The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-09-02
The Japan Expedition turned over to-
- DutCh. as1

According to the Amsterdam Handelsblad, our
government has abandoned the long projected and
much talkedofJ Japan expedition, and turned il over
20 the Dutch, body and breaches. The information
lis, that cabinet has finally settled upon the
omlcal idea Of invoking the mediation of the govern
nent OF the Netherlands, which early as lS46,
had submitted othe Emperor Of Japan propositions
IN favor OF European commerce in general; and what
is better still, it is said the King Of the Dutch has
consented to act as mediator, with every prospect
soi satisfactory result from his good offices.
We think there is good reason to believe that
this rena kable normttion is correct and If il is,
ali the expenditure Of applause Of the European jour
na!s upon the dashins enterprise Of the adminisra-
ton IN getting up the Japan expedition, goes for
nothing. The transfer Of the business to the Dutch
may save money, and good deal of trouble and anx-
iety to the Administrations but we lose, thereby, a
great opportunity for glorious field Of active service
Tor our navy, and the prospect Of the most impor-
tant results to and the cause If Chris
tianity. As we have understood il, the expedition
Of Commodore Perry, of three first class war steam
ers, and several sailing vessels and stoeshps armed
manned, and equipped in superior manner, was
Rdesgned for the accomplishment of several great
specific Objects whirh cannot be accomplished for us
! by any third party whatever. Fnst--the t,ibarous
treatment OF certain American sailors by those inside
barIalians Of Japan to be redressed in O Ian-
nse which could not be misunderstood Second
Commodore Perry was To make a hydrographicai
survey Of the islands, channels, straits, Sc, Of
the empire, for commercial purposes Third--He
was to make commercial treaty with the Emperor,
lens ulens, even, if to bring him to the work, it
should require the bombardment Of his capital and
the shattering of his mud palace about his cars
And lastly, and most important Of all-The Chris
tnn dsl'ensation, with good supply of Bibles, was
u be introduced into the very heart of the empire if
necessary, at the point of the bayonet.
These were objects worthy the magnitude of the
proposed expedhon-worthy of American enterprise
and American philanthropy. The hodrog, aphcal
isatue OF the expedition is great dcsideratum.-
OW whaling vessels, and such other ships as get as
tray among the unchated reefs, aad shoals and the
waters o Japan, call loudly for survey of those
islands. The market of Jeddo--such fine opening
Tor cheap cotton tobacco, and Yankee notions--de-
mands, also commercial treaty. The gold mines
OF Australia are in process Of opening a new COM
meicial treaty The gold mines Of Australia are in
process OF opening new commercial ela-an era in
winch our commerce will be most conspicuo in all
those oriental seas, from Japan down to that i'm
mense archipelago Of monster islands, Of which Aus
tral'a Is the mater nstr)rum. And we ought to
look to II in time. But far beyond all in its inpor-
lance, the thIty millions of the heather of Japan. in
; the midnight dal kness of pagansm. call for the
saving Influences Of the gospel. And
shall we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high
81 Shall we to men benigh,ed,
The hmp of life deny?"
And yet III the REIMBURSEMENT of this christianizng
d
two pound Paixhans, the conversion of the heather
OF Japan is indefinitely postponed. Thus, the great
est missionary enterprise for the diffusion OF the
tpr'nciplas Of true reputcansm and the gospel since
the mission Of kossuth to the United States has
been thrown away for want of nlen-for want of at-
thoity IRON Congress to offer such wages as would
secure men, and Tor want of sufficient navy. The
mag ship OF the proposed expedition has been detail
BED as an excursion to the Nova Scotia fishing banks
and thus in patry dispute upon Goldfish and mack
trre the salvation OF thirty millions of the heather is
LETT IN Jeopardy. Depend upon it, either here or
hereafter, our cabinet will be held to rigid respon-
sibility in this matter.
The objects Of the Japan expedition being turned
fover to the King of the Dutch. all that we can ex
pect from his mediation is, some apology, perhaps,
from the mighty Emperor, for his treatment OF Amer
lean saiors-a promise of little more hospitality
Tor the future, and possibly secondary privilege Of
Ia little traffic under the permission of the Dutch with
J the imperial city of Jeddo. Since the news thar
Holland was taken by the Dutch we have heard of
nothing more remarkable than the turning over of
the great objects OF the Japan expedition to the Dutch
government vi course, its mediation will be for
)he preservation OF Its commercial monopoly and the
substantial exclusion of American trade But our
geateSt regret is on account of the poor heather of
Japan and, as have failed TO secure the aid of
Ibomosheils and PalXhan guns for their conversion
and as 1t Is all that now do for them brett
Iren, let us JON in prayer.-tN. Y. Her.