New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18
THE'COOLIE TRADE.
'0''e' rcn$nee of Then. Y. Tribune.
NJ, Nb;,o Ar0pot

sseis of the United States and other nations, during
past years has been attended with ilegaites and i'm
morates strorg ly res emitting those Of the African
slave trade is fact that does not admit of disputes
bit whether che furnishing of Chinese labor 10 coun-
tries tina mar desire the same, and ao-dng facilities
CT emigration to Chinese voluntarily disposed to render
,such service, should be viewed in the same light Ger.
taiply bears investigation.
That there existed in old times proclamation from
the Chinese Imperia, Government, prohibiting the
understanding with death the brokers, hardened
" miscreants, who imposed upon the people, seducing
"thep, under false pretences and, in many instances
evidently abducpg them to embark for foreign coun-
&" tries unknown to them, never to return is most
true But there has been recently issued, aud is now
in force, proclamation, emanating from the same au-
thocity permitting Chinese laborers inclined to en-
gage themselves for certain number of years, as they
ee fit, to labor in foreign countries.
Now, such being the case the Chinese authorities
themselves, byproclamaton legalzing the expectation
ofcooes and providing, will hereafter be shown
peent Chinese officials to inspect those coolies before
they are permitted to embark il only becomes neces-
sary for me to show that they do engage their services
voluntarily to place such afford them the opportu-
mites torso dopg in their proper light before the pub
lie, viz: that of men engaged in fair and Legitimate
business. Before proceeding further should remem-
Der the mmensity and density of Chinas population
reaching TO over 25O,O0O,0OO or almost third Of
Earth's nhabants-to realize the existing neces-
sity, if they would gain subsistence, Of thous-
ands upon thousands looking for labor in
foreign lands; and this fact once well understood
the cooe traffic will appear in its true light TO our
readers II is plain, then, that there is lask Of
Chinese labor ready and willing, and we might say
forced TO accept foreign service; and as the Chinese
are strictly agricultural people, deriving their sub
sisence directly from the soil, expert in the cultivation
of rice, sugar. cotton tobacco etc. they peculiarly
valuable to countries which need good intelligent, for
eien field hands, Such being the case it il no wonder
that companies have been formed with view to afford
Chinese disposed to emgrate the means of transporta
ton to foreign lands. Nor is it strange that thousands
of the Chinese have been eager to leave their A" Ce-
leftial Kingdom, which refusedthem bare support to
try their fortunes in the richer distant lands of the Fan
9ui foreign devils. But man, no matter how mis-
cradle may be his condition in bis country, when
he has left behind him both family and friends, and
finds himself surrounded by persons and thngsentrely
strange, will be certain TO repne at his lot however
betered and regret the misery he has escaped So the
Asiatic coolie well well fed clothed, and enjoying COM
forts previously unknown TO him in his iiowery
Gland of delight yearns for home and grows sad,
sn1 when seen in such humor II is not strange that
called pbapthropists have innocently or otherwise
spread calumDies Of sweeping character as TO have
brought opprobrum the coolie trade. While it can
not be denied that hundreds of bapess wretches have
been Kidnapped, and thousand enormities attended
the traffic such TO have aroused righteous indigns
ton in the breasts Of good men throughout the world
yet any person at all acquainted with the condition Of
The coolies in their own country and with the better
system Of expectation which now prevails, will see
the injustice Of those Misrepresentation which woud
place it level with the slave traffic, attach to II al
The revolving and inhuman atrocities of that trade
and brand those engaged in it pirates kdnappers.
To understand just how the coOe traffic is conducted
at the present time let examine the barracoons at
Macao where the coolie is received taken care of and
prepared for bis outward voyage. BY recent procs.
nation of the Tote, or chief magistrate of Kwangon,
md adjoining provinces-in nowise conflicting with
be ancient statutes Of the Chinese Empirethe privi-
ege of emigration has, said before been granted
o thofe who are really unable TO find a subsistence in
china.
ITO guard against Turing unsuspecting victims, and
ete kidnappers, these Fote magistrates, have,
however, appointed mandariDs, who, either living on
osrd Of the cooe ships residing near the barracoons
re commanded to examine each coolie applicant for
oregn service bear his reasons for leaving the coun
ry, explain his contract and, should they be satisfied
bat all right, allow him TO proceed his voyage
BY This arrangement many kidnappers have been de-
scted, and the punishment inflicted upon them has been
horrible that it most fully to deter other mis-
rtants from initiating their folly.
Slavery has always been an institution In China
he very difficulty of gaining subsistence in dense-
populated country. leads many to sell their chill
rem, their wives, and even themselves INTO Slavery,
nd associations Of China brokers, have always ca.
sted whore business has been TO buy and sell persons
rom one province into another. Among these com
snies Of brokers there have been many hardened |
Vretcbes, who, taking advantage of the privilege of
cling human beings, which, necessity in China has |
made legitimate, not content with the fruits of volun-
airy enslavement, have carried system Of kdnap-
ing and man-steaing, well. In olden times before
be Mandarin Inspectors were appointed these brokers
you'd bring their victims TO foreign vessels force them
express willingness TO co. andreceye bonus from
be expectation companies, if they were doing leg
innate business Now, however, far as foreign ship
lent Of coolies is concerned the case is very different
nd a most dreadful sight which witnessed in the |
egbboibood of Macao, viz Three detected kidnap-
ers chained TO posts on the public highway, with |
urniDg punt joss-s,icks, placed near at hand, that
i passers-by might burn their aesh would seem
noueh TO prevent the repetition ofsuch practices even
Iere the coolies not examined directly before leaving
y their own authorities.
To visi: the baracoon we pass through the busy
binese quarer OF Macao, and can only wonder az the
,eerfu, industrious habits of this over.crowded pep
e, and the exquisite products of their mechau cal skill
spite The rude simplicity of their tools. The barra-