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

ders under such circumstances? Suppose gang Of
American smugglsrs, or merchants, to preserve the
goods into the Liverpool market, in open defiance
Of English laws Would the delivery Of the inter-
dcted articles. and bond to ego and sin more,"
save the offenders from the punishment they had so
sriminally provoked Look at the statistics Of
crime in England, and its punishment, and the re-
cords Of centuries contain the answer.
The sdict issued by the high commissioner to the
Hong merchants, enumerated the many instances
in VIII CHI they had been guilty Of connvng at the in
PRODUCTION Of opium, and threatened one or two OF
their number with instant death, uHless they ear
nestly and faithfully endeavoured to procure Its de-
livery, and pre- vent its Importation
A third edict Immediately followed, by which all
foreign residents were forbidden TO leave Canton;
and the factories were surrounded by armed men to
enforce its obedience. The running OF passage
boats between Canton and Whampoa was suspended,
and all communication between the two places
closed. On the 2lst Of March, the general chamber
of commerce was engaged, Tor the purpose oil con-
sidering upon the expedency of complying with the
demand of the high commissioner; and, after pro-
tracted and animating discussion, committee was
appointed to report upon the subject, and commu-
nication was transmitted to the Hong merchants,
stating that the delivery Of the opium was of such
vital and involved such complicated in
terests, that answer could be given until time
should elapse for reflection and elaboration.
This was imned ately laid before the imperial
commissio who was dissatisfied with its import;
and the Hong merchants returned from Canton to
the foreign factories and at their request special
meeting Of the chamber was called, at which they
expressed their approximations, that unless some
opium should at once be delivered, one or two Of
their number would be beheaded in the morang; and
it was finally agreed that thousand and thirty
seven chests should be surrendered to the govern
mont to be destroyed. The reception OF this con.
temptibe amount was promptly rejected by the COM
missioner, and demands for An additional quantity
were made. The report of these energetic and un'
expected proceedings having reached Macao, Capt.
Charles Elliott chief superintendent of the trade
of British subjects in China, Immediately published
notice, requiring ali English vessels to proc ed
forthwith to Hongkong, hoist their national colors
and place themselves in posture OF defence
As no onstrations Of violence had been exhibit
ed towards foreigners at Canton, except such forci
BILE measures absolutely necessary tn compel
the delivery of the interdicea drug, and which the
impe rial commits sioner was bound BY every Princi-
pie Of nation justice and by the solemn official oath
he had taken, TO enforce; and as not the slightest in
.dications existed, by which Captain Ell OFT could
have apprehendeu an attack at sea, ms notice was
entirely unne cessary and unwarranted aad was cal
uated to excite the greatest confusion and alarm,
without the least foundation.
But in issuing this, he had not consummated his
eyre ious folly and clustering cowardce; for the
folio wing day, the twenty third OF March, second
notice was pnblished, in which be declared his entire
want Of confidence in the justice and moderation of
the Chinese government; expressed his opnicn that
il had committed what, according to the genins Of
enlightened nation and the principles OF son, was,
If not an Of declared war, at leas, immediate
and insvi able preliminary; declared it impossible
ty honor ADVANTAGE till definite and satisfactory
explanations had passed; avowed his intentionto
demand from the Chinese gov eminent passports for
all British within ten days; stated that the
Portuguese authorities at Macao had pledged them
selves to afford English subjects, resident there,
every protection in their power; and wound up his
genuine John Bull TRADE, by declaring that should
the passports be refused for more than three days
from the time his application for them should reach
the Chinese government, he should be driven to the
conclusion that its intention to detain all Bril-
fish subjects hostages and to end avor to intmi-
date them into unsuitable concessions and terms by
the RANTS OF their persons or by violence upon
their lives property, or by the death OF native
rchants in i'm mediate connection with them both
by ties Of friendship and interest.
To this mad proclamation he attached sort OF CO.
dicil kindly Offering the beneft of his bombastic OBJ
servations to all the foreigners in China.
Immediately after its publication this sapient and
most dgnified commercial representative oi her ma
jesty ped into his his cutter, and started for Can
ION, where he arrived the next day about sunset,
where the same measures were adopted by the Chi
nese authorities for his detention a. were enforced
in RET pect to other foreigners.
On the twenty sixth of March, proclamation
issued by the imperial commissioner. :" desiring TO-
reigneIs deliver up their opium under four heads,
or for four reasons" all Of which partook more Of
Christian forbe arance and off cia lenity than the
warlike preparations OF Captain Elliott would have
ied Us TO hope.
The first was that. they ought to make haste and
deliver IT. by virtue Of that which heaven hath
implanted in aIl Of us"
The second that 80 they ought to deliver it, in CON-
plance with the laws of the laad."
Thirdly, that I" they ought to make immediate de-
livery OF the opium, by reason Of their feelings
men,"
And fourthy, that they should give il up by rea-
son Of the necessity Of the case"
Those were each supported by elaborate and sound
arguments, which would do honor to the statesmen
OF more enlightened nations; and in conclusion, the
high commissioner remarked, that +" he and the go.
and lieutenant governor, cannot bear the idea
of being unnecessarily harsh and s.vere and there
fore IL that his mouth IL wearied we're enreat
ing and exhorting.' And he promised the foreign
merchants, that having once made the delivery Of IT,
their trade should 20 on more hourshing and abun.
dainty than ever aud that tokens Of regard should
be heaPed upon them to overlooking.
When this document reached Captain Elliott, his
war excitement had nearly su1sided, and a deterni-
nation to retreat from his disagreeabe position had
assumed its place.
Accordingly on the morning Of the twenty seventh
OF March, he issued public notice to British sub
lects, IN which he says
"N0w the chief supe rinte ndent, thus constrained
by paramount motives affecting the safety OF the
lives and liberty Of all the foreigners here present
in Canton, and by othsr very weighty causes, do
hereby in the and on the behalf Of her majes-
tvs government, enoin ana REQUIRE all her msJestys
sabjects new present in Canton, forthwith to make
\ surrender to me, for the service Of her said
iesty's government to be delivered over to the go
yern msnt Of China of all the opium under their
spective control and TO hold the British shipJ and
vessels engaged in the tasde Of opium, subject to nv
immed ate direction, and to forward me without de-
Law, sealed list Of all the British owned opium in
their respective possession And l, the said chief
superintendent, do now, in the most full and unre
served manner, held myself responsible for and on
be half Of her Britannia maiesys government to all
and each Of her maiestys jects surrenderipg the
British owned opium into my hands, to be deli vered
ever q the Chinese government"
This requisition was promptly answered by the
~. nfx MI toht