Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-15

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the has been and partly, il true with thar
held by Anne rican houses. But upon whose Tespon'
sibiity Did the Americans incur the risk, sustain
the loss upon their own shoulders? No. The bri.
tisb Government promis ed them reimburse MT and
such offer was not to be rejected But we have ask
ed the question, whether the United States were not
equally bound TO take up this question, which, under
existing circumstances, is purely English We do
not ask this in behalf of those who dealt in opium,
but of those Of her citizens resident there, who con-
fine themselves strictly and entirely to the legal
channels Of trade 10 she not aware OF the ignomny
with which they were treated, OF the unlawful de-
tention Of ships ready TO depart and persons tOo
who had been acknowledged by the Chinese them
selves never to have been guilty of The slightest in
frineement upon their laws But, It may be urged,
that large proportion of the American merchants at
Canton have the entire satisfaction, their
perfect contentsdness with the treatment they re-
ceved at the hands of the Chinese, pro ided the lat
ter would permit them to 60 on with the trade
There NAV be some argument, some reason IN this,
but we think il of little import where the honor and
dignity Of the nation are concerned we know mat
soe Of those who were thus forci6,y detained nave
ing formally made protests and forwarded them duly
to the Government at Washington. What has been
done with these? why has no notice been taken OF
them In our opinion had there been but one inno-
cent person deta ned against his will at Canton, we
conceive 1t to be the duty OF the government 10 ae
mand proper atonement. We think 1t was SCION,
who, when he was asked which he deemed the wisest
and be st form of Government? replied, that which
holds an insult done to its meansst subject as an IN.
suit to the whole State"
Have we forgotten the language held by the High
Commis sioner towards our Consul, when the latter
declared to him that the American merchants had no
opium After a strain Of the most abusive and in
suting language, he concludes his special edict oy
denouncing him in strict Chinese phraseelogy, a
No l. Liar. Are all these things, we would ask, to
be smiled upon with indifference i? What enormites
NAV they not institute at some future per cd, when
such conduct this Is suffered to pass unnoticed.
lis true that they haze reoPened the trade to the
81 loox far xyhI &
thew are disposed to favor that they entertain
higher degree Of respect for our Nation mo 1t
has been done merely to subserve their own inte'
rests without any regard to the comparative claims
of the one nation the other 1t is vain for to
attempt to force ourselves into the belief that TIE
Chinese recognize any real, permanent distinction
betweon the English nation and ourselves Had the
English me rchants betrayed willingness to trade
under the present disgraceful conditions sub
scribed by the American residents had they, like
the Americans, broken their determination-not to
sign the Bond-and returned to Canton forgetful OF
past injuries, they would have been placed immedi-
ately poss OF their quondam privileges, and
English and Americans would AGAIN have been to the
Chinese they always have been, and the same.
But we contend that the American government
should, in justice to herself, have demanded some
explanation from the Chinese, were IT only for the
maintenance Of that respect which she claims from
all foreign powers, and which can only be preserved
anon st them by due regard to the safety and in
terests of her children abroad well as at home.
For SAYS a very able American author in a late po-
pular W ork, I'm addition to the considerations Of
policy come to the claims of justice. There is no
stronger hold the services of its citizens than
pc rfect reliance the justice of state 1t is the
quality that most binds man to his county; which
most eevates that country in the eyes Of the world
which, in truth, renders il the most worthy of re.
spect obedience, and love" But whatever may be
our own particular views Of this question whatever
our own course of action let not be carried away
by feelings Of prejudice Let not private interests
in all The strength with which they may array
themselves before us, warp our jude ment to
induce US to cry down the acts ofthe British govern
ment because that government, in her cons ruction
Of things, does not happen TO correspond with our
selves Let rather choose the lang Of pect
due to a nation at peace with US, and let us pr We
to them that we not insensible Of the services
rendered 10 the Anericsn community in China by
Withholding our censure until they adopt such me "a.
sures as are incompatible with the rights and dignity
of great nation anxious for the or the
lives and property of her subjects.
An AMERICAN,
Resident at Canton during the ma or
part ofthe difficulties.
be horne in mind that the opium in possession Of
the American houses British owned, received
frou,p r,tt huner .lanfs in India