New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-05

OPENING OF JAPAN.-The Overland China
Mail, Of Feb %, contains very important in
telligence from Japan, to the effect that the
country Will shortly DO opened to the commerce
Of all the world, The visit Of Commodore Perry
in July last, has no donbt FASTENED the event,
which his return would probably have accom-
plshed; but the actual achievement is due TO
the Russians, not to the Americans.
While Commodore Perry deemed it the wisest
course after delivering the letter of the Presi-
dent Of the United States in due form at Uraga,
to allow six months to elapse before requiring
an. answer, Admiral Pontiatine, without dictat-
ing the place where he should hold intercourse
with the Japanese authorities, went as directed
to Nangasaki, and has succeeded in negotiating,
apparently without any sacrifice of national
dignity, and with the sort of success which the
world was more prepared to expect from the
practical republic than from the Russian au-
tocracy.
According to the information we have re-
ceiyed from an authentic source, some time af-
ter the Russian Admiral intimated his presence
and objects ut Nangasaki, two high officers ar
rived, and after entertaining him at feast on
shore, entered upon the objects of the visit in
friendly and even cordial manner In substance,
they stated very caBdidly that the Japanese
government, seeing the earnest desire Of foreign
nations to hold Intercourse with Them and their
own people being anxious to trade, it had been
resolved to open the commerce of Japan to all
nations. In this spirit all the ports of Japan
might at once be considered as open to foreign
vessels requiring to reft or take in supplies Of
wood and water; but, to avoid disturbances,
the crews must not be allowed to land This,
however, is only confirming what foreigners
have already enjoyed, without always fairly ac-
knowledging. With regard to commercial in
tercourse, the Japanese officers stated that af-
ter centuries Of seclusion, some preparation was
roracS AVID xl,...f y
fore any treaty or privileges to trade would
come into operation.
We have no doubt as to the accuracy of this
information, and are farther inclined to believe
that q similar result might have been effected
long ago by Great Britain, if she had ever been
fortunate enough to have entrusted her interests
in this part of the globe to any one who did not
look steadily and exclusively to his own fortunes,
and how to obtain honors without deserving
them, DR., Bowring may not be insensible to
either, but he is less likely than any of his pre-
decessors, or any Admiral we have seen on the
station, to overlook the opportunity of achieving
lasting reputation for himself
Seven years ago an expedition on large scale
was projected under Sir John Davis, but was
considered of SO little importance that Sir Thorn
as Cochrane preferred removing the squadron
to earn head money in Borneo and the scheme
was never resumed Subsequently sloop- Of
war has visited Japan, but without any import.
ant purpose in view, or any one likely to ac-
complish it. Our intercourse, in short, since
1903, the then Captain Pellew, in the Phe-
ton, 6 excited a fierce hatred in the minds of
the Japanese having had tendency to con-
hrm rather than remove prejudices against our
country. Now, however, that Japan is likely
to be opened without aid, whether or not Eng
land may be excluded from the arrangements.
we trust those upon whom they devolve will en-
ter into such stipulations as shall best secure
the true and enlarged interests of commerce
with the least chance of creating misunderstood
ings with the japanese and to that end many
of the one-sided and selfshly abused provisions
of the China treaties ought to be avoided.