1844年7月3日签订的中美《望厦条约》规定,“合众国民人凡有……携带鸦片及别项违禁货物至中国者,听中国地方官自行办理治罪,合众国官民均不得稍有袒护”。此与其时英国政府所持对华鸦片贸易问题的态度与政策迥异。由于《望厦条约》之前美国政府处理对华事务以及制定对华政策,都很大程度上依赖于那些通晓中国语言、谙熟中国文化的早期美国在华传教士,所以,美国政府当时禁令本国商人从事对华鸦片走私活动,亦主要起因于这些传教士的极力反对。而这些传教士之所以反对鸦片贸易,则是因为他们认为这种贸易不仅有悖于基督宗教的伦理道德,而且会严重破坏福音在中国的广泛传布。 The Treaty of Wangxia, signed on July 3, 1844, stipulates that “All citizens of the United States who carry opium and other prohibited goods to China will listen to the local officials who handle the crime themselves, Slightly protect ”. This is at a time when the attitude and policies of the British government on opium trade with China are very different. Since the “Wangxia Treaty” before the U.S. government dealt with affairs with China and formulating its policy toward China are largely dependent on early American missionaries proficient in Chinese culture and proficiency in Chinese language, the United States government banned its own traders Engaging in opium smuggling activities against China is also mainly due to the strong opposition from these missionaries. The reason why these missionaries opposed the opium trade was because they considered it not only contrary to the ethics of Christianity but also severely undermining the widespread spread of the Gospel in China.