Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-07
Interesting from Japan.

Thanks to the wise and discreet policy of
Mr.. FILLMORE, and to the sagacity and firm
ness of Commodore PERRY, the japanese Gov
eminent is rapidly relaxing the rigid features
! of their system, which have so long kept the
doors of the nation closed against foreigners.
The Hollanders are no longer the exclusive
medium of their communication with the outer
| world. The American, the Russian, the Briton,
and others, are admitted to equal privileges.
The change is operating advantageously, and
we doubt not, 10 due time. all the commercial
relations desirable will be gained.
The Paris Presse has a letter from SHANGHAI,
written on the 9th Of April last. from which
we gather some interesting items touching
Japan. The writer states that whilst the
Americans are working with incredible ardor
to become masters of the market for their
goods offered 10y the large population of ia
pan the Russians are not idle, and their diplO-
macy bids fair to effect much. in recent Off
cial interviews between Admiral Pontatin and
the Governor of Nangasaki this high officer
has assured him. in the most decisive manner,
that the Government of Yeddo is determined
to follow quite different system to that which
has until lately prevailed.
The intention of the court is to multiply as
much as possible the commercial intercourse
of Japan with the great maritime Powers, in
stead of impeding it as formerly and in Or
der to obtain that object sooner il has been
decided to send ambassadors to the great ma
tons of the West. A few days after his last
interview the Russian Admiral received an Of
fetal communication from Yeddo which con-
firmed the statement of the Governor of Nam
gasaki, and the fact seemed important enough
to him to send Immediately one of his aids-de
camp to st. Petersburgh. The Russians are,
in fact through the mouth of the Amoor, the
nearest neighbors of Japan, and may have
with that country very large trade, the pro-
duce of the two nations answering perfectly
their respective climates.
In this point of view the Americans meet
with greater obstacles: for according to the
stipulations of our treaty. it is mostly in
specie that we have to pay for japanese
goods, and if the payments were made accord
Jug 10 inc rate OF exchange IXeu last year..
the dollar would lose fifty per cent. of its in
trinsic value The Consul General of the
United States has already succeeded in having
the principle adopted that the United States
coin will be taken at par but it would be a
hundred times better if the interchanges of
goods could be increased in order to avoid the
importation of specie in country where TIE
reGxportation thereof is not allowed.
tits stated that nephew of the Emperor has
already been appointed japanese Ambassador
at the Hague, and has embarked with view to
entering upon the duties of his mission. In
acknowledgment of such high testimonial of
favor, the Government of the Hague has, it is
asserted, taken charge of constructing for the
Emperor of Japan. at the arsenal of Feyen-
word two war steamers, the arrival of which
in Japan will undoubtedly be the Inauguration
of the entire renewal of the japanese navy.
1t is pleasant to reflect upon these indica
tions of the awakening Of the japanese Gov
ernmcnt to a proper consideration of the adj
vantages of commercial intercourse with other
nations, effected as the change has been
though the agency of peaceful diplomacy, and
without the use even of hostile word.