The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-11
AMERICANS IN JAPAN.

The Pagoda, Capt.. Brown, American whaler has
been wrecked on the coast OF Japan; crew kept phi
sonersby the natives
The above little item of intelligence forms
part Of the foreign news by the America,
but has so very slight an appearance that It
might readily fail TO attract attention. Nev-
ertheless if the circumstance stated init be
a fact, it is quite an important item, full Of
meaning and suggestions of grave posslblll
ties and momentous consequences. We
are, for our part, disposed to believe that
there is an error in the account, and that al
though an American whaler may have been
wrecked on the coast Of Japan, and the
crew, according to the well known jealous
system Of the japanese government, put
under surveillance, they are far from being
prisoners, in the proper sense Of the term.
II is most probable they will, before long.
make their appearance at Nangasaki, TO be
shipped out Of the country in the next Dutch
vessel that sails.
But, in the meanwhile, what if the news
should be true What il, after all the sup
posed anxious care Of the Cubo, as well as
to avoid giving cause Of, complaint to the
Americans Us TO keep them out Of his do
minions, il should prove that these unlcrtu-
nate mariners have been made and are kept
prisoners--out Of notion Of the govern
ment that such a fate TO the shipwi ecked
would deter our whalers from fishing on the
japanese COAST 1t is clear that such
course Of policy would call Tor very sudden
and decided interference on the part OF the
United States government; which cannot
permit American citizens, thrown ashore by
misfortune, whilst prosecuting their lawful
business, and guilty Of no offence against
japanese laws, to be deprived of their lib
erty and the power Of returning to their
homes, merely because il pleases the EN-
peror to be afraid Of foreigners This were
the very course to provoke, and indeed com
pei one Of those stern visits Of the foreigner,
in all the pride and terror Of his irresistible
naval strength, which the island despot
seems TO lool, forward 10 with the sane
feeling as that with which Montezuma ex-.
pected the coming of the white and bearded
strangeriwho was, as the prophecy told him,
to dethrone himself and destroy his empire.
An American squadron has been once al
ready in the Bay Of Jedo, although on a
peace mission, which produced no fruits.
We should be s1rry if our government
should ever find it necessary TO send hos
tile one ihither hut it is most certain and in
eyitable that any system--or any single act
Or wrong and outrage upon American sail
ors practised BY the japanese Government,
would leave to our own no alternative but
that OF interfering at once in such a way as
would prevent the recurrence Of the evil,
and secure to American citizens the same
protection, even on the shores of Japan, as
upon the borders Of any other civilized coun-
try. 1t is because Japan is a civilized-a
very highly civilized--country, perfectly
well acquainted with all the laws Of common
justice and common humanity, that no bar
barism of conduct ought to be permitted
and none assuredly will beat the expense
Of a single American citizen
Phil North american.