The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-26

/ till the middle of June.
The Expedition to Japan.
The Washington correspondent Of the Herald
has procured for that paper copies of two of the
most important documents transmitted to the
Senate by the President, in connection with his
letter to the Emperor of Japan, already pub
ished These documents are subjoined
Instructions to Commodore Aulick
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, 10th June, 1851.
COMMODORE JouN II. AULIcK-Sir: The mo
ment is near when the last link in the chain of
oceanic steam navigation is to be formed. From
China and the East Indies, to Egypt, thence
through the Mediterranean and the Atlantic
ocean to England, thence again to our happy
shores, and other parts of this great continent
from our own ports to the southernmost part
Of the Istlmus that connects the two western
continents, and from lis Pacific coast, north and
southwark AZ far AZ civilization has spread, the
steamers of other nations, and of our own, carry
intelligence, the wealth of the world, and thous,
ands of travellers.
| 1t is the Presidents opinion that steps should
be taken ut once to enable our enterprisina
merchants to supply the last link in that great
chain, which unites all nations of the world, by
the early establishment of a 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 necessary
supplies of coal, which our steamers, in their
out and inward voyages may require. The well
known jealousy with which the Japanese En-,
Ipir hou for tho tuot fyn nj cd oil
overtures from other nations to open its ports
to their vessels, embarrasses all new attempts
to change the exclusive policy of that country.
| The interests of commerce, and even those
of humanity, demand, however, that we should
make another appeal to the sovereign of that
country, in asking him to sell to our steamers
not the manufactures of his arzans or the re
suits of the toll of his husbandmen-but gift
Providence, deposited by the Creator of all
things, in the depths of the Japanese islands, for
the benefit of the human family.
BY the Presidents direction, | now transmit to
to you letter to the Emperor of Japan with an
open copy, which you are to carry to Jeddo, his
capital, in your flag ship, accompanied by as many
of the vessels of the squadron under your com.
6and as may conveniently be employed in this
service. A 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 or Macao
At one of the latter places you will probably
meet with national vessel, detached by the
commodore of the squadron in the Pacific Gas
you will perceive by the enclosed copy of a cor
respondence between this and the Navy Depart
ment), to carry to you number of shipwrecked
Japanese mariners, who were some time ago
picked up at sea by the barque Auckland These
| MAJ mill f,ko u,,tb IN Tad1., nd 4 a
liver them over to the officers of the Emperor,
giving them, through your interpreter, the as.
surance that the American government will
never fail to treat with kindness any of the ma
tves Of Japan whom misfortune may bring to
our 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 off
GERS as he may appoint for the purpose of receiv-
ing it, To them you will explain the main OBJ
ject of your visit.
Mineral coal is so abundant in Japan, that the
government of that country can have no reason.
able objection to supplying our steamers at fair
prices, with that great necessity of commerce.
One of the Eastern ports of Nippon would be
the most desirable place for this purpose
Should, however, the government of Japan per-
sist in following cut its system Of exclusiveness,
you might perhaps induce them to consent to
the transportation of the coal by their own ves-
sells to a neighboring island, easy of access,
where the steamers could supply their wants,
avoiding thus the necessity of an intercourse
with any large number of the people of the
country.
1t is considered important that you should
avail yourselves OF every occasion TO impress on
those Japanese officers with whom you will be
brought in contact, that the government of the
United States does not possess any power over
the religion Of its own citizens, and that there
IS, therefore, no cause to apprehend that it will
interfere with the religion of other countries
The President, although fully aware of the
great reluctance hitherto shown by the Japanese
government to enter into treaty stipulations
win any foreign national feeling which it is
sincerely wished that you may be able to over
come-has thought 1t prorer, in anticipation o.
this latter favorable contingency, to invest you
with full power to negotiate and sign treaty
OF amity and commerce between the United
States and the Empire of Japan.
transmit herew ith, the act of the President
clothing you with that power; as also copies OF
the treaty between the United States and China
with Siam and Muscat, which may, to certain
extent, be of use to you as precedents 1t il
important that you should secure to our vessels
the right to enter one or more of the ports OF
Japan, and there to dispose of their cargoes
either by sale or by barter, without being sub
a Jected to extravagant port charges; and ever
more important is"it that The government o.
Japan should bind itself to protect American
sa'fors and property ohich may be on their shores
9 The second article of our treaty with Muscat
and the nth article of the treaty with siam, en-
brace these objects.
Every treaty has to be subjected to the Senate
for ratification, ms you are aware. In consider
alton of the great distance between the two
countries, and unforeseen difficulties, it would
be prudent. should you succeed in effectng the
object proposed, to fix the period for the ex.
change of the notifications at three years.
l am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
| naurry Wrp,rvp