The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-11-17
sTROUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA NOVEMBER II, 1853

Jeddo come frequently booming on the
ear. The country is evidently awake
from its long slumbers of peace. What
) excitement now in Jeddo! When before
: has the warlike trumpet been sounded il
: her walls, SO foot, to horse, arm?' Hang
out our banners on the outward wall, the
cry is still they come Long freedom
oyerbearing conduct to other nations, a
conviction Of their superiority doubtless,
tend to make these people proud, sensi-
tive, chiyalric, and brave; but then, again,
a long peace, and disuse to war and It's
horrors, have in a measure cfcminated
them; the effects Of shot, shell, earnest
fighting, will doubtless shock them; but
yet, think, they will resist bravely, they
are organizing with spirit, showing cauti-
business, but no fear. Yet their downfall
has commenced from the Sth of July,
1853 Yes, this day the cross waved a
bove our colors, and under it we wor-
shipped the Christian 5 God-the Saviour.
I es, here within twenty miles of the seat
Of the naughty tyrant, who has caused
for centuries that emblem of mercy to be
tranpled under foot by his heather sub
jects.
Let me renew my narrative Of the events
of the 6th. In about one hour after the
mandarin left [ again received him, with
directions not to palaver much. In a
long, windy set-speech, he said that the
governor did not feel himself justified in
receiving the letter from the President to
the Emperor-that lie had not the power
that Nagasaki was the place for the
conduct of all foreign affairs-that it was
not japanese custom-that indeed the
governor was much bothered to think why
four ships should have come together
that he appreciated very highly the great
trouble We had taken to come so very far
to deliver the letter, but that he could
not receive it. To which l replied: 'The
distance, to be sure, was very long, and
we had come great way-that we could
not think of going to Nagasaki-that the
letter was an important one, and that our
President had ordered US to deliver it as
near the city of Jeddo as possible; there
fore We were here, and l trusted that the
letter would be received in the morning
To this he answered-'No one here
can receive it. 1t would bring harm upon
him-Nagasaki is the only place-that
he did not believe if the letter was re-
ceiycd that the Emperor would answer
it, To this / replied-'Does your gov
ernor dare to take upon himself the re-
spon8ibiiity to refuse to receive letter
written to his sovereign, and to forward
it to him! 1t is very grave RESPONSE
biiity to refuse to receive the letter sent
from one sovereign to another He then
sald-'ihe governor may receive, but We
can't tell when the answer may come; but
then added, that he had not the power
to receive it, and must wait and refer it.
| replied that this letter was very
important one-that it would be a great
insult to the President of the United
States not to receive it. That as tostho
Emperor's not answering it, that was not
our business now, that would be settled
after lie said, This is japanese Gus
toms; you Americans don't understand
japanese CUSTOMS &c. l replied, 'We
Americans do business decidedly, prompt
ly.' st this point 1 went out, and refer
ed this new phase Of the discussion to the
Commodore, and by his order broke up
the interview, telling him that if the Gov
ernor did not send off for the letter in the
morning, we would ourselves deliver it
in the town Of Orogama. He was rather
taken aback by this decision, and request
ed permission to come off in the morning.
To this | assented. lie then took his
leave. Before going off he stepped back
to our long gun aft, which is all clear, and
showing its massive proportions, and ex-
aiming it, said, looking interrogatorily,
'Paixhan.' If he has an acquaintance
with Paixhan,' trust it is from reading
and not from practice.
At six o'clock the next morning [ was
called on deck to receive the mandarin;so
| dressed hurriedly and went up. There
was the same story, but he proposed to
send to Jeddo for permission. We gave
him until Thursday, at II o'clock, saying,
IF the letter was not received we would
regard it as an insult to the President,
and act accordingly So it rests.
July 17.-One week has passed since
[ have written word, and a week of
much excitement and great events. And
here VIC are, thank heaven, safe; and in
nine days we have effected much-so
much, that the world will be gratifed,
and our country feel herself honored. We
have landed in Japan, within twenty-five
miles of Jeddo, with armed troops and
armed men, and delivered our credentials,
and the Presidents letter to commission
crs--two princes, one councillor of the
realm, and appointed by his Majesty to
receive US. But | am ahead Of events;
and must more leisurely detail the inter-
views, arrangements, &C., which led to an
issue SO happy, so peaceful, so desirable,
and which have reflected so much eclat
upon the frmness and wisdom of Com