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Memorial to the Emperor proposing the Legalization of Opium Imports

The Memorial was submitted by Heu-naetse, Vice-President of the Department of Imperial Government, an important dignitary at the Court in Peking. It arose as a response to the economic and social crisis brought about in China by the huge inc rease in illegal usage of opium since the early 1820s, a result of the widespread collusion of profit-seeking British merchants operating from British India, where the opium was produced, and corrupt local Chinese officials and drug dealers. The emperor w as being forced to make a choice; either to recognize the difficulty of continuing the ineffective prohibition of opium imports or enforce the stoppage of opium trading by foreigners through draconian measures. There were advantages and disadvantages to e ither alternative. The basic problems stemmed from the massive outflow of silver bullion (sycee) to pay for the imports coupled with the fact that the government could collect no revenue on a commodity that was illegally traded. There were also the undeni able social and medical dangers of drug abuse affecting millions of Chinese citizens. On the other hand, legalization of the drug would enable the government to collect its share of excise and customs duties while, also, establishing more effective offici al controls on drug usage and putting an end to the dangerous activities of armed smugglers, both native and foreign. The memorial was supported by the most senior officials at the port of Canton, the Governor and Vice-Governor. It need hardly be said tha t the representatives of the British Crown at Canton eagerly awaited a favorable decision by the emperor.

Heu-naetse . . presents the following memorial in regard to opium, to show that the more severe the interdicts against it are made, the more widely do the evils arising therefrom spread; and that it is right urgently to request, that a change be made in t he arrangements respecting it. . .

When any one is long habituated to inhaling it, it becomes necessary to resort to it at regular intervals, and the habit of using it, being inveterate, is destructive of time, injurious to property, and yet dear to one even as life. Of those who use it t o great excess, the breath becomes feeble, the body wasted, the face sallow, the teeth black: the individuals themselves clearly see the evil effects of it, yet cannot refrain from it. . .

In the first year (1796) of (emperor) Chia Ch'ing , those found guilty of smoking opium were subject only to the punishment of the pillory and bamboo. Now. they have, in the course of time, become liable to the severest penalties; transportation in vario us degrees, and death after the ordinary continuance in prison. Yet the smokers of the drug have increased in number, and the practice has spread throughout almost the whole empire. . . . at the present time, the prohibitions of Government being most str ict against it, none dare openly to exchange goods for it; all secretly purchase it with money. In the reign of Chia Chíng, there arrived, it may be, some hundred chests [each holding some 120 lbs. of the drug] annually. The number has now increased to u pwards of 20,000 chests . . .

Formerly, the barbarian merchants brought foreign money to China; which, being paid in exchange for goods, was a source of pecuniary advantage to the people of all the sea-board provinces. But latterly, the barbarian merchants have clandestinely sold opium for money; which has rendered it unnecessary for them to import foreign silver. Thus foreign money [i.e., silver] has been going out of the country, while none comes into it. . . . thus the price of silver rises . . . In the salt agency, the price of salt is paid in cash [i.e., copper c oins], while the duties are paid in silver,; now the salt merchants have all become involved, and the existing state of the salt trade in every province is abject in the extreme. How is this occasioned but by the unnoticed oozing out of silver? If the easily exhaustible stores of the central spring go to fill up the wide and fathomless gulf of the outer seas, gradually pouring themselves out from day to and from month to month, we shall shortly be reduced to a state of which I cannot bear to speak. . . .

The barbarian ships, being on the high seas, can on the high seas, can repair to any island that may be selected as an entrepot, and the native sea- going vessels can meet them there ; it is then impossible to cut off the trade. . . . Thus it appears that, though the commerce of Canton should be cut off, yet it will not be possible to prevent the clandestine introduction of merchandise.

. . . the more complete the laws are, the greater and more numerous are the bribes paid to the extortionate underlings, and the more subtle are the schemes of such worthless vagrants. . . There are carrying boats plying up and down the river; and these are vulgarly called 'fast-crabs' and 'scrambling dragons'. They are well armed with guns and other weapons, and are manned with some scores of desperadoes [i.e., native Chinese smugglers], who ply their oars as if t hey were wings to fly with. All the Custom-houses and military posts which they pass are largely bribed. If they happen to encounter any of the armed cruising boats, they are so audacious as to resist, and slaughter and carnage ensue. . . . Faithfulness in the enforcement of the laws is not wanting ; and yet the practice cannot be checked. The dread of the laws is not so great on the part of the common people, as is the anxious desire of gain, which incites them to all manner of crafty devices; so that sometimes, indeed, the law is rendered wholly ineffective. . . .

Since then, it will not answer to close our ports against [all trader], and since the laws issued against opium are quite inoperative, the only method left is to revert to the former system, to permit the barbarian merchants to import opium [as was done when used for medicinal purposes] paying duty thereon as a medicine, and to require that, after having passed the Custom-House, it shall be delivered to the (local) merchants only in exchange for merchandise, and that no money be paid f or it. " The barbarians finding that the amount of duties to be paid on it, is, less than what is now spent in bribes, will also gladly comply therein. . . .

No regard (should) be paid to the purchase and use of opium on the part of the people generally, (but) so long as the officers of Government, the scholars, and the military are not included, I see no detriment to the dignity of Government.

Seeing that the prohibitions now in force against opium serve but to increase the prevalence of the evil, and that there is none found to represent the facts directly to your Majesty, and feeling assured that I am myself thoroughly acquainted with the rea l state of things, I dare no longer forbear to let them reach your Majesty's ear. Prostrate, I beg my august Sovereign to give secret directions to the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of (Canton), together with the Superintendent of Maritime Customs, th at they faithfully investigate the character of the above statements, and that, if they find them really correct, they speedily prepare a list of regulations adapted to a change in the system, and present the same for your Majesty's final decision. Perch ance this may be found adequate to stop further oozing out of money, and to replenish the national resources. With impossible awe and trembling fear, I reverently present this memorial and await your Majesty's commands.