Page 400 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

386.

interests require the presence of a respectable national force

in the Chinese waters."

But, the signers of this memorial stated that "they would

most earnestly deprecate the delegation to its commander, or to

any other person at this time, of any powers to interfere in

the contest between England and China, or to enter into any

diplomatic arrangement whatever." Instead, they advocated that

the government postpone any action until the outcome of_ hostilities

between the English and Chinese were known. Removed from Canton

but familiar with the "Canton system," these merchants were hesi­

tant to support policies that might antagonize the Chinese auth­

orities. These Americans could not be certain that the English

might not retreat from their threats even in this incident, as

they had on previous occasions. Merchants in the China trade

did not want Americans at Canton to suffer retaliation from the
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Chinese because of their connection with the English. The

signers therefore cautiously advised Congress not to initiate

any action contrary to the "Canton system." Of course, these

men could not know that the English had arrived in China and

the Opium War had begun.

Whether heeding the advice of the second memorial or not,

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The merchants publicly expressed a very cautious
attitude. Privately, they believed the English would even­
tually be victorious. Most of them agreed that, after Chinese
actions in the opium crisis regarding the foreigners' confine­
ment, Chinese pride and superiority could afford a blow. See
Letter, A.A. Low to R.B. Forbes, Nov. 9, 1840, in The China Trade
Postbag of the Seth Low Family of Salem and New York, 1829-1873,
ed. by Elma Loines (Manchester, Maine, 1953), p. 83. Letter,
J.P. Cushing to Baring Brothers & Co., May 23, 1840, Bryant &
Sturgis MSS. Cushing did not sign the memorial of April 9, 1840.