Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-21
THE BRITISH 0PTUM TRADE IN CHINA

known or duly appreciated. When first INTRODUCED
into the empire it was classed in the custons-tarf
as a medicine, and as such admitted at duty Of
about five and half taels (S7.35) per 100 ctties,
133s pounds; D but the consumption Of it increased
50 rapidly and the effects were SO extensively inju-
rious, that the Chinese Government found it ad-
visabe to prohibit it altogether under strongpenal
ties and severe punishments.
We not aware when these rigid DEGREES against
its importation and use were first promu gated, but
they have been in force certainly during the whole
of the present century and as proof of the severe
nature of the laws the subject, an American YES
sci in the year 1907 had to pay fine Of $4,000
for an attempt to smugge only five pounds Of opium,
which one ID the seamen brought up from Whampoa
IN jar, and was detected with it by custom house
othcer as he landed from the boat opposite to the
factories at Canton.
The use of the drug became not only general,
but was used in such that its results were far
more hrefu than the ravages of King Alcohol in the
Unitei States and Europe, and temperance associa-
tionswere far more necessary to check the use of
opium IN China than to regulate the drinking Of
rumin this country.
Ihe consumption at length reached such an ex-
tent and Its results SO alarming, that the EN-
perdr determined BY ~ the strong arm to destroy
all thathe found within his jurisdiction either afeat
or Ashore and by sezing the persons of the East
India Company's agents (supercargoes) and other
British residents and holding them as hostages, he
compelled all the British vessels which had opium
on board and which on the first alarm had proceeded
outside of the Bocca Tgrs, to return into port and
deliver up every chest they had On board
Some idea Of the magnitude Of the trade NAV be
formed from the fact that under this movement of
the Chinese Government 10000 chests were sur-
rendered, there being that enormous quantity aoat
at that time in the Chinese waters The whole Of
1t was destroyed under the immediate personal in
spection of Mandarins of high rank, by being dis
solved in the river in such manner that not an
ounce escaped except in liquid FORM killing the
fish in great numbers
The Chinese have their own modes of coercion in |
such cases, which are not eFoleat, but efectige
On the above occasion their proceedings were very
Characteristic. The chief of the British factory /
whom, If we recolect Alright, was Sir Charles Met
cafe, with his associates and other British residents
were all collected in the large British factory which
was surrounded with impenetrabe Gordon Of
troops, and demand was made Of him to send an
order for the British ships to come in and deliver
up all the opium they had on board to do which ten
days were allowed, during which time Sir Charles
and his friends would have all their wants literally
supplied; but if the ten days expired without a
compliance with the demand for the opium, then
these outside barbarians'' we're given to under
stand that they could have no further supplies Of
water or provisions The AUTHORITIES would not lay
hand Of unkindness upon them; they would not
confne them in a dungeon, but allow than the full
range Of large and airy factory. Nor would they
fog them, nor strange, nor behead nor hang them,
but would only prevent them from eating or drink
ing; and if any Of them died in consequence Of such
inndtcrtdt aspirations it was their own fault
and their own act, and nobody would be to blame
but themselves. Sir Charles understood the char
acter OF the Chinese too well not to be fully aware
that they meant what they said and would carry
their intention into effect with all becoming gravity
and certainty, and he at once issued peremptory
order for the Immediate delivery Of the opium, with
an assurance that, under the circumstances of the
case, the British Government would compensate the
owners Of It. The delivery and subsequent de-
struction Of the opium took place accordingly the
war with England followed, and the Chinese at the
peace were obliged to make full indemnity for all !
the opium thus destroyed.
It is an error to suppose, as -nany do, that by |
the treaty Of peace the British forced the Chinese to
legalize the opium trade. No stipulation Of the
kind was made, and the drug remained under the |
same severe Introduction as previous to the war,
though the moral effect probably gave more conf
dence and boldness to those engaged in the trade,
both natives and foreigners from the fact that the
seizure and destruction Of the opium was sufficient
cause for Great Britain to 90 to war; and that, as
one OF the results Of the war; the Chinese were com
PEELED 70 pay for the opium that was seized, not
Withstandng i was originally brough, within their
jurisdiction in direct violation Of the most positive
law Of The empire.
From the peace up to the present time the trade {
has steadily snd rapidly increased until it has again
arrived at crisis, and the Chinese Government !
finds il necessary once more to look the question
full in the "a y and to consider what new action is
required rg ing il. .
Our ate = has been called to the subject, and
the present ,cmarks elected by perusing in re-
cent Hong Kong paper several memorials addressed
to the Emperor by some of bis high officers Of State
on this trade, and proposing to legalze the traffic
BY admitting 1t under a regular duty.
One Of thcs, documents, taken from the Pekin
Gazette of { h December 1870 Is the report Of