Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-03

comes prematurely old, until at length his very ex
tence is Deep dreadful punishment; and alter Oh
fering up to the revengeful god which his apPeute
has created the powers Of his intellect, the health
and energies of his body, and the last CLEAN oil has
moral perceptions, death casts around him her dark
shrosd, and he is removed from the scene oil MS
mortal sHferings.
The destructive effects we have described, in a
short time after the increased introduction OF OPT
! um into Chinese empire, developed themselves
among the inhabitants with alarming rapidty
From few isolated cases Of disease, SUFFERING and
death the number swelled TO thousands, until lIoo,
its baleful influences hadbecome national curse
Whole communities were infected by the poison, ana
health happiness, fortune and life, were cut on oy
the destroyer. The Emperor OF China saw the ra-
pad strides of the deadly agent, which he had SUI
Tered to enter his domnions while clothed In ITS
original garb Of simple and useful medicine, and
wondered that II could soon have become trans
formed into the fell murderer of his subjects and
tremtled as he looked upon the vast amount OF hui
man suffering death which its yotaies had AREA
DIV heaped around this altar OF their mad dolatry-
He saw them sacrifice TO its worship their families,
their friends their future hopes and joys; and trac'
ed to its demoiz ng source, the powerful elements
that wosld unless annihilated, number the days OF
dynasty whose years were told by tens oil cen'u-
ries.
Detecting the siderations that could urge an in
crease Of by permitting the longer introduc-
ton Of drug deleterious IN ITS consequences,
the empero created, and caused the PRONUNCIATION
OF a law, by which, in 1796, its importation was
wholly iced. and those fund gsIlty oil smok'
inc il ere pillored aud bambooed, and the vendors
sva smugplers made liable 10 the seVerer Fenaities
Of banishment and death.
Asn7 treaty existed with any foreign power by
which Its intro ucton into has dominions was guar
antied or sanctioned his right to interdict was
clear absolute and unlimited; and IN prohibiting It's
traffic under the penalties we have mentioned, he
committed infringement Of the commercial rights
ef other nations; and the subjects Of Great Britain
although deeply interested in ITS continuance, were
entirely destitute Of the slightest foundation for
| com plant
NTkis law, although universally known by all TO-.
reign merchants, was speny disregarded and opium,
in defiance of its mandates was still sold To the IN,
Gatuates Chinese in increased quantities, and
higher prices than before. The supneness and ut.
ter efficiency Of the Canton authorities to enforce
H. permitted its violation with impuniiy by the
EnyIish through whom niue tenths Of the drug was
int rod uced while all attempts TO punish the haty9
vender were rendered abortive, by the refusal OF
the wretcbed consumer even under torture, to di-
vulge his name. In a short time, bribery and cor
ruption were resorted to for the purpose of silen
cling the subordinate officers employed by the empe-
ror that the introduction Of the drug might be con
tinaed with the greater safety and the destructive
appetite engendered by its use, ard the prohibitions
IL having greatly advanced its price, the i'm
portatiea from British India continued TO increase,
and its dreadful influence upon the Chinese pro-
crossed with startling rapidity. Again and again,
did the emperor Of that nation send forth his stern
and strict DEGREES against the dresdly traffic; but
they were UNDECIDED by tGose upon whom IL was
showering the wealth Of princes. and unheard by
the wretched beings 20 whom the knell of its dis
continuance would have sounded with more solemn
dread than the warning voice Of their own imme-
diste destruction.
The East India Company. by whose merchants
most of II had been imported, aud throug hOut hose
dominious is cultivation was rapidly increasing.
at length became fearful tsst II they continued
openly TO deal in IL, their other trade TO China
/ which was &C much greater importance. would be
1 injured, and their Servants were commanded not
20 import IL in the ships Of the company, under pain
| Of being dismiss from their service.
n this prohibition had proceeded from the desire
20 cause dI.continusnce ~ the IniquItops trac "a
which they had been engaged. their motives would
have been worthy # an enlightened. humane, and
christian ages but the end will show their OBJECT
was widely different Notwitf standing their refusal
T, ,o employ their own vessels for It's continuation
monopoly was created. bv which more than hall the
ooum raised n British India was cultivated under
,beir elton and for their benefit, expressly Tor
the Chinese market; which, alter beng sold - Cal
cutta to private individuals at an imnense proht
was shipped 20 Canton, its original place II test-
nation. 49,,
a. the sIir stion II England with reiers1ce tothe
opium traffic cannot he thoroughly understood, and
the prime piles ppod which she has acted, ana ~
continue 60 act, in her relations Win Chino' appre
preeiatrd, without acquaintance WIN the ma
/ ture and extent of interest which ner government
aud FAST lad an subjects possess M ITS coatHuace
u becomes necessary 70 bestow upoh these hrl'i
examination. Previous to the 10Th Of Aprii. 1914
the Fast India Company enjoyed the rich monopoly
81 the estire eastern trade and the extent and va
rety 81 their ucrcal trsnsac ions and interests
cultivation of oPiorl within their territories, and as
we have before remarked, furnished the entue cause