Page 471 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

457.

to the "Canton system." Because they traded profitably under

this system, they did not chafe under its regulations. Tradi­

tionally, the Imperial Court preferred not to concern itself

with "barbarians." But as long as they behaved properly, in

obediance to Chinese law, Chinese officials left them alone.

Local authorities had jurisdiction to keep the "barbarians" in

1
line. In the 1830 s the actions of English merchants, espec­
ially in expanding the opium trade, increasingly brought the

Court's attention to the Western "barbarians" at Canton. At

first Court officials, unlike the local authorities, made no

distinction between Americans and Englishmen. But soon the

Americans--their position reinforced by the favorable impression

they had already made on Canton officials---earned the approba­

tion of Imperial officials by maintaining a neutral stand in

the opium crisis. During the Opium War American neutrality,

a practical and profitable policy, strengthened their position

11
as respectful barbarians. 11 Consequently, Imperial Commissioners
1
I-li-pu and Ch i-ying, despatched to Canton to negotiate with
the English in 1842, memorialized the Court to grant the Ameri­

cans commercial rights and privileges similar to those forcibly

obtained by the English.·

By fostering friendly relations with the Hong merchants

within t'he "Canton system," American merchants not only had a

favorable impact on the Chinese government. American commercial

success at Canton also influenced the official attitude of the

United States toward the Celestial Empire. This success led

the American government to seek American merchants• advice in