The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-16

t1e 3oDaaeso.
We find tho following interesting notice Of
the Japanese. in the California True Stan1ard,
an excellent daily paper. edited by Eugene Cas-
serlsy, formerly member of the New York bar.
A more singular race than the Japanese i not
to be found on the surface Of the globe. Al .
people, intelligent and cultivated in high de-
gree, they yet submit: TO despotism more CON.
plete than any other known. Ingenious and
skilful AZ the most advanced nations, yet nom
all we know, they are very deficient in invention,
adhsring with remarkable, and what may be
called obstinate pertinacity, to the forms and
models which have existed among them for Gen.
turtles. Shrewd, inquisitive and penetrating, and
remarkably fond of novelty, still they maintain
most rigorous non-intercourse with nations
whose people, manners, habits, customs, inven-
tons, riches, commerce, and possessions, as re-
ported amongst them by the few who have ever
left their shores. must have excited their curi-
osty to the highest point. Remarkable for the
spirit of commerce which their people possess,
they c0nfine their adventures almost exclusively
to the domestic trade
Possessing in great abundance, gold, silver,
copper, pearls, ngates, jaspers, and other sub
stances, which have for ages been the object of
the keenest desire to-, and have stimulated to-
the utmost acquisitiveness of, the people of
other nations--in the pursuit of which they have
dared the dangers of the seas, the heats of the
tropics, the cold of the snow-clad mountain
peaks, and deied the fear of the pestilence and
the plague, and the savage races of both man
and beast--to acquire which, they have negotia-
ted and fought, and conqured, and civilized and
christianized--in spite OF all this, the Japanese
have succeeded in maintaining their non-inter-
course, and retiring within themselves, have kept
themselves in great measure unknown to the
world.
But the progress of events seems to forbid
that this state of affairs should continue much
onger. The eyes Of the commercial world have
long been turned towards that country as very
promising field for mercantile adventure, and it
is hardly doubtful that, with the increased yigor
and daring which is continually displayed by its
votaries, there will be some way found by which
to obtain access to its favored, highly cultivated
and populous islands The chief question which
agitates the minds Of those who reflect on it is,
by whom is the commerce of Japan to be opened
to the world? Will it be by the British or by
the Americans?
The answer to this question is, that if it is
done peaceably it will be by the Americans, if
by violence by the British. The Americans
know that willing trade is the most profitable
and agreeabls-they can afford to walt little
while; in the long run, they will gain thereby
The British must have new openings for their
commerce-peaceably, if they can, forcibly, if
they must. If the Americans do not succeed
now in insinuating an opening with the oppor-
tunity afforded them, they can wait for another,
and will wait. The British, if the trade is not
opened, will, on some pretext or another, forci-
bly, open it. II they do this, it will nevertheless
rebound to the advantage of the Americans.
The Japanese will never be willing traders with
nations that compel them to deal with them;
and the Americans with their superior energy,
enterprise, and commercial acumen, will speedi
y supplant the British merchants
These remarks have been drawn out by the
report that the seventeen shpwrecked Japanese,
brought to our shores in the Auckland, are to be
returned to their own county by means of
vessel specially chartered, and laden with goods
suitable for their market The opportunity
thus afforded, and which may result in the &C.
complishment of the SO long desired end, of a
peaceable opening Of commercial relations with
the Japanese nation, is very favorable one, and
we hope may be successful. If not so at this
period, the safe restoration of so many of their
people to their own shores, must propitiate them
as people in our favor, and increase the prob
ability of successful result to the unceasing
efforts which will be made to open commercial
relation with them as our lines of steam vessels
which will shortly cross the Pacific ocean, open
up more frequent and regular intercourse with
China, and the adjacent islands Gncluding the
Japanese) lying on the eastern and southern
coast of Asia