The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-07
From the Ne,c York Star,

From Canton -IaipoTtdnt--- Confirmation of the
Suspension u Irade-Our last advices, via England
and the overland route through India give US infor
| nation that The Chinese government, xasperated
with the obstinate persistence of foreign merchants
and the netarious collision of their own people in pro-
| noting the conraband trade in opium, would drive
| them to total suspension Of this commerce. This
is confirmed BY the arrival Of the ship Omegd, at
| this port with files to March 25th d..
The Imperial Commissioner, Ling or Lin, had
arrived al Canton from Pekin early in March, and
| Immediately occupied the Yue-hwashoo palace in
the city, from whence he visited the Governor, and
sent for the Hong merchants who, at his request,
J, delivered up to him two notorious dealers, one
Acong, an opium broker, the other Chanam, Chi
| ma street merchant, both Of whom were placed in
| concealment" (prison)
His excellency then issued two elaborate and Sc
we're edcts against the foreigners tn other The
| Hong merchants. The latter are handled without
gloves; accused Of most sordid, knavish dshonora-
bic motives, derogatory TO their high functions and
to the spolless character OF Hongs OF other years
| The foreigners considered but as secondary in
crime to the Hongs, to whom the responsible trust
Of directing and regulating the intercourse with
| strangers had been confded, but most shamefuly
betrayed The Hongs are denounced, as colludng
with the foreigners in smuggling the deeterious
poison opium, and in exporting foreign silver under
The pretence that the latter was surplus left in their
hands by the foreign merchants to be sent on after
| them. The Hong merchants are accused of descend
ing so low as TO suborn the coolies, macheens out-
clerks &c all of whom bribed TO aid in the odious
smuggling trade of the aforesaid drug.
And this in direct violation Of the solemn bonds
given by the HongS that there should be no illicit
intercourse; the Hongs, too, having the hardlhood
to effect total ignorance of such transactions. Ling
| says: .,@
And even now, while the opium is pervading and
filling with its poisonous influence the whole empire,
the said Hong merchants sill continue indiScrimi-
naely to give such bonds, declaring that the ships
tbatro fharh ny hr1 nvht nf re
not indeed dreaming, and snoring in their dreams
Ii they say that opium which they bring is dis
| charged beforehand and left on board the ware
housing vessels at Lintn, and that the bonds given
as TO their bringing none have reference 10 the YES
sells as entering the port, what is this but to shut
the ears whilst the juggling bell is being soren"-
| TO provide for themselves ground of eScuse4 The
feeling that prompt such conduct will still less bear
scrutiny. 1t is as il a man, to guard his house at
night, should appoint Waterman, and that never
theless his property should be bundled up and car
ried away, while yet the Waterman, should declare
that there had been no thief If this would not be
regarded as combination in the theft, as what then
would II be regarded
The imitation of pride which fills the breast of
dignary Of the celestial realm, is well portrayed in
the following:
al have heard, that formerly, when the foreigners
came to the factories, they would go in full dress,
with swords by their sides, 10 wait upon the Hong
merchants, and would often meet with denial, nor
would they be seen or have their visits returned,
until after second visit. But of late years there
have been those who will To the foreigners for
patronage, and will even pass beyond the custom
houses go to Macao to meet them. And so tar
has this proceeded, that la party inl the Tungyn
Hong gave sedan chair TO the chief supercargo
Baynes whereupon the same chief snpercargo turn
ed round, and would not suffer the Hong merchants
TO enter his factory in chairs Many have been the
instances Of this misconduct and subversion of what
Is right and fitting What sense Of shame indeed
does there yet remain Though IL belrue, that this
has arisen from the conduct Of probationary Hong
merchants, who have shown the example Of such
artful demeanor, and that the original merchants,
men of property and family, would never have de-
scended 10 this stage OF degradation yet all now
equally involved in the stencil of it, and truly burn
with shame for you"
His Excellency says that seperal hundred millions
Of silver have been abducted in few years past
10 go out. He raves about this loss as madly as
humbug Benton in our country, would do. To this
also and the credit system he imputes the late bank
ruplcy of some OF the Hongs. One would say he
had taken lesson from the Sub,reasury school.
He says Of late there has been, owing TO the above
abstraction Of silver, and the smuggling Of opium,
no neic foreign money imported The Hongs are
accused of open fasehood and glozing over the
truth and that il is true that goods are bartered
for goods. All this has produced crashing of teeth
and the high commissioner says death is good
punishment for the wicked Hongs. He will first
punish the depraved natives, and then take two of
the worst description of Hongs and execute them if
these things continue. The foreigners, through the
Hoppe, are interdcted from leaving Canton while
his excellency is there. They are directed to give
up the mvriads Of borcs Of opium in their possession,
as the government determined to anHhttate that
trade. They are also ordered through the Hongs