The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-13

Hon. Andrew Stevenson, our late Minister at
the British Court, returned to the United States
in the Great Western.
ENGLAND AND CHINA-THE CARDINAL
VIRTUES OF THE BRITISH GOVERN
MENT, &c.
As il is always considered duty with pru-
dent man to make himself acquainted with the
character and principles of the individual he
trusts or deals with, so wise and prudent Gov
vernment should acquaint itself with the charac-
ter and conduct Of all governments with whom
thas intercourse, or alliances. If we know in
dividuals who cheat, defraud and Cypress the
weak and unoffending, we instinctively, IF we
are wise,-avoid all intercourse with such "ugly
customers" The duty of nation, however, is
different II cannot, at will, terminate its inter
course even with an insolent and oppressive ma
ton but is bound rather chastise its misconduct
This is duty every nation owes TO the great
family of nations. And there is still further
duty it owes; and that is, where il cannot inter
fere TO chastise oppression, it should at least
condemn il. 'a ts#
If we are conect in our sentiments, what be-
comes the duty of our nation, upon witnessing
the conduct of England towards China2 We
humby conceive it to beno less than placing
the seal of unqualified Reproduction upon that
conduct. "
Is there any thing but the inability of Eng
land to treat America as she has treated China,
that restraints her from making us as humiliating
ond bIooJy m, avo,,,,Ia &c Ia ornrass;on 4
We have the most grave and important ques-
ton Of national rights to be settled with her
Let us be warned by the example of China, not
to trust too much to her cardinal pirtues-fraud,
oppression, punic faith, and plunder,-but rely
mainly if not solely upon our arms, for the pro-
lection of our personal rights and our national
honor.
What is the motto of England's escutcheon
"MIaHT GIVES RIGHT" Let us betimes learn
wisdom from its moral After we have diplo-
nnatized in vain for the acknowledgment to the
rights Of our soil and its sovereignty, what alter
native remains but the ultima ratio regum2
The foregoing remarks were very naturally
suggested by the following congenial sentiments
and opinions from the Hartford 7Tmes"--very
different sentiments, it is true, from what Eng
land once found at !" Hartford" But the times
have changed, and the last lingering hope Of
England for any aid from another "Hartfor
d.onvention' has " changed with them" Let
England and her federal allies mark now what
comes from g Hdrtford since
"a change came Ger the spirit Of her dream"
Con no code Of morals, of humanity Of justice, or
of right can the British nation be justified excused
for the inhuman butcheIies Of simple, noffensive,
and peaceabe people, because they resist drunkenness
It is war commenced in fraud and wrong, and against
principles of national policy, that Britain herself more
rigidly enforces than any other country
The authorities Of China, finding that the opium
trade destructive to the morals the health the
happiness and the energy of the people, interdcted
the trade, and forbid the introduction Of this odous
and supplying drug within the dominions Of the cees
tal empire. But disregardine the laws ofthe country
the British traders and Others cousinuet smuggle
into their ports and besotted and incorporate
the people who used that at every risk they rack
ed for this intoxicating article. AT length the Empe
and his minister's in order to put an eecual stoI
this trade seized the conraband poison then in por
and destroyed it. For this bloody and prosecuting
war has been carried on, and thousands upon thou
sands butchered by orders of the British Government
who have taught them they must consent to ma
tional drunkenness to crafty British cupidity They
must consent to be made drunk on drug, vastly NOR
Daneiul tnan diCOnOi, Ut VIC uuIu0Iou " nO
At this very moment thousands are dying in Grea
Britain of starvation, but the Government Of tina
country prohibits the importation of breadstufs with
in her European territorties Were any nation to at
tempt force wholesome breadstus into the British
islands as they have attempted to force opium int
China, it would be deemed just cause of war. Indee
her whole policy and existence depend the restrict
ing and prohibitory system. Yet this nation, whic
wars upon free trade and maintains rigid prohibition
policy, 10 butchering the inofensive and peaceabl
Chinese by thousands. because that Government prC
hbits the introduction Of this most supplying ntox
eating, and banefuI drug as article Of traffic. w
ought not, perhaps, to be surprised at her insoenc
and barbaty after what we have heard of her slaugt
ter and oppression in India"