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and would be condemned. It might also re-act injuriously by infringement of freedom of the port.
The commercial prosperity and welfare of the Colony, being entirely dependent on its commerce, great consideration would be necessary before inaugurating such a system. If it could be done consistently with the large questions of policy and expediency involved in its adoption, it would be infinitely preferable to the present method of obtaining revenue by opium farm, which is attended with many hardships and irregularities.