Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-06-23
NC MONDAY JUNE 10. 1854



We find in our Northern exchanges long account, |
copied from the China mail of 18th of April pur-
porting TO give full particulars of interview, he'd
by Commodore Perry with certain Japanese authon-
ties, in the latter part of March So far as matters
progressed, the appearances are favorable Tor the
accomplishment of the objects of the mission. Drafts
of a treaty in English Dutch, Chinese and Japanese
were presented and it was believed that the premi'
narieS would be agreed upon and treaty be made
and ratified, the important points Of which would be,
that free intercourse would be established between
the two countries and certain ports set apart for The
trade of the Americans, with coal depot, and sup
ply of coal for the use of American steamers, and
that kind treatment and an abundant supply OF pro-
visions and water will be secured to all Americans
who may visit any part of the Japanese coast The
Japanese utterly denied having made any treaty WITH
or made any concessions to, the Russian government
They seemed unwilling to comply with the pro-
position made by Commodore Perry to extend the
conceded privileges to other nations The people OF
the country appeared intelligent and disposed to be
friendly. Due allowance must be made for the fact
that nothing has yet been concluded, and that much
of the above is surmise although we have no doubt
that all, or nearly all will yet be accomplished. 1t
is certain however that the Russian expedition was
a failure, and its reported false rumor, IN
keeping up with many other Russian stories.
The chief anticipated advantages, for some time at
least must be found in the acquisition of depot for
coal, with the chance of obtaining that indispensable
for steamship navigation in the Pacific and the Chi
nese Seas and place for whalers and other
merchantmen TO obtain shelter and provisions as well
as to reft. The trade which may spring up is SIM
ply matter of speculation and must develope itself
by degrees
We find good many jubilant paragraphs upon
the mission of the Ango-Saxon to civilize and
enIghten the world, half of which, with reference
TO Japan, is the next thing TO Buncombe. The peo-
pie arc by no means barbarans The reports re-
ceived show them to be reasonably intelligent,
comfortable people, far advanced in the arts of life,
and possessed of 50 religious secs, which is doing
about as well as the best of us, in that line. They
are not so we'll posted in Paixhan guns, and other
amiable inventions for killing other folks Chris
tans are but then they excel in the theory and prac
tce of suicide, ripping open their own abdomens with
grace and dignity which has not yet been APP
preached by any other people, and although this is
regarded as terrible stain upon their national char
acter still it must be admitted that the bellies are
their own bellies and, so far as we are concerned,
We can see no reason why sIlOulu up
der out of them The civilized - nations Of the
West consider it glorious" exploit when one
army of " Christians" succeeds in plnnging
tain thousands of bayonets into the epgastrc ar
ranCements of another army of &C Christians" not
of either army having ever seen single sim
ner whom he is thus called upon to tickle to death.
Upon the WHOLE the balance seems to be in favor Of
the small-eyed nation.
But. after all, perhaps, they may benefit by the
opening of intercourse They may learn good ma
ny useful things, besides of doubtful utility
They already fully appreciate the custom OF drinking
healths in Champagne and rather like the process.
II is possible that after a while they will be finding
their way to California, although it is said that gold
in some quantities. at least, is found in some of the
Japanese Islands They do say that the IslGHd jug
glers much more expert than those of the Con
tinent, for we look upon them a sort of insula
Chinese, a sort of oriental John Bull edition of Johr
China man; and after while they will be exhibiting
the dsemboWeling process in the theatre 10 the grea
deectation of admirng audiences, rather specta
tors.
Upon the whole, great things may be realized, an
then again they may not. We hope no sanguin
Fibuster will be getting up any expedition for tn
annexation of the Islands for few years. until w
witch Islands.
GOING 1T STRONG.-Judge Smith of the Suprem
Court of Wisconsin, has decided that the law of Con
gress passed in 1852, and generally known as tn
Fugitive Slave Law, is unconstitutional. He take
this ground because he asserts in the first instance
that ii is the part of the States into which fugitive
may escape, to provide the legal means for their
cOvery and that the United States has no iurisdCto
in the premises; and in the second instance that tn
fact to whether labor service is due is to be de
cided at common law, where a jury properly is re
qured, and therefore the summary process of the &C
IS opposed to the principles which forbid tina
persons shall be deprived of liberty without " du
process of law
1t is true that this ruling Of Wisconsin Judge SUI
named Smith is opposed to the opinions of such me
as Messrs. Webster Choate, Cass, Clay, as also tn
four northern Judges of the Supreme Court of tn
United States, and other eminent iurists We SUI
pose the Wisconsin dignary is of the opinion tia
the persons just named are plausible fellows but
means strengthy."
Small POx.
Our citizens are frequently alarmed by reports
vessels arriving from other ports with cases of sma
pox on board and such fears are sometimes not viii
out foundation. Our Commissioners of navigate
exercise great vigilance to prevent the INTRODUCED
+ al