New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-15

Our London correspondent suggests one opera
ton of the British treaty with China, to which In
our remarks yesterday on that subject we did not
advert. The new treaty abrogates the general
regulations of trade which formed supplement to
the treaty of Nankin, and substitutes in place of
them certain new commercial regulations. which
make up the bulk Of tho treaty just negotiated.
Among the old regulations thus abrogated, was one
by which the British Consuls at Hong Kong and
the five open ports were to cooperate with the
Chinese authorities in preventing the opium trade
from being carried on by English vessels. We are
afraid this provision did not avail much to the
Chinese: in fact, it was most gross mockery on
the part of the English. while it was perfectly well
known that the English Indian Administration
was, in its offici, capacity, the great producer of
opium, for the very purpose Of having it smuggled
into China Nevertheless, this regulation did
am cunt at least, to all acknowledgment on
the part Of the British Government of the
illegal character Of the opium trade, and to the
admission of an obligation on their part to assist IN
suppressing it. This acknowledgment and con-
fession are now entirely done away with. SO far as
the English Government is concerned, the snug
Cling of opium into China has assumed perfectly
legal character. The English no longer admit any
obligation on their part to assist in its suppression
As to that the Chinese are thrown entirely upon
their own resources. After the experience OF two
wars waged upon them b., the English for the sup
port, encouragement and protection of the opium
traffic-for such is the real history OF the two
English wars against Chna-the Chinese can hard
ly hope by any regulations which they can make or
enforce to put any very serious obstacles In the
way of this constantly growing traffic.
We do not, however, consider US very probable,
at least not at early day, the consequence which
our correspondent anticipates of the opening of
the ports Of China to the legal importation of
opium, aud still less the legslizing of its cultlva-
ton in China. There have not been wanting Chi
nese statesmen " no have urged the former expt
dent as the best which existing circumstances ad-
mitted; but that policy does not seem to have
found much favor in China, and is directly opposed
by that spirit of dogged obstinacy which forms so
marked trait in the Chinese character.
Perhsps, after sll the best device for the relief
of China is TO be found in bringing to stop, that
cultivation Of opium in India BY Government au-
therty so long carried on under the auspices of the
East India Company, but for which, by the recent
change in the system Of governing India, the
British people will now become directly responsi.
Bile. Greedy and reckless as English merchants
are in the pursuit Of gain, nevertheless the British
nation has conscience and sense of right and
wrong, which, in more than one notable instance,
as in the suppression Of the African slave-trade
and the abolition Of Slavery, have produced pow
erful effect upon public affairs, In spite OF all
the powerful pecuniary interests brought into
operation 10 cOunteract it. This idea, that
the British Government itself as cultvator Of
opium in India for the Chinese market, is directly
responsible for al the miserable consequences
which result in China from the use of that dele
terious drug caonot fail to be constantly brought
10 public notice, nor can il fail in due time, by
dint Of constant iteration, to produce an effect.
The very same course of procedure which availed
10 time to suppress the slaye-trade aud 10 abolish
Slavery, may be expected to result in driving Eng
land from crime which now constitutes the black
eat stain upon her national character.