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

The mexamped increase of this abominable traffic
in violation of Chinese laws and maritime regua-
tiOns, and the seeming impessib lily of efectng lis
de structon, combined with the financial policy OF
charging the national revenue by its continuance, in
1885, induced Hew Naetse vice president OF tho sa-
CRITICAL court, officer Of considerable dignity, TO
present memorial to the emperor at Pekin, praying
FOR the unlimited introduction of the drug into the
empire on payment OF q duty.
The reasons by which he enforces this recon-
me ndation, although termed sage expositions' by
a writer in a late number OF Backwood's Magazine,
have impressed with a very different estimate Of
their moral political value. Take, for example,
the following, in which the waste OF human life is
considered by this high officer. of slight Importance
when compared with the loss Of and Chine
silver. which he contends the free importation OF
opium would obviate. 8
"t will be found on examination, that the smokers
of opium are idle, lazy Migrants, having no useful
purpose before them and are unworthy Of regard,
even Of contempt. And though there are smoke rs
to be found who have overstepped the threshold Of
age, yet they do not attain to- the long life Of other
men; but births are daily increasing the popu-
a'ion of the empire and there is no cause to appre
bend diminution therein.
Again; after advancing the strange proposition,
that the more severe tie penalties are that exist
against the traffic, the bribery and corruption
would be resorted to for the purpose of eyadiDg
them, and the more frequent and palpabe violations
Of the law would be perpetrated and that for these
reasons, all prohibtory enactmeRts should at once
be removed, he proceeds to state, that, With re-
gard TO officers civil and military, and to the scho-
ana common SOlueTs, none O these must DC per-
mtted TO contract practice so bad or to walk in
path which willead only 10 the utter waste Of their
time and destruction Of their propsrty;" ard he
commeIds, "that it be enacted, that any officer,
scholar soldier found guilty OF secretly smoking
opium, shall be Immediately dismi ssed from public
employ, without being made liable to any other Pc
nolty."
Besides, the removal of the prohibitions refers
only to the vulgar and common people, those who
have official dates to perform. So long as the OH
GERS of government, the scholars, and the military,
are not included, detrment To the dignity OF
government; and by allowing the importation and
change Of the drug for other commodities more than
ten millions of money will annually be prevented
from flowing cut Of the central land
These sage expositioDs" furnish their own con-
ment which renders for us to say one
ord as to their irregious and deInoraiizing ten
dency. The important document In which they are
contained, was ordered by the emperor 10 be SUI
mitted 10 the Hong merchants, and Tang, the go
vernon OF Canton. The principles embodied IN the
report made by them, and TRANSMIT ted to the imperial
court al Pekin did not mat, ria ly vary from these
contained in The memorial 81 Htw Naeise, and In
accordance with his views, they advised the legal
cation of the traffic. upon payment oil liked dunes
In the autumn Of 1876, Choo Tsun, member OF the
council and the board Of rites, ard Hew Ken, sub
censor over The tary department, fellow minis
tiers of Hew Naetse, presented counter emorlaIs.
in which the deetsrious effects oil opium are iorcibiy
presented, and the destructive consequences that
its habiual use was lniictIng upon me Cnihese eic
re yoking the existing prohibitions, and maintained
that it would be wholly Insufficient to prevent The
export Of silver while the enervation and corruption
of the Chinese would be f. ariully increased, II all
restraints imposed upon the use Of the drug were
removed and concluded by advising the prompt
adoption of vigorous and getic measures Tor the
annihiaton Of the entire opium trade
Refusing TO increase his revenue at the expense OF
the happiness and lives OF his subjects, the emperor
dete rmined upon the determination OF the traffic q;
any sacrifice; and the immediate result Of the me
MORALS we have mentioned, was special edici, ~
which he comma ed certain foreign merchants en-
gagged in il to leave Canton. This was partially
evaded, and the traffic continued throughout the
year 1897, and till the summer Of 1885, the dealers
paying 10 the subordinate local authorities seventy
Eve dollars per chest for conniying and assisting IN
these Wholesale smuggling operations.
But the mise rabe and deluded Chinese did not
easily escape the penalty Of GU ragged laws. Many
of them were taken, condemned, 9sd exc cuted; and
those engaged in muggling the drug, were hunted
down and killed by the mandarns and their soldiers
Fierce encounters were continually occurring, and
the blood ofthe poor natives was poured out TO the
last drop in carrying on traffic that comforting
upon guilty foreign merchants, who were the sole
nstigstors, the wealth OF princes.
The emperor az length that its adjustment
was impos, ible while foreigners we're suffered open
" 10 bring the drug into the port Of Canton and the
the nsie hboring waters, and he formed the determi
nation of eTcing them, IL necessary. into Obedience
Of his laws. For this purpose, Lin was appointed
high commissioner from the court of Pekin, to pro-
March, 1929.
He was invested with plenipotentiary powers,
and was authorized To create and execute such pses
sures a. he should deem necessary and right. Born
and educated in one of tie maritime provinces, and
having had an early acquaintance Gas he says) with
all the arts Of foreigners, he was well qualified 20
dischar.e the arduous duties Of his trust. He is
described sbou fifty five years of sge, ofmiddling
height, rather stout, and OF stern demeanor IL 10
said that he received from the emperor in person
the seal Of his high commission, and hat the mo-
pareh recountod to him the evils that had lepe AZ
ficted his children, and, adyering TO the future,
paused and wept, and turning 60 the commissioner,
said chow, alas, can die until these direful evils
are remsyed1'
Having made his entrance into Canteu, eight days
were occupied BY Lin in making enquiries; and. on
the nine 'eenth &c March, two SPECIAL edicts were
issued TO the foreigners Of all nations and the
other 10 the Hong merchants, both Of which caused
great CONSERVATION and excitement The iereign
me rchants were required 60 deliver mp TO the Chr
nese government all the opium W hch they possessed
board their store ships and strict commands we're
issued that "not the smallest atom must De CON
&c; led or WITHHELD" They were also required TO
ri We bond written Jointly in the foreign and Chi
Iangraoes that their vessels which should re-
.ort 10 Canton wouId never sgain dare to bring
,r;.m AVID that IL any was brought il should be for
Fitted to the government, and all the parties sho3d
ment should be willingly submitted 10. Pro-
n ses OF rewards and the continuance Of prosperous
,ad. vere made TO such foreigners ae would AZ
comply with these acquisitions, and threats Of
according 70 the severe terms of the
,,v were Numbered against those who refused 10
I.Iver the hated drug, aud three DAYS were allowed
hem To determine upon the they should think
IL 60 pursue.
These were the q rms upon which past trap.gre,-
ions we're % be forgiven aud forgotten and nv which
men who had IN thousand instances violated lave.
he penalty (Which was death, were TO be pardosed