The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-18

Extracts from Letter of Mr. PALMER to
President FILLMORE, soliciting has attention
TO the plan submitted by HIM to Secretary
CLAYTON for opening American intercourse
qcih Japan. Original endorsed "Referred
to Secretary Of State. N. F. Jdnuary6."
WASHINGTON, January 6, 1921.
DEAR SIR Deeming the opening of Diplo-
matte Relations, Commercial Intercourse, and
Steam Navigation with the Independent Mari
time Nations of Eastern Asia and the Indian
Archipelago, worthy the favorable considera-
ton of our Government have the honor to
solicit your early attention to this important
subject
In the absence of any specific appropriation
for special Oriental Mission the position of
China, designated by the natives as The Gen.
trail Flowery Kingdom" in respect to the sur
rounding nations of Eastern and Southern Asia
and over which, with the exception of Japan,
the Chinese Emperor is the acknowledged SUI
zerain-wOuld suggest the expediency of ac-
crediting the United States Commissioner to
that Empire to the Sovereigns of those Nations,
and likewise of vcsting him with authority to
act as General Superintendent Of American
Trade in their DomniOns
By placing our squadron in those seas under
the Commissioners orders he would be ena-
al Steamer, to Japan and its dependencies, to
Corea, Cochin China, Siam, Burmah, and the
Indian Archipelago, to open up intercourse and
make commercial treaties, especially with the
Government of Japan, without essentially in
terfering with his duties as Commissioner to
China such arrangement to be continued I'M
til our increasing intercourse and commerce
with those Eastern regions would Justify the ap-
Of lie
therein, by our Government
Much valuable information geographical,
political, commercial, and hydrographicai could
be acquired in such brief missions that would
prove of great utility and advantage to us in
our Interior intercourse with the countries thus
visited, particularly in selecting suitable coal
ing stations, and making the requisite pre-
liminary arrangements for the establishment of
steam communication between San Francisco
and that quarter of the world.
Under this comprehensive, effective, and eco
nomical system, whilst our legitimate commerce
with China is about equal to one-half that of
the British, with the exception of the opium
traffic, (which is prohibited, and possesses far
greater capabilities for profitable expansion,
the annual charges incident to the extension
and supervision of our trade with China and
the adjacent nations even in the event of rails
ing the Commissioner to the rank of Minister
PlenipOtentiary, rs recommended in the New
York Memorial to General Taylor of the oath
of February, lS49, would not probably exceed
e-tenth of the expenditure for the British SUI
perintendent Of Trade in China, and their Con-
suar establishments at the five privileged ports
which amounted, for the year ending on the
3lst March, lS4s to thrty-three thousand
three hundred and twenty-six pounds ten shil-
lngs sterling
The people of Japan, in general are known to
be friendly and well disposed towards foreigners,
with whom they have invariably evinced dis
position to hold intercourse and trade; but are
prevented doing 30 openly for fear of their rulers
and the law The Government of that country
must, ere long, be compelled by force of cir
cumstances and especially by the presence OF
our people on the Pacific, to succumb to the pro-
gressiye commercial spirit of the age.
In 1911 Prince Arrao- M adsmanO- Kami, an
eminent Japanese statesman, then Governor OF
the Island of Ycso and the Kurie Dependencies,
was in favor Of opening the ports Of the Empire
to foreign trade, and addressed the following
language in an Official Report from Matsmai to
the Supreme Government at Yedo "Since the
sun, the moon, and the stars which are the Gre
alton of the Almighty, are variable IN their
course, the Japanese Law, the work OF mems
hands, prohibiting foreign vessels entering any
other port than Nangasaki, cannot be eternal"
This Prince was subsequently promoted to the
high Office of Governor of the Imperial Pal
ace at Ycdo and Member of the Council OF
State.
] have ON various occasions during the last six
years, brought to the notice Of our Government
repeated instances of the barbarous treat
ment and indlgnities to which shipwrecked
American seamcn are constantly subjected in
Japan; showing the necessity and urgency OF
some efficient and energetic National measures
being adopted to compel the Court of Yedo to
make satisfactory atonement and indemnity for
such outrages and guaranty the rights OF
charitable hospitality and friendly profession to
those Of our countrymen who may have the mis-
fortune to be shipwrecked upon the Japanese
coasts, or compelled to put into any Of their
ports by stress Of weather, in want ofassistance,
repairs, &c.