Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01
EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.

IN WSshnd published in the New York papers the
ItubjoH Ned documents transmitted to the Senate bv
The President, in connexon with his letter to the
IEmPeror OF Japan, which we published some DAYS
1ago 1t is shown by these documents that the chief
objects Of the expedition to Japan are to secure pro-
lection TOR the lives and property of American cti-
zens shpwrecked on the japanese coast and if DOS
sible, to effect an arrangement by which American
steamers may be supplied with coal The note from
the Dutch Minister manitests a disposition on the
part Of the Japanese Government to make some con-
cession to the necessities of commerce
Instructions to Commodore Aulick.
a DEPARTMENT on STATE
WASHINGTON, JUNE TO- 1851,
Commodore JoHH H. AuLIcK;
SIR: The moment Is near when the last link in the
chain OF oceanic Steam navigation is be formed From
CHINA and the Ease Indies to Egypt thence through the
Mediterranean and the Atlantic TO England thence
sgan to happy Shores and other parts Of this great
continent from ports to the southernmos part o
the Ishmus that connects the two western continents
and from its Pacific coast north and southwark as fur as
civilization has spread the steamers Of other nations and
Of carry intelligence the wealth Of the world and
thousands Of travellers.
10 the Presidents opinion that steps should be taken
at once to enable enteprising merchants to supply
the last link in that great chain which untss all nations
OF the world by the early establishment Of line of
steamers from California to China In order to facilitate
this enterprise it is desirable that we should obtain from
the Emperor of Japan permission to purchase from his
subjects the which eur steamers
in their out and inward VOYAGES may require. The well
known jealousy with which the Japanese Empire has for
the last two centuries rejected oil overures from other
ofsouc 10 tee
new attempts to change the exclusive policy Of that
country.
The interests Of commerce. and even those Of humani
ty, demand however that should make another ap-
peal to the sovereign of that country in asking hmto sell
to steamers not the manufactures Of his artisans or
the results Of the toll Of his husbandmen but gift Of
Providence, deposited by the Creator of all thngsn the
depths of the Japanese islands for the benefit Of the hu
man family.
By the Presidents direction, now transmit to you
letter to the Emperor of Japan with an open COPY
which you carry Jeddo his capital in your aag
ship accompanied by many Of the vessels the SQUAD
under may conveniently be employ
ed in this service Chinese translation Of this letter
will be furnished to you by the United States Legation at
Canton, and sent to your anchorage at Hong Kong
Macao. al a9-a&
AT Of the latter places you will probably meet with
a national vessel detached by the Commodore Of the
closed copy ola correspondence between this and the Navy
Department to carry to you number of shipwrecked
Japanese Mariners who time ago picked up
by the barque Auckland These men YOU win take with
you to Jeddo and deliver them the officers of the
Emperor giving them through your interpreter the
rance that the American Government will fail to
treat with kindness any Of the natives of Japan whom
misfortune may bring shores and that it expects
similar treatment of such of its own citizens as may be-
driven on the coasts of Japan.
The letter Of the President to the Emperor Of Japan
you will deliver to such Of his high officers he may APP
point for the purpose of receiving it. To them you will
explain the main object of your visit
Mineral coal is so abundant in Japan that the Govern
ment of that country have reasonable objection
supplying steamers at fair prices with that great
cessay Of commerce One of the eastern ports Nippon
would be the most desirable place for this purpose
Should howere The Government Japan persist toiloaing
out It's system Of ercluspenes you might perhaps induce them
10 consent to the transportation Of The coal By their pesses
neghborig island easy Of access hee the steamers
could supply fhs 0ots dvcsng thus the necessity of an in
tercquvss s'sh any large nsb Of The people c country
self every occao impress those Japanese officers
With whom you WI be brought in contact that the Gov
eminent o. the United States does not possess power
therefore cause to appehend that win interfere with
the religion Of other countries 9st
The President although fully aware Of the great re-
uctance hitherto shown by the Japanese Government
enter into treaty stpulaons with any foreign naona
feeling which il is sincerely wished that you may be able
to overcome-has thought it proper in anticipation Of
this latter favorable contingency invest you with full
power to negotiate and sign treaty Of amity and COM
merce between the United States and the Empire of Japan
transmit herewith, the act of the President clothing
You with that as also copies of the treaty between
the United States and China with Siam and Musca which
may to certain extent be Of you as precedents
1t is important that you should to our vessels the
right to enter Of the ports Of Japan and
there to dispose Of their cagoes either by sale or by bar
ter without being to extravagnt port charges
and even more important is IL that I'm Government of
Japan should bind Itself protect American salors and pro
perry rhch may be their shores The second article Of
treaty with Muscat and the fifth article the treaty
with Siam, embrace these objects
Every treaty has be subjected TO the Scna for rati
fcation you In consideration Of ce great
distance between the two countries and unforeseen diff
cutes il would be prudent should you succeed in eject
ing the object proposed to FIX the period for the exchange
of the notifications at three years.
am, sir, respectfully, your obedent servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
NOTE FROM THE DUTCH MINISTER.
Morn vERBALE.-It Is matter Of public notorety that
foreign vessels excluded from Japan by the Govern
men Of that empire 1t was nevertheless determined In
1912 that IL such vessels should be cast upon the shores
of japan by storms, there in want of provisions
with view OF asking for such commodities water or
wood for fuel those articles should be granted to them on
request
For fear however, lest this determination prompted as
1t has been by feelings Of humanity should give rise to
any false Interpretation, the Government Of japan has
solicited that Of the Netherlands inform the other Row.
upon or otherwise imply any modification whatever Of
the system of separation and exclusion which adopted
than two centuries ago by the japanese Govern
ment and since the establishment of which the prohib