The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-01-04
Wright, James Buchanan, and all the most
influential parlizans of the Anii'AmericaP
party.
PRESS
Middlebury, Jan. A, ls42.
CHINA.

CdlNA.
= Should the triumphs of the British arms
in the East pl owe permanent, they may be
regarded as among the most important e.
vents of the age in which we live, Next
to Russia, China comprizes greater ex'
tent of territory, than any other country
on the globe. More than one third of the
human family live within her boundaries,
and cultivate a soil teeming with all the
| rich and varied productions which constl-
tute the wealth, the comfort and subsis-
lance of her population. Hitherto this i'm
mense section of the globe has been nearly
secluded from the circle Of European CON-
mercal enterprise. The celestial empire
has suffered no contact with outward bar
barians, except at the solitary port of Can
ton, and even there all intercourse has
been only through few individuals styled
the Hong Merchants. Hitherto the gov
eminent has never permitted al resident
minister of any foreign nation, and every
attempt of pious zeal, or curiosity to pene-
trate her interior has been most sedulously
prevented. British avarice and policy ev.
er keen to discern commercial advantages,
could no longer be. kept from field whose
possession promised such an incalculable
accession 10 the wealth of the nation
Under pretences, the bare mention of
which would be an outrage upon common
Justice, she has sent her fleets and armies
to invade this hitherto peaceful and seclu-
ded empire, and has forced it to submission.
By the treaty of peace which has been
made five of the most important ports OF
China have bsen thrown open to British
trade. But what, is perhaps a more impor-
tant acquisition, the island of Hong Kong
has been ceeded forever to the British
crown. Rooted on this spot, the germ OF
British dominion will expand itself as for
merly in India until this rich portion OF the
globe will be made completely subservieni
to the wealth and greatness England.
Affighnistan has likewise been conquer
ed, and all southern Asia now either bows
to her sceptre,or succumbs under the magic
spell of her influence. More than ever is
it true, as once beautifully said by Daniel
Webster, that 'England is power, whose
morning drum beat, following the SUD, and
keeping company with the hours, circles
earth daily with its continuous and unbro-
ken strain of the Martial airs of England
These victories of Britain in the East
are making large accessions to the theatre
of commercial enterprise upon which all
nations have right to enter. Our govern
ment should not be slow to perceive and
secure the advantages ola free intercourse
with China. and if possible place our com.
merce upon an equal footing with Britain
in the ports thrown open. The ignorant
Celestials should be made to understand
their interests too well to allow England to
monopolize their immense and profitable
trade.
The impulse of these brilliant events in
the East has been wonderful, in England.
Almost every branch of manufacturing
business has been greatly improved. The
prices of goods and the raw material. have
advanced, and shippers are eagerly engag-
ed in lading their vessels for the Chinese
market. Hopes are entertained that the
downward course of things is at length ar
rested, and the nation will again advance
with giant strides to wealth and greatness.
The effects of having such an immense
rich and populous country as China open
to her enterprise, and the sale of her man
ufactures cannot be easily overrated. E.
ven to us, the rise ofprices in England and
the diversion of so many goods to Asia as
may be anticipated, may be a great and
growing blessing, by enabling our manu-
facturers to compete with better succe IS
against foreign importations
But what to the Christian world is vastly
more worthy of consideration in view of
the successes of the British arms in China,
is the free access which will thus be proyi-
ded for Missionaries to sound the glad |
tidiDgs of salvation in the ears of 800 mill
ions of the human family, who until recent
" have never heard the name of the Re- |
deemer.
MILLER AND NH ERISM