New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-19
China-The Opiam Trade.

The ship William Stewart arrived at this por
on Wednesday from China, bringing dates from
Canon to the 18th of March This is the frs
British vessel which has arrived here from China
under the operation of the new Navigation Laws
| A letter in the Commercial Advertiser from an
American merchant resident 10 Canton, receiv ed
by this arrival, presents an interesting view Of the
present condition Of the country and the influence
of the Opium trade upon its people and commercial
prosperity. We copy a few paragraphs:
send this by the ship William Stewart, one of
the several British vessels that have started from
this part of the world To the United States 10 con
sequence OF the passage Of the new navigation act
The assent ofour Government to this act has intro.
duced a formidable riva into the trade.
While prospects for the commercial world, in
general, are quite encouraging those for China are
gloomy in the extreme. This great country is being
fast ruined by the opium traffic. The quantity Of
this pernicious drug expected to be imported this
year is eighty thousand chests, valued at about
s40000,000. This throws an immense balance of
trade against China. The importation OF this drug
lie continually draining the country OF its precious
metals.
Were it not for the opium the country would
prosper greatly in the foreign trade, the legitimate
balance being much in her favor. But this drug not
Only throws the whole balance the other way, but
draws from the country about .OOO0 900 dolarsin
gold and silver every year.
1t il proposed by fome to legalize the traffic that
the evil which cannot be overthrown NAV be modi.
he'd In some degree and the drain on the precious
metals be diminished. But doubt if this would
remedy the evil beyond breaking up the large
bands Of smuggers now supported
tne government was to legalise the import
and encourage the home growth il must necessari.
~ sanction the use OF it, and all the re.traints
which now exist would be removed. The import.
aton would stu increase, for the facilities of pro.
drcing 1t In India are much greater than those in
China.
Nothing but the most vigorous enactments ON the
part OF the Chinese Government Joined 10 the
hearty cooperation Of all the foreign governments
that would punish those who deal in it as for a
high crime, can put an end to the trade.
Many OF the foreign merchants here who zee sll
this aud admit that the traffic is fast dra wiog the
country TO ruin. and who abstain any direct trade.
continually have 10 touch the uncleAn thing ia their
commercial operations, especially in the way OF ex.
change and remittance from port to another for
the value OF the drug is so great and over helm
ing that it has become the chief currency of the
foreign trade; and merchant who does isiness
here, to any large extent 10 necessarily forced to
avail himself OF it In his financial operations.
One OF the most striking features in the traffic is
the fact that the Britich Government is the chief
actor In il that abe raises about one half the OPT
una herself in India and levies heavy export duty
on the other half. Thus deriving the largest profit
out of it and encouraging to the utmost its con-
tinuance.
II the venerable sages and moralists Of China
could understand all this, and fully estimste all the
evils the opium trade is bringing upon their coun-
try, who could blame the people for setting their
faces against the English foreigner especially &c
" barbarian" and devil"
Well might the Emperor OF China complain
against the Queen of England, not only Cor permit
ting her subjects TO carry on the trade but above
all that she herself should profit by an illegal and
Ubiquitous traffic, which Is slowly destroying this
great but helpless nation.
Mr.. John w. Davis, now our Commissioner to
China, has asked for his recall. and We wait with
some anxiety 70 know who will be bis successor.
The Office indeed, embraces the functions OF Gov.
srnor, Judge and hw.maker 90 far az American
'esidents here are concerned.