USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Oelwein > The Telegraph-herald's abridged history of the state of Iowa and directory of Fayette County, including the city of Oelwein, with a complete classified business directory; > Part 23
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From the beginning, the two princes had assumed an air of statuesque formality which they preserved during the whole interview, as they never spoke a word, and rose from their seats only at the entrance and exit of the Commodore, when they made a grave and formal bow. Yezaiman and his inter- preters acted as masters of ceremony during the occasion. On entering, they took their positions at the upper end of the room, kneeling down beside a large lacquered box of scarlet, supported by feet, guilt or of brass.
For some time after the Commodore and his suite had taken their seats there was a pause of some minutes, not a word being uttered on either side. Tatznoske, the principal interpreter, was the first to break the silence, which he did by asking Mr. Portman, the Dutch interpreter, whether the letters were ready for delivery, and stating that the Prince Toda was prepared to receive them; and that the scarlet box at the upper end of the room was prepared as the receptacle for them. The Commodore, upon this being communicated to him, beckoned to the boys who stood in the lower hall to advance, when they immediately obeyed his summons and came forward, bearing the handsome boxes which contained the President's letter and other documents. The two stalwart negroes followed immediately in the rear of the boys, and, marching up to the scarlet receptacle, received the boxes from the hands of the bearers,
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opened them, took out the letters, and, displaying the writing and seals, laid them upon the lid of the Japanese box-all in perfect silence. The President's letter, the Commodore,s letter of credence, and two communications from the Commodore to theEmperor are here given. A third letter from him has already been presented on a previous page. All these, however, accompanied the letter from the President and were dlivered at the same time with it.
Millard Fillmore, President of the United States of America, to his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan.
Great and Good Friend: I send you this public letter by Commodore Matthem C. Perry, an officer of the highest rank in the navy of the United States, and commander of the squadron now visiting your imperial majesty's dominions.
I have directed Commodore Perry to assure your inperial majesty that I entertain the kindest feelings toward your majesty's person and government, and that I have no other object in sending him to Japan but to propose to your Imperial majesty that the United States and Japan should live in friendship and have commercial intercourse with each other.
The Constitution and laws of the United States forbid all interference with the religious or political concerns of other nations. I have particularly charged Commodore Perry to abstain from every act which could possibly disturb the tranquillity of your imperial majesty's dominions.
The United States of America reach from ocean to ocean, and our Territory of Oregon and State of California lie directly opposite to the dominions of your imperial majesty. Our steamships can go from California to Japan in eighteen days.
Our great State of California produces about sixty millions of dollars in gold every year, besides silver, quicksilver, precious stones, and many other valuable articles. Japan is also a rich and fertile country, and produces many very valuable articles. Your imperial majesty's subjects are skilled in many of the arts. I am desirous that our two countries should trade with each other, for the benefit both of Japan and the United States.
We know that the ancient laws of your imperial majesty's government do not allow of foreign trade, except with the Chinese and the Dutch; but, as the state of the world changes and new governments are formed, it seems to be wise, froni time to time, to make new laws. There was a time when the ancient laws of your imperial majesty's government were first made.
About the same time America, which is sometimes called the New World, was first discovered and settled by the Europeans. For a long time there were but a few people, and they were poor. They have now become quite numerous; their commerce is very extensive; and they think that if your imperial majesty were so far to change the ancient laws as to allow a free trade between the two countries it would be extremely benificial to both.
If your imperial majesty is not satisfied that it would be safe altogether to abrogate the ancient laws which forbid foreign trade, they might be suspen- ded for five or ten years, so as to try the experiment. If it does not prove as beneficial as was hoped, the ancient laws can be restored. The United States often limit their treaties with foreign States to a few years, and then renew them or not, as they please.
I have directed Commodore Perry to mention another thing to your imperial majesty. Many of our ships pass every year from California to China; and
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great numbers of our people pursue the whale fishery near the shores of Japan. It sometimes happens, in stormy weather, that one of our ships is wrecked on your imperial majesty's shores. In all such cases we ask, and expect our un- fortunate people should be treated with kindness, and that their property should be protected till we can send a vessel and bring them away. We are very much in earnest in this.
Comniodore Perry is also directed by me to represent to your imperial majesty that we understand there is a great abundance of coal and provisions in the Empire of Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean, burn a great deal of coal, and it is not convenient to bring it all the way from America. We wish that our steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions, and water. They will pay for them in money, or anything else your imperial majesty's subjects may prefer; and we request your imperial majesty to appoint a convenient port, in the southern part of the Empire, where our vessels may stop for this purpose. We are very desirous of this.
These are the only objects for which I have sent Commodore Perry, with a powerful squadron, to pay a visit to your imperial majesty's renowned city of Yedo: friendship, commerce, a supply of coal and provisions, and protection for our shipwrecked people.
We have directed Commodore Perry to beg your imperial majesty's accep- tance of a few presents. They are of no great value in themselves; but some of them may serve as specimens of the articles maunfactured in the United States, and they are intended as tokens of our sincere and respectful friendship.
May the Almighty have your imperial majesty in His great and holy keeping!
In witness wherof, I have caused the great seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and have subscribed the same with my name, at the City of Washington, in America, the seat of my government, on the thirteenth day of the month of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
(Seal attached. )
Your good friend,
MILLARD FILLMORE.
By the President:
EDWARD EVERETT, Secretary of State.
Commodore Perry to the Emperor.
United States Steam Frigate Susquehanna, Off the Coast of Japan, July, 7, 1853.
The undersigned, commander-in-chief of all the navel forces if the United States of America stationed in the East India, China, and Japan seas, has been sent by his government to this country, on a friendly mission, with ample powers to negotiate with the government of Japan touching certain matters which have been fully set forth in the letter of the President of the United States, copies of which, together with copies of the letter of credence of the undersigned. in the English, Dutch, and Chinese languages, are herewith trans- mitted.
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The original of the President's letter, and of the letter of credence, pre- pared in a manner suited to the exalted station of your imperial majesty, will be presented by the undersigned in person, when it may please your majesty to appoint a day for his reception.
The undersigned has been commanded to state that the President entertains the most friendly feelings toward Japan, but has been surprised and grieved to learn that when any of the people of the United States go, of their own accord, or are thrown by the perils of the sea, within the domain of your im- perial majesty, they are treated as if they were your worst enemies.
The undersigned refers to the cases of the American ships Morrison, Lagoda, and Lawrence.
With the Americans, as indeed with all Christian people, it is considered a sacred duty to receive with kindness, and to succor and protect all, of what- ever nation, who may be cast upon their shores, and such has been the course of the Americans with respect to all Japanese subjects who have fallen under their protection.
The government of the United States desires to obtain from that of Japan some positive assurance that persons who may hereafter be shipwrecked on the coast of Japan, or driven by stress of weather into her ports, shall be treated with humanity.
The undersigned is commanded to explain to the Japanese that the United States are connected with no government in Europe, and that their laws do not interfere with the religion of their citizens, much less with that of other nations.
That they inhabit a great country which lies directly between Japan and Europe, and which was discovered by the nations of Europe about the same time that Japan herself was first visited by Europeans; that the portion of the American continent lying nearest to Europe was first settled by emigrants from that part of the world; that its population has rapidly spread through the country, until it has reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean; that we have now large cities, from which, with the aid of steam vessels, we can reach Japan in eighteen or twenty days; that our commerce with all this region of the globe is rapidly increasing, and the Japan seas will soon be covered with our vessels.
Therefore, as the United States and Japan are becoming every day nearer and nearer to each other, the President desires to live in peace and friendship with your imperial majesty, but no friendship can long exist unless Japan ·ceases to act toward Americans as if they were her enemies.
However wise this policy may originally have been, it is unwise and im- practicable now that the intercourse between the two countries is so much more easy and rapid than it formerly was.
The undersigned holds out all these arguments in the hope that the Japanese government will see the necessity of averting unfriendly collision between the two nations, by responding favorably to the propositions of amity, which are now made in all sincerity.
Many of the large ships-of-war destined to visit Japan have not yet arrived in these seas, though they are hourly expected; and the undersigned, as an evidence of his friendly intentions, has brought but four of the smaller ones, designing, should it become necessary, to return to Yedo in the ensuing spring with a much larger force.
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But it is expected that the government of your imperial majesty will render such return unnecessary by acceding at once to the very reasonable and pacific overtures contained in the President's letter, and which will be further ex- plained by the undersigned on the first fitting occasion.
With the most profound respect for your imperial majesty, and entertain- ing a sincere hope that you may long live to enjoy health and hapiness, the undersigned subscribes himself.
M. C. PERRY, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Naval Forces in the East India, China, and Japan Seas.
To His Imperial Majesty,
the Emperor of Japan.
. Commodore Perry to the Emperor.
United States Steam Frigate Susquehanna, Uraga, Yedo Bay, July 14, 1853.
It having been represented to the undersigned that the propositions sub- mitted through him to the government of Japan are of so much importance, and involve so many momentous questions, that much time will be required to deliberate and decide upon their several bearings.
The undersigned, in consideration thereof, declares himself willing to await a reply to these propositions until his return to Yedo Bay in the ensuing spring, when he confidently hopes that all matters will be amicably arranged, and to the satisfaction of the two nations.
With profound respect,
M. C. PERRY,
Commander-in-Chief of the United States Naval Forces. in the East India, China, and Japan Seas.
To His Imperial Majesty, 1
the Emperor of Japan.
LETTER OF CREDENCE TO COMMODORE PERRY.
Millard Fillmore, President of the United States of America, to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
Reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, prudence and ability of Matthew C. Perry, a captain in the navy of the United States, I have invested him with full power, for-and in the name of the said United States, to meet and confer with any person or persons furnished with like powers on the part of your imperial majesty, and with him or them to negotiate, conclude, and sign a convention or conventions, treaty or treaties, of and concerning the friendship, commerce, and navigation of the two countries; and all matters and subjects connected therewith which may be interesting to the two nations, submitting the same to the President of the United States for his final ratification, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the thirteenth day of
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November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and of the independence or the United States of America the seventy-seventh.
MILLARD FILLMORE.
By the President:
EDWARD EVERETT, Secretary of State.
( Seal attached.)
Accompanying the letters were translations of he same into the Chinese and Dutch languages. After the documents had been laid upon the lid of the imperial box, made as their receptacle, Mr. Portman, Dutch interpreter, by the Commodore's direction, indicated to Tatznoske, the Japanese interpreter, the characers of the various documents, upon which Tatznoske and Kayama Yezai- man, still kneeling, both bowed their heads. The latter, now rising, approached the Prince of Iwami, and, prostrating himself on his knees before him, received from his hands a roll of papers, with which he crossed over to the Commodore, and, again falling upon his knees, delivered it to him. The Dutch inerpreter now asked "what those papers were," to which it was answered,"They are the imperial receipt." The translation of it is as follows:
TRANSLATION OF RECEIPT GIVEN BY THE PRINCES OF IDZU AND IWAMI TO COMMODORE PERRY.
The letter of the President of the United States of North America, and copy, are hereby received and delivered to the Emperor. Many times it has been communicated that business relating to foreign countries cannot be transacted here in Uraga, but in Nagaski. Now it has been observed that the Admiral, in his quality of ambassador of the President, would be insulted by it; the justice of this has been acknowledged; consequently, the above-mentioned letter is hereby received, in opposition to the Japanese law.
Because the place is not designed to treat of anything from foreigners, so neither can conference nor entertainment take place. The letter being received, you will leave here.
( Here follow fac-similes of signatures in Japanese. ) The ninth of the sixth month.
The above is a literal translation from the Dutch, in which languages the conferences were held, and into which the receipt of the chief councellors, the princes of Idzu and Iwami, was, daubtless, badly translated from the Japanese by their interpreter.
The following would probably be the correct translation :-
"The letter of the President of the United States of North America, and copy, are hereby received, and will be delivered to the Emperor.
"It has been many times intimated that business relating to foreign coun- tries cannot be transacted here in Uraga, but at Nagasaki; nevertheless, as it has been observed that the Admiral. in his quality of ambassador of the Presi- dent, would feel himself insulted by a refusal to receive the letter at this place, the justice of which has been acknowledge, the above-mentioned letter is hereby received, in opposition to the Japanese law.
"As this is not a place wherein to negotiate with foreigners, so neither can conferences nor entertainments be held. Therefore, as the letter has been re- ceived, you can depart."
After a silence of some few minutes the Commodore directed his interpre- ters to inform the Japanese that he would leave, with the squadron, for Lew
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Chew and Canton in two or three days, and to offer the government his services, if it wished to send any despatches to those places. The Commodore also stated that it was his intention to return to Japan in the approaching spring, perhaps in April or May. Taznoske then asked the Dutch interpreter to repeat what he had said about the Commodore's leaving and returning, which he did, using the sanie words as before. Then the question was asked "whether the Commodore would return with allfour vessels." "All of them," answered the Commodore, "and probably more, as these are only a portion of the squadron." Allusion had been made to the revolution in China, and the interpreter asked its cause, without however, translating to the Japanese princes, to which the Commodore dictated the reply that "it was on account of the government."
Yezaiman and Tatznoske now bowed, and, rising from their knees, drew the fastenings around the scarlet box, and, informing the Commodore's interpreter that there was nothing more to be done, passed out of the apartment, bowing to those on either side as they went. The Commodore now rose to take leave, and, as he departed, the two princes, still preserving absolute silence, also arose and stood until the strangers had passed from their presence.
The Commodore and his suite were detained a short time at the entrance of the building waiting for their barge, whereupon Yezaiman and his interpre- ter returned, and asked some of the party what they were waiting for, to which they received the reply, "For the Commodore's boat." Nothing further was said. The whole interview had not occupied more than twenty to thirty minutes, and had been conducted with the greatest formality, though with the most perfect courtesy in every respect.
'The procession re-formed as before, and the Commodore was escorted to his barge, and, embarking, was rowed off toward his ship followed by the other American and the two Japanese boats which contained the governor of Uraga and his attendants, the bands meanwhile playing our national airs with great spirit as the boats pulled off to the ships. While there was some delay in em- barking all the party, in consequence of the smallness of the landing place, which was now flanked by some sixty of seventy Japanese government boats, the soldiers took occasion to crowd in from various parts of the shore, either to satisfy their curiosity or to show a more formidable front; and it must be confessed that, had such been the desposition of the Japanese, there would have been no difficulty, with their large force, in completely hemming in the Americans.
The opening of Japan to commercial relations with the world was effected by the United States; and the agent of our government in this epoch-making was Commodore Motthew Calbraith Perry, a chapter of whose official report is herewith published.
Matthew Calbraith Perry was a younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie. He was born in Newport,R. I. (where a statne of him stande in Touro Park, close to the Old Mill,) April 10, 1794. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1809, serving under his brother and then under Commodore John Rodgers, and taking part in various naval engagements during the War of 1812, being made a lieutenant in 1813. In 1819 he convoyed the first colony of negroes from this country to Africa; and he selected the site of the future Monrovia. Throughout his life he was a dilligent student of sanitation, and influential in important reforms. For several years he was engaged in protecting American commerce from pirates in the West Indies and
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the Mediterranean. In 1829 he took John Randolph as envoy to the czar in the first American man-of-war to enter Russian waters; and he was offered high rank in the Russian navy by Nicholas, but declined. After farther naval exploits, he began in 1883 ten years of shore duty as master commandant at the Brooklyn navy yard; and the important results in naval science eaernd for him the title of "a chief educator of the United States navy." He organized the Brooklyn Naval Lyceuni, helped found the Naval Magazine, tabulated the action of the tides, organized the first steam service, and commanded the first steam war vessel of our navy. He studied the problems of ordnance and armor with most important results, introducing constructive changes of great moment in our navy. He did much to reform the light-house service. He commanded the squadron sent to Africa 1843 to enforce the Webster-Ashburton treaty; and in the Mexican War he had command of the fleet which co-operated with General Scott, successfully bombarding Vera Cruz. But his chief title to fame lies in his remarkably wise and efficent organization and command of the expedition to Japan, after many vain attemps by our people and European governments to establish trade and general relations with that hermit nation. He succeeded in delivering the President's letter on July 14, 1853, and in signing a treaty on March 31, 1854; and this brilliant acheivement marked the beginning of the wandertul new life of Japan. On his return he wrote the reports of the expe- dition, accompained by many scientific papers by other writers, with a preface and notes by Francis L. Hawks: and this monumental work in three great volumes, with many illustrations, was published by the government. Commo- dore Perry died in New York, March 4, 1858. In 1903, the fiftieth anniversary of Perry's landing in Japan, a monument in honor of him and of the event was erected and dedicated at the place of the landing by the Japanese government and people. There is an admirabl popular biography of Perry by Rev. William Elliot Griffis; and this reviews in one of its early chapters the various efforts of Europeans to secure foothold in Japan and the particular conditions at the time of Commodore Perry's historic enterprise which resulted in a success so brilliant and so fruitful in results to Japan, to the United States, and to the world.
The passage given in the present story is chapter xiii. of the official report of Perry's expedition. The valuable introduction to the report contains various thorough studies of the history, character, and conditions of the Japanes people, and especially of the past relations of the empire with the western civilized nations. The chapters which follow record the proposal of the mission to Japan " to the United States government by Commodore Perry, the careful preparations, the departure from Norfolk, the incidents of the voyage, the delay in Chinese waters, the arrival on the Japanese coast, the surprise of the people, and the delicate and intricate negotiations with the local governor, leading to the taking of Commodore Perry's message to Yedo and arrangements for his recep- tion on shore by high officials representing the Emperor. Of that reception the chapter here printed is the record. Commodore Perry immediately after it re- turned with his squadron to Chinese waters, where he remained until the next February (1854), when, returning to Japan, he was cordially received, made an exhibition to the Japanese of the telegraph and railroad, of agricultural imple- ments and other instruments of western progress, which were greatly admired, and succeeded in making the desired treaty, which was soon followed by similar treaties between Japan and other nations. The text of the treaty, with Commo-
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dore Perry's own comments upon its character and significance, is given in chapter xx. of the report. His final words are:
"Japan has been opened to the nations of the west, and it is not to be be- lieved that, having once effected an entrance, the enlightened powers that have made treaties with her will go backward, and by any indescretion lose what, after so many unavailing efforts for centuries, has at last been happily attained. It belongs to these nations to show Japan that her interests will be promoted by communication with them; and as prejudice gradually vanishes, we may hope to see the future negotiation of commercial treaties more and more liberal, for the benefit not of ourselves only, but of all the maritime powers of Europe, for the advancement of Japan, and for the upward progress of our common humanity. It would be a reproach to Christendom now to force Japan to re- lapse into her cheerless and unprogressive state of unnatural isolation. She is the youngest sister in the circle of commercial nations; let those who are older kindly take her by the hand, and aid her tottering steps until she has reached a vigor that will enable her to walk firmly in her own strength."
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