not large. The consul resident there is, however, called upon to transact a large amount of judicial business arising out of collisions, loss and damage of cargo, &c., &c. The judicial business of that consulate is, I think, larger than any other, Shanghai only excepted. In addition to the legitimate business the consul at Tien-tsin is the medium for the transmission of all the dispatches and mail-matter to and from Peking; and it is through him that all communications between the legation and the high officials residing at Tien-sin have to pass. These have been, and are likely to be, numerous and of the highest importance. The duties of the consul at that port are important, requiring the service of a man of undoubted ability, integrity, tact, and discretion.
Some months since Eli T. Sheppard, esq., was appointed and confirmed as consul to Tien-tsin.
Mr. Sheppard is now consul at Chinkiang, and is one of the most acceptable officers we have in China. It is hardly to be expected that he will be willing to exchange Chinkiang, where he has a fixed salary, for Tien-tsin, where there is no salary, and where the fees are inconsiderable. Nor is it reasonable to suppose that Mr. Sheppard would, in any event, accept that office, because the fees will not afford him a support.
In view of these considerations I would most respectfully, but urgently, recommend that Tien-tsin be made a salaried consulate, and also that suitable provision be made for a competent interpreter. The salary should not be less than $3,500 per annum.
If Congress should hesitate to increase, in this way, the consular expenses, it might be advisable to omit the usual appropriation for Chinkiang, thus placing that port under the supervision of the consul general at Shanghai. This might, I think, be done without any serious detriment to the public interests.
I have, &c.,