The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-25

IN official report made this House in ls4s that tn,
recognised imports into China In 1874 on British
woolen goods cotton fabrics including yarns and raw
cotton from ndia and TINT same year there wer,
smugped into China forty thousand chests OF opium
valued at S20,000,000
Mr. WARREN. win the gentleman from California
state whose report he alludes To-?
Mr. LATHAM allude the report Of Hon Thomas But
Ter King, chairman of the Committees Naval Affairs
made TO this House in May s4s ofcourse the latter 4
mere guess work while the amount includes only that
portion which was officially stated the
Inc commercai statistics or county Of little no
value when it be admitted that the leqitimate or
smuggling trade exceeds the lawful trade by several mill
ons per annam and when the capacity for continuing
that trade can only be estimated by the resources OF
comparatively unknown empire We shall probably he
not far from the truth when that imports Of
opium into China exceed the regular imports OF dutabe
articles by At least hundred per cent aud that twenty
per cent Of the opium smugged into China American
account
This has been the opinion OF Chinese merchants "a
stated by Guzlaf and Neuman lunquestonsble auhori-
ss all subjects connected with the Chinese empire >
sad the Chinese merchants in the seapors and the interior
are far better informed such than the Mandarns
The civil war too which has been raging several
years and which may continue for years longer
must furnish additional facilities the opium smugglers
and vice and debauchery usually follow the trail of
mics il is but reasonable to suppose that opumeang and
smoking renow rapidly the increase in every part Of
China
The report above quoted gives the imports into China,
on British accounts, as follows:
Woollen and cotton goods l32
oPm. 20,o00,ooo
Total. 3592ol32
or in round numbers, S36ooOooo All the exports from
China, exclusive of Sycee silver fell short of $ls00o0Oo
balance in favor of England $4,000 900 Such a trade
cannot in the natural course Of things, continue long
pecay as the reghts all earned by European Amer
can vessels and the imports into China all for Chinese
accounts and for Chinese consumption The Chinese gov
ernmen h indeed reduced to the alternative either to al
low and encourage the culture of opium the
try and itself rapidly reduced to bankruptcy II has not
the power to prevent smuggling, which is carried by
armed vessels the officers and supercargoes Of which
tribute both chests of opium and the Scriptures and with
the eagerness of the people to buy the poison the trade
which ruins the country is to make the fortune of tn
smuggler
Orr trade with China is yet in its infancy we chiefly
export thher cotton goods which acknowledged be
OF superior texture and better quality than the English
raw cotton lead, and ginseng In ls45 whole export
to China amounted to little 100000 and very
the same amount of specie while the exports from China
the United States amounted in round numbers TO &c.
100000 leaving large balance in favor Of China Other
statistical accounts furnished by the British House Com
mons show increase in the exports of China foreign
countries but also corresponding increase in the of
the opium smuggled into it. The balance Of trade against
the United States and in favor of China had in lS45
above stated already exceeded S530000O, and this bal
ance settled by bills London, against shipments off
specie
In the balance of trade between this country and
China was in round numbers but S46oooO0 against the
United States while British imports from China had fall
len off some six millions and exports China 81 O00-
600 probably occasioned by their diminished capacity to
buy either rags poison British trade with China de-
pcnds the capacity Of the Chinese pay in cash for
ticles they longer pay for in goods products Of
their 2Mn Whjle with that
our merchants Our manufacturers may improve their
fabrics or render them less costly navgators may
duce the commercial balance against us by earning
freights may reshp portion of our imports from
China to other countries may carry portion OF the
British and other foreign imports into China aud we may
discover new articles OF consumption Tor the ohinesc
markets.
1t seems to me- Mr. Chairman that n all these respects
we are better crcumsanced than the British and in say
ing that would indicate that commercial relations
with China capable Of being improved beyond those OF
any other country.
In the first place our population and productions
increasing at ar more rapid rate than those OF Eng
land or any other country Our general capacity for in
creased imports and exports ms necessarily apply also
to China trade and thus the broadest basis of an inn
Jaovement is secured
Second We have it in our power from the advantages
of our geographical position diminish the distance be-
tween European and Chinese markets. spread quicker
and general intelligence among our merchants on
the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and thereby to anticipate
wants. assmiate tastes and meet the demands or distant
markets in advance of other nations.
Third We have it in power with the diminished
distances to reduce the of reg between China and
America, well Europe being not only able as shall
endeavor show hereafter to transport goods between
carried but able ship articles which would deerorate
spoil long voyages In this w perhaps consist our
greatest advantage; and
Fourthly We have species of enterprise-the pas
senger trade from China California and from California
to Chna-opened us and sure TO retain il almost
exclusively If our merchants and shippers the same de-
gree Of intelligence and watchuness the Pacific that is
now EMPLOYED to secure trade the Atlantic between
Europe and the United States
now propose Mr. Chairman, TO treat of these adyan-
tages in the order have named them.
Our population may be computed at Twenty-Five
millions will the close of this century reach in the
neghborhood OF hundred millions without approxima-
ting ratio Of density that could impair either capac
ty import from export foreign countries Aexan-
der Won Humboldt and other writer's America have est
mated that the Mississippi valley could comfortably feed and
clohe three hundred millions of peoples and IL is not pres
ming much allow ahundred millions for each the
lantic and Pacific slopes The United States then with
doubedy be made in the of this and the next CEN
tury support five hundred millions OF people and IS
the only nation on earth whose homogeneous numbers
will in the course of brief space of time approach and
surpass the Celestial empire Considering at the
time that the extent OF country Ia as large our
climate varied and productions as diversified, as
those of China have the largest basis OF our in
mind and mind that afforded to two such exen
svc branches Of the human family On side is the old
est civilization earth mmutabe customs and usages e
abshed through the extent of ages very high though
stationary degree of industry and great ondness OF COM
mercal pursuits limited however, by imperfect navga-
on mid sailors and decided interiority IN ship-buid
ing
On the other our) side Of the Pacific is comparatively
but energetic people coupling the strength and east
city of youth with the gravity and experience Of past
and habits everastingy changing great mobility
pursuits unceasng activity Of mind unconquerabe indus
try great fondness Of commercial enterprise love OF the
ocean native element and nautical skill which s al
ready stretching ont its hand TO grasp the trident OF Brit