New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-02
THE CHINESE OPIUM TRADE.
Correspondence of The n. y. Tribune


Correspondence of The n y. Tribune.
NINGpo, China, Tuesday, Oct %, 1855.
Below is copy of Memorial recently forward
ed to the Congress of the United States OF America
by the American citizens of this city. This act was
proupted by the conviction that the time had come
for concerted and vigorous efforts for the suppress
sion of one of the mosr gigantic evils that ever
scourged humanity. 1t was believed that to DC
silent was to countenance the evil and share Ia lts
Guilt and nfamy. The rapid increase OF the sale
snd use Of Opium the bOldness and arrogance
with which the contrabaud traffic is carried on,
and the fact that the time has about arrived for
renewing the treaty with China are among the
more immediate circumstances that led 70 TINS
action II is earnestly hoped that the friends OF
iustice and humanity will speak out against this
nefarious traffic in such manner-at least so far
As American citizens are concerned-as to secure
its suppression H.. D..
senfatires of ne United States Of America IN
Congress assembled:
We The undersigned citizens fthe United States
resident at NDgpo III China respectfully beg eaVe 10
memoialize your honorable body respecting the en-
gagement of Americans IN the illegal sale oil OPlun,
81 owing tat such traffic is injurious to the Chinese
Government destructive of human life and happiness,
and dishonorabe to our own national character.
"Opiuln was first imported into CHINA IN small
about the ml0uit OF lhHl NNutuil
admitted on the payment of u duty as medicinal
dug; but when it assumed the character OF avicous
indulgence the Emperor, keea-kng, with noOle re-
gard to the best interests OF hs subjects, revoked the
tariff and enacted prohibtory laws Mt the very time
when il promised to yield the largest augmentation 10
the Imperial revenue. Large quantities OF the drug,
seized in the hands Of native snuggers, were publicly
destroyed in the presence OF The magistrates ann Dotu
veDC.Ts and consumers IN not Il" caocS olVusn' :"
condign punishment. go
4" But stringent legislation official vigilance and the
Lessons of experience far from ehecting the sup
pi, sion Of the traffic, were Intellectual even TO prevent
H. Increase. And the Imperial Government, despair.
ing Of checking the consumption without cutting OH
the supply, at length, in 1889, seized and destroyed
the caIgOes of the Opium fleet then anchored IN Can-
ton kiyer The act may be called rash but was IL
not at least as patriotic the submerOn OF the tea IN
Bo,tou harborl H. this as in the former case, war
ensued The vicors, indeed, did not insist ON egaz-
ing the Opium trade but when the Chinese beside de-
fraying the costs of the war, were compelled to M
denpify the owners of the destroyed drug IN the
sum OF s9,OOO,OOO, ID it strange that they should
regard the undertaken for the protection OF
contruband traffic and after be too much lDtlmi-
dated to renew their efforts or lts suppression Ihey
have in fact not only ceased attempting To repe iOr-
eicn opium vessels from the coast, but pave even
ceased TO notice the niractlon OF the promDtOry Jaws
by their own subjects. The consequence has been a
vast extension of the trade. In 1854 the importation
of Opium from India amounted to 81 ooO CHESTS, whch
cost the Chinese the enormous sum OF SzoSlo,OOO
This ruinous trade has contributed little 10 embar-
rsss the Government and derange every department
Of legitimate trade But the expectation Oh the prec-
ious metals by means the principal way In "nicn
i; tends to mpOyerish this nation. For numerous as
are the fore gnes engaged in importing the drug The
number of natives employed in its distribution Is IN,
comparably greater, and heavy a. i the prce PAID
TO tie foreign merchant, the sum levied on the con-
sumer by native tail dealers is far heavier Now,
To the vast number Of agents thus Withdrawn rom
the various channels of useful industry we edd the
large amount absracted from the productive capital
of the country it is obvious that opium, even II
were harml in other resp cts must thus lact deep
wound on the national prosperity.
"But tlis is not even an approximate measure oi
the effe Of the Opium trade. Its greatest e' CON
ssts in mparDg the energy and shortening the ire VI
the consumer. When addicted to the opium plpe tue
merchant unfit for business for several hours 10 the
dav. tbe scholar becomes drowsy and Incapable OF
Intellectual effort and the laborer Il rendered feeble,
emaciated and unable to endure iatigue WINE ~
general it cuts of about ten years from thal part Vi
ff most useful 10 society. 1t impossible to ascer-
tain the extent to which Opium is consumed, a. Inc
amount of domestic growth Is unknown; but credi-
bic estimate gives above 6,OOOOOO as the humDer
upon whom the foreign drug produces these dFeiul
effects These found IN al grades OF society nom
the mandarin TO the cooiie and circumstance when
oreaty Inagnifes the evil H. that OpluInsmOkeS are
for the most part men OF mature years, VINO 90 DOL
suffer alone the consequences OF theh VICE pu' aso
rhpQe their families into poverty and wretchednese
ty the speedy dissipation Of their property ana tbeiI
cwn ircapacity FOR business. And when frugaity ana
industry are taxed 10 the utmo 10 secure livelihood
for the teemlDg millions % lhr Fulpil'' WIN ~
tie widespread misery which Is inflicted " thN
tYessure.wastlng. ie-consurniDg drug
"T!ere arr stl other ingredients which 1t minge ~
tie national cup Of wretchedDcss. By mpoYefishluB
The people it uultiplies thels, robbenes ana pia{
by exLausng the circulating medium IL increases 'pe
difficulty OF paying taxes, and tend TO e1e,.e leoS.
ion. while X demOrazes both people and ofhcers oy
accnstoming the former To violate aud the latter 70
connive al the violation Of the laws. ADD 70 th''
,bst beside death from starvation and suicide occa
stoned by OPIUM both Of which are sppanhgy IRE
quen the use Of opium ia stated on the best authoIy
10 shorten life by period of ten years ana we nave
AN amount of destruction to which the boodiest war oil
modem times can afford parallel. Inc number
which NAPOLEON Loot in bis disastrous INVASION OF Rus
.ja would scarcely foot the bill of mortality IN Cnina
annually chargeable to the use OF opium. HE heca'
toub, Of Man are offered with O ponp and circum-
stance which attract the attention OF the world but
here Death on his pole horse steals noseessy through
the land lighting the opum-ppe at each dwelling, and
he'll follows in bis train.
No wonder, then, that while the Chinese regard
the smoking Of opium q national vice, and confess
their share in its guilt they also look on il as nstlonai
calamity and accuse foreigners as the original authors
| Of it. No wonder that the present Emperor, ike DIS
ancestors refusing all solicitation TO legaze the tram,
chershes also the hostility of bis ancestors .e
nations by whose people it is carried on such = ins
dsrust with which our national character Is regafusu