Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-04


organs are rapidly impaired, the frame becomes
emaciated, the memory speedily fails, and he oe-
comes prematurely old, until at length his very eN'
tence is deep, dreadful punishment; and aitsro-
ferng up to the revengeful god which his appetite
has created the powers of his intellect, the health
and energies of his bodv and the last CLEAN OF ms
neral perceptions, death casts around Rim het earh
shroud, and he is removed from the scene Oh MS
NOR al sHherDgs.
The destructive effects we have described, In
short time after the increased introduction oil OPT
um into the Chinese empire, developed themselves
among the inhabitants with alarming rapid'y'
From few isolated cases OF disease, suffering ana
death. the number sweed to thousands, untli 1850
its baleful influences had become national curse
Whole communities were infe cted by the poison and
health, happiness, fortune and llfe were cut on by
the destroyer The Emperor OF China saw the ra-
pid strides Of the deadly agent, which he had sui
fered to enter his dominions while clothed In It's
original garb Of simple ard useful medicine, and
wondered that II could soon have become trans
formed into the fell Murderer Of his subjects, and
trembled as he looked upon the vast amount OF hu-
man suffering and death which ITS votaies had area
DIV heaped around this altar Of their mad Idolatry.-
He them sacrifice TO its worship, their families,
their friends, their future hopes and joys; and trac
ed to its demoliz ng source, the powerful elements
that wosd. unless annihiated, number the days OF
dynasty whose years were told by tens oil cen u
ries.
Detestng the considerations that could urge an IN
crease Of by permitting the longer introduce
ton Of drug so deleterious IN ITS consequences,
Of law, by which, in 1896, its importation was
wholly interdicted, and those fsund ssty Of smok-
ing il we're plloried and bambooed and the vendors
and smugplers made liable TO the severer penalties
Of Punishment and death.
As NJ treaty existed with any foreign power by
which its int uction into his demnons was guar
antied sanctioned his right TO interdict It was
clear, absolute and unlimited; and IN prohibiting ITS
traffic under the penalties we have mentioned, he
committed no Mt Of the commercial rights
Of other nations; and the subjects OF Great Britain
although deeply interested IN ITS continuance, were
entirely destitute Of the slightest foundation Tor
complaint
This law, although universally known by all TO-
reign me rchans was openly disregarded and opium,
in defiance of its mandates, was still sold to the IN
fatnaIea Chinese in increased quantities, and at
higher prices than before. The supineness and ut
ter efficiency Of the Canton authorities To enforce
IL, permitted its violation with mpunity by the
English. through whom nine tenths OF the drug was
introduced while all attempts TO punish the native
vender we're rendered abortive, by the refusal OF
the wretched consumer even under torture, TO d.
ynlge his name In short time, bribery aud cor
rupton were resorted 20 for the purpose OF silen-
cling the subordinate officers employed by the empe
ror that the introduction of the drug might be con-
iinued with greater safety; and the destructive
appetite engendered by its use. ard the prohibitions
against ~ having greatly advanced its price, the inn
portation from British India continued 20 increase,
end its dreadful influence upon the Chinese pro-
crossed vita startling rapidity. Again and again,
did the emperor of that nation send forth his stern
and strict DEGREES against the deadly trafho; but
they were unheedcd by those upon whom II was
the wealth of princes, and unheard by
the wretched beings To whom the knell OF its dis
continuance would have sounded with more solemn
dread than the warning voice Of their own imme-
date destruction.
The East India Company. by whose merchants
most Of II had been imported, and throughout whose
domnions its cultivation was rapidly increasing.
at length became fearful that II they continued
openly 60 deal in it, their other trade to Chisa
which was of much greater Importance, would be
injured. ard their servants were commanded not
import IL in the ships Of the company, under pain
Of being dismissed from their service.
II this prohibition had proceeded from the desire
10 cause discontinuance Of tn niquitous traffic IN
which they had been engaged, their motives would
have been wsr,hv ~ an enlightened, humane, and
christian age; but the end will show their object
was widely different. Notwithstanding their refusal
10 employ their own vessels Tor its Continuation.
monopoly was created. by which more than half the
opium raised N British India was cultivated pnder
their dire elton. and for their benefit expressly Tor
the Chinese market: which, after being sold IN Cal
outta To krivate individuals at an immense profit
was shipped 20 Canton, its original place Of desti-
nation.
npium traffic cannot be thoroughly Understood. and
ne principles upoa which she has acted. and will
continue 90 act in her relations with China sppre
pre ciated, without an acquaintance with the ma
,pre sui extent of interest which her government
and East lad an subjects possess m ITS continuance
!, becomes necessary 10 bestOw upon these hri
exarinatio. Previous 20 the lob ~ April 1914
the East India Company enjoyed the rich monopoly
~ the satire eastern trade and the extent and va
rieN of their commercial transac and Interests,
prevented thsn from paying much reearo 10 the