The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-21
The American Japanese Expedition.
from the London Sun Mav 3

According TO BidChU0Od, tnere is already percep-
tblc throughout the electoral districts of tho United
Kingdom (perhaps in more senses than one) 'the
hum of preparation" According to accounts re-
ceived from the opposite shores of the Atlantic there
is evident almost the same activity in the United
States With ourselves, however, the object held in
view is sufficiently pacific, whereas that kept in
sight by the American Congress is unquestionably
warlike Every one is by this time aware that the
ton forthwith against Japan, for the purpose of ex
fortng from its government concessions at once
social, political, and commercial; and while driven
to this extremity, it is expected that the barbarans
may be compelled to expiate in some measure the
crimes they have long perpetrated with impunity.
Those crimes tit is notorous) have outraged all the
most sacred principles of humanity during
period extending the best portion of two
centuries. From somewhere about the middle Of
the seventeenth century, the coasts of Japan have
been closed inexorably against all foreigners
whatsoever. Tempests might drive the unfortunate
mariners from civilized countries upon those
pltless regions, where man exercised
terrible cruelty than the very elements, and sup
posing the vessels became involved in the hurricanes
Of those treacherous seas they almost iressti
bly, doomed to destruction. No assistance was ever
afforded them by the japanese and whenever the
ship failed to live through the foul weather, it
wrecked upon the shores of the island--the few
survivors being seized they had crawed
exhausted from the waves, thereupon thrown into
dungeons, exhibited in iron cages, and ultimately
subjected to the most barbarous execution. Year
after year, in the stormy season, month by month,
hord atrocities have been perpetrated without him
derance upon those who were unhappily driven upon
the sea-beund frontiers Of Japan. The Dutch alone
have been exempted from tho tyrannical laws which
have thus forbidden other nations to set foot upon the
soil peopled by the japanese, permitting merchants
from Holland alone to trade with the inhabitants Of
Japan, and that only at stated periods, and at the
port of Nangasaky Subjected as the whalcrs from
the United States have peculiarly been to the mise
ries resulting from these despotc and detestabe re-
gulatons, the Congress has at length decided upon
indicating the majesty Of the republic, upon in
sistng that the rights of nations, so long despsed
and violated, shall be at length recognized, upon
avcnging the crimes of two centuries by sudden
and overwhelming onslaught and upon setting aside
by these means. at once and forever the prohibition
against any intercourse between the rest of the
world and The Japanese Several evenings since we
described the nature of the plan by which the Ameri-
can government purposes to carry out thsnobe and
vessels of the expedition already preparing, and
meanwhile, documents relating to many past nego-
citations with Jopan-documcnts extending from the
2sth of October, 1882, to the 10th of May, 1852
have been laid upon the tables of Congress.
Such were the moderate terms in which the ruler
of Japan was addressed by the President Of the
United States but all the moderation, all the
reason, all the justice in the world, prove ncf-
fcctual when employed towards barbarians Tho
only argument to be used now, therefore, by the
American government, j. the Argument of marine
artillery.
"e Susu toCnS Unc interest Oh Tue iIlIPl-
hgent becomes enhanced in reference to particulars
collected heretofore by the more adventurous among
foreign travellers. AS the very nature of the facts
already enumerated sufficiently well Indicate Japan
has been nearly Ms much an unprecedented mystery as
China was prior to the descent made upon It's coasts
by the English. Fortunately, however one work
at lehst, comprising remarkable fund of nforma-
ton relating to the island and its inhabitants, has
been submitted to the public by the editor of the en-
thralling narrative Of an officer in the Russian navy
the incidents of whose captivity, with several COM
panions. invest his volumes with peculiar and ire
Golowmn remarkable insight is obtained into the
manners and customs Of tho Japanese; and in the
new and revised edition of his work, recently pub
lished by Mr. Colburn, there are given a variety of
important details, showing the value of opening up
commercial transactions with Japan; these particu-
lars being condensed into preliminary chapter,
serving very admirably the purpose ofan ''nroduc-
tion." A country like japan, presenting to the