The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-14

fitfei out by our governlnentto san y
ca,omand Of Commodore Perry although
~, officially so announced, is generally I'M
derstood 10 be the opening OF the ports Of tnat
10 The commerce Of the world in gen. |
e,,l and Of the United States in particular
For a long time. the empire Of Japan has been
l,,le known TO the various nations ofihe civil
lied world. The policy ofits rulers has been
even more exclusive than of those in China
Ii has sustained commercial relations with
only two countries--the Dutch and Chinese
aud that to only very limited extent, couple
of Dutch ships, carrying cargoes to the value
OF about 100000, and ten Chinese junks, be-
ing all that are annually admitted into Nam
gasaki, its principal port.
Under these circumstances, our government
appears to have come to the conclusion that
since the japanese dignitaries will not AMIGA.
bly, enter into some arrangement for the mutual
benefit of the commercial relations of both
countries, il will be right and proper 10 use
little moderate compulsion TO bring them to
terms-at least so far as the appearance of
Commodore Perry on the shores ofJapan may
tend 10 persuade her thereto. 1t would seem
that Great Britain takes similar view OF the
matter, and, if necessary, will cooperate with
the United States. The London Times, Of
March 26, argues the propriety of the 1exped-
ton after this wise:
SIT is a fair question how far any tribe or
race of human beings possess the right of ex-
Guiding the rest of mankind from all participa-
ton j" the benefits to be derived from an extern
sive Il beautiful region. That it abounds
with mineral and vegetable productions, and
is admirably adapted for carrying on CONNER
cial intercourse with advantage to the inhabi-
tants and profit to the rest of mankind, may
not affect the properties of the problem, but at
least ii quickens cur desire for a solution
Is this right of exclusion founded on reason or
on force If on reason, we should be curious
10 see the arguments by which it can be MAIN
tanned. If the right of exclusion is simply the
right of force, why, let those who appeal to
make it good. They may feel well assured
that, some time or other, their pretensons will
be put to the test. In any case, they can lay
little claim to sympathy. They haveby their
own acts put themselves out of the pale of the
great brotherhood of nations. They have re-
fused all aid to others how can they ask it
for themselves The Tartar dynasty had
long contrived to exclude the word from any
but the most humiliating intercourse with Chr
ma. That pretension has been set at rest for
ever by the operations of the British forces
Now it would seem the term of civilized ex-
clusion from japan is at hand, although, hap
PLY, we are not in this instance to be the exc
cutioners. The expedition is to be undertaken
by the United States. Ii carried out in spirit
of humanity and sound policy, without unne-
cessary waste of life, and under the full inn
preston that the agents of the government,
and not the great mass of the population, are
| in fault, Commodore Perry will be backed
with the sympathies of all European nations"
The Times also says that ''public opinion in
| England will run in favor of the expedition
which is about to sail from New York"
Commodore Perry's squadron will consist
of the Susquehanna steam frigate, now cruis-
| Mississippi and Princeton, an additional fri
| gate, sloop-of-war and store ship. With
| such a force at their disposal, il is believed
that the officers in command will have little
difficulty in debating their own terms. Ths
japanese can offer but little resistance agains,
it. The operations can be conducted with out
| quitting the sea-coast and the squadron will
| have the benefit, not only of careful surveys,
| but also of the intimate knowledge which has
been obtained by our whaling ships of the nav
! igation along the eastern coast of Japan, and
through the Straits of Sangara, which divide
! Niphon from Jeso.
portion of the Japan feet, it is understood
will sail the last of this month, to be followed
| by the remainder in due season. The whole
will rendezvous at San Francisco, and proceed
in company to Jeddo, the capital city of Japan.
The marine force now stationed at the Wash
ington navy yard will accompany it.
The non-intercourse policy of the japanese
is said TO be more attributable to combina.
ton of circumstances, than to ignorance OIL
want Of civilization. They were long time
ago far advanced in the arts, and great com.
mercial people even before commerce had be.
come any considerable element among the
| civilized nations of modern times. They
traded with no less than sixteen foreign coun.
tries previous to the year 1913. At that time
the Portuguese came among them and inter
married. With the Portuguese came also some
Jesuits. A civil war raging at the time,
the latter joined the party which subsequently
proved tobe the weakest, and were locked up
and prosecuted for their presumption. They
afterwards rebelled, made formidable resis.
tahce, and were driven to the Peninsula, TO
the number of70,000. The Dutch subsequent.
ly sent a ship-of.war which fred upon and
dislodged the Jesuits from strong position
they had secured. For this service the Dutch
were permitted to retain factory in Japan,
while all other christians were DESTROYED or
driven out. Since that time, every stranger,
Excepting those connected with the Dutch
factory,l has been required TO trample on the
image the Saviour, as an evidence that he is
not acbristian interloper.
A strict system of non-intercourse and espi.
onage has been kept up in Japan ever since
these events. Nearly half the population re-