The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-30
purssr wslch.

L
Some implied censure having been east on
this gentleman by the testimony Of the late
Secretary Of the Navy before an examining
committee Of the United States Senate, ex-
plantations were made in the Senate on Satur-
day last by Senators CoopER and BoRLANp. Of
the committee, generating the purser from
either deed or intention Of any thing culpable;
and on the motion Of the former of these Sena-
tors the following letter was read and placed
on the journal:
"BALTIMoRE, March "a, 1853.
"DEAR slR: In my testimony before the COM
mittee of the Senate, in reference to the moneys
collected by Purser WEIGH from the officers and
crews of the Vincennes and Vandalia as compen-
sation to be paid for the procurement of the Cali
fornia law passed at the first session of the Last
Congress, took occasion to say that was con-,
WINGED, from my examination of the case, that
MIR. WEIGH had no pecuniary interest in the trans
action. regarded his agency in the matter as
reprehensible only for the effect such practice
might have on the character of the service, and
one which might lead to great abuses, and there
fore ought to be checked for the future. am per-
suaded that he acted in this affair solely from mo-
tives of friendship and without due consideration
msrepresented and censured for his participation
in it. told him this in my interview with him,
and was strongly impressed, by every thing that
occurred in these interviews that he was entirely
free from any other share in the agency than that
Of disnterested purpose of serving a friend. /
make this statement with a view to guard Mr..
WEIGH against any inference that he had any other
concern in the transaction than that which have
mentioned, and desire that it may be received as
an addition to the testimony have already given.
"Very truly, my dear sir, your obedient servant,
stJOHN P. KENNEDY"
The JAPAN ExpED1r1os.-A report seems to
have obtained at Washington that President
Pierce's Cabinet contemplates the recall of the
naval expedition to Japan. We hope the report
is unfounded. The reasons assigned for this al
legged intention that the expedition is too fee
BILE to accomplish any thing by force, and that
all amicable representations and persuasions will
be of no avail Now, as to the first reason, it is
sufficient to say that no application of force to
the Japanese government was contemplated by
the promoters of the expedition; and as to the
second, it is but mere begging of the whole
question. How are we to know that peaceful
representation and argument will be unavaiing,
unless trial be made? To say that it has been
made years ago without success, is no satisfac-
tory reply. what Japan once refused, che may,
on second application, deem it prudent to con-
cede, on the principle of the old adage. "Cir-
cumstances alter cases." Every thing in the East
has changed, or is changing. China, once as ex-
elusive as Japan, or nearly so, is not only in.
creasing her commerce with the world but is even
sending out her teeming population to gather
harvests in foreign countries. Japan itself has
probably changed much in regard to her domes-
tic policy, for an opinion generally prevails that
internal troubles have already arisen from the
overcoming of her population. She may but
wait again to be asked to share her commerce
with the world. At any rate, the issue involved
is important enough to justify the trial, especi.
ally as to recall the expedition would be but to
waste the money that has already been expended
upon it; nor would it be very creditabe to the
country as a nation reputed to be adventurous
and progressive.
Ne,o York Commercial Aduertiser 2Sth