The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-31

Japan Expedition, fitted QUITO open ha: e,n-
pre-, through peaceful means, to commerce
and intercourse. The empire Of Japan had
long remained sealed book TO the various
nations o. the civilized world. The rulers OF
that rich and Popu!ous country had for :
long period conJInuel 10 act on ,naAiu.s Of
exclus!veness so complete as 10 put even the
policy of the Court OF pekin 10 shams. 1her,
was but ono European peop'e-lho Dutch
with whom they consented to hold he mosi
modified intercourse and that Intercourse
had been limited to the admission CT two
IshiEa annually from Batavia into the port Of
INangaskai, the value of whose ca.coes was
said to have amounted 10 some tl-os hun
dred thousand dollars It was no slaali uu-
dertahing to break an exclusive system Ike
his, consolidated by iigid observance for
TWO centuries aud It was a great tribute to
the intellectual and moral qualities of Cont
modore Perry when ho was selected, from
the entire navy lis, BY Mr.. Webster to con-
duet this arduous undertaking; The man.
ner in which he executed that task is still
eyinced IN the management of his slender
means, his ready apprehension and use Of
every favorable circumstance, his quickness
ia percy!}ng and cousummato mastery in
bafliug the wiIes Of tie japanese officials, bic
efficient blending Of frmness with courtesy
and imposing display with disnitiel ioroear-
ance, the practical diplomatic talent display
ed in ilarainc ths twelve articles OF the treaty
aud, in short, all that combination Of varied
capacity and action which enabled Commo-
dore Matthew CaIbr&i,h Perry, at The head
Of his ltte Zee, OF three or foar ships, ,to lend
the will and bread up the set prescriptYe
WAYS Of q nation Of twenty-five millions up
on the o.lcr side G. the globe, has hardly
Y6. ceased to ce the topic of admring Gem
mant Tue ,gealy rhicA he negotiated, and
which was signed on the last day Of March,
1854, has already begun to make its mark;
and while It's negotiator passes 10 his grave,
a Prince Of Japan is on h.s way to the shore
where that grave is opening, TO stand by it,
as it uere, living witness that the dead at
bis feet has joined in intercourse America
with Japan.
The laat service in which Commodore
Perry Was engaged. was as member Of the
late Naval Retiring Board, and to our per-
sonal knowledge, he made a great sacrifice Of
faelus il Undertaking that invidious duty.
lie wao ST )agly opposed to the mode Of con-
durtium tie l.iaIs, and although he was
str>uc!y III .aJor o; reforming the Navy, he
deemed he plan Of proceeding in many es
sen,jal poiats unjust and i'll advised. But be-
inG ordered by ,na Department 10 ts;o bis
sea: at he Board. he had no alternative, and
performed his duty honestly.
The sum Of Commodore perry's character
is bis. Il c vas . model OF a Naval Officer,
scrupulonsIy exact in lis discipline, and
thoroughly American in all his views.
He had III, 7Alor OF hero and the capaci |
~ of s,atesman, but both were outshone
by a magnanmoGs heart which beat only |
10 the measures Of generosity and justice.
And with this for our tribute on his tomb, |
we end our record Of The death OF Commo-
dore Matthew G. Perry.