The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-27
arr diplomat IN JAPAS.--THE CAREER or A
W. NEW YORK MERCHANT

lFFuaa he Sew York HerAiA1
AZ our citizens at all familiar with the course Of
- h this city during the last thirty years can Tall
pla ,l-.y Tsu,nsead Harris Largely engaged Ia the
- AMI domestic trade an importer ana lopoer on
,Snvare his enterprise, activity, and hueiity ~ a
ant were not remarkable than his public spirit
,ud usefulness AZ a citlzei-
~, Harris foand time to give earnest aad eheient
,rt 10 the cause Of education. He WAS eiected
80 Of the public schools foE the Ninth ward under
~ old system and subsequently iof several terms SIN
,r the same district anicr the present arrange
- A. lie management OF tbs schools Twice elected
Of the board OF education, il while holding
is Office he inst suggested the idea of establishing
minary Of learning OF higher grade than the common
bo the benefits Of which should be free 20 all scholars
81 PASSED with credit through the lower branches
= cnr eonmon-school system
o. V .tion OF the Free Academy had few advocates
A eyst aud met with decided opposition Mr Harris,
lsr pursued his object and succeeded against pow
-. aIsttclez solely by his own indomltabe peFseye-
me- md energy in carrying bill through the lesisla-
me proying Tor the Of establishing his fsyorie
institution. !.
- tb,t IN. bill would become a law, amend
nj plausible Ia It's terms but we'll calculated to defeat
~ measure was introduced which was To submit the
nron or the approval OF the voters AZ tne then ems
- action Not deferred dsheaTtcned by this new
sll, M Harris accepted the ordeal and entered upon
49, contest for popular approval with the same zeal
n. had shown at Albany Unated by committees OF inc
astauce Of the press any considerable extent ne en-
tra into the contest with determination To succeed
an lsbad opoositou he met under his own signature
rets md banlbiils printed at his own expense
III p and bis voice always ready to defend an 20
,avote this which he regarded as the GROWING aet o.
~ I;fA His success was commensurate with his Zeal
ND s,sov srancp The measure was trumphantiy
timed by the popular vote Mr. Harris then gave the
,e sduity and zeal to the plans for constructing the
6ce and for organizing the intellectual department OF
M institution for which be had successfully abored
had b.ath dYnn t.tf
rsts ready to extend the advantages OF the higher
branches of learning to the children OF the people, with
e same isinterested unobtfusyeness that had marked
Ms whole course regard to this great public act OF mu-
u6eence and benevoence, Mr. Harris voluntarily retired
from his high offices president of the board of educa
tiop and chairman of the committee the Free Acad
emy This history OF this institution is very little known,
and il is time that Mr. Harss connection with il should
be recorded simple act OF justice 70 one whose career
4 worthy to be emulated by Others.
Early in the year ls4s the empire opened to our
commerce the Pacific attracted the attention OF our
merchants and Mr. Harris determined To divert his at
tsuton 10 that region He retired from the house of
which he WAS partner purchased and freghted solely
on his own account fine barque, and sailed in the
month of May for California After several years OF com
meca vicisstdes occupied by him in raversing the Pa
c6e ocean visiting islands and countries, storing up
knowledge and information for future usefulness, the
wear 1854 found him in China where he received from
the government Of the United States the commission Of
consul at Ningpo He had at chat time been traveller
cfc and the China seas. He had been almost every
island in the Indian and Chinese seas, and had visited
HindUsan and the principal cities OF that empire ncu
ding most Of those places which have recently been the
scenes Of revolt and hloodshed
In the year 1856 Mr.. Harris returned for brief visit
Ia bis native State and while here received unsolicited
from the late administration the appointment Of consul
general to Japan in which country it has been his good
fortune TO signalize himself shrewd and able diPo-
mast and to have conferred signal benefits on his
try While waiting at New York for the vessel which
WIS TO carry him to China, his way to Smoda, Mr.
H. received further evidence Of the appreciation in
which his talents and character held in the appoint
ment given him Of commissioner to negotiate treaty
with the empire of Siam.
He sailed hence in October 1885, via England France,
and the Mediterranean, to the Straits OF Malacc where,
after having been detained about two months at Puo
Pnang by delay ia the arrival of the san Jacnto steam
fgate he embarked board that vessel for Bangkok
His eminently successful mission in that country is
we'll known. The treaty negotiated by him ex-
changed and ratified by both countries, and that
OF trade opened TO the commerce of his country
II is worthy of remark that all Mr. Harrss public
vices have been rendered In manner modest and
obrsve that they have scarcely attracted notice No
puc ovation atestcd the result of his successful efforts
in the of education. No ostenatious movements
Of fleet of public vessels heralded his into
return from, the ports of Siam. He not, even in a
pcunary sense in the service of his country when he
negotiated the treaty of Siam He at that time the
ttlar consul TO Japan the salary of which Of
upon his duties at his official residence has he
ceved any compensation for that important service.
This fact however made difference with Mr. Harris
In September 1856 he arrived at his destination Ia ia
PAN de found treaty existing between that country
and the United States under which he admitted To
nsidence but beyond that he had scarcely privilege
corded HIM Commodore Perry had accomplished a COM
menable work in obtaining the first step towards
comfy between nations in the opening of few port for
Americans suffering distress shipwreck Beyond this
one step scarcely any progress had been made towards
obtaining facilities of kindness commerce. American
coin was only received at depreciation of than
one-a no article of necessity could be purchased
pt through the medium of agent expressly appoint
ed IN each case and this appointment could only be
complshed by obtaining authority from Jeio the capt.
tai, situated remotely in the interior of the country
MF, Harris entered with his accustomed zeal and
egy the duty-frst of securing the good will and
confidence of the ruling powers of Japan for himself
and next in making these feelings available in his efforts
oprueure amelioraton OF the Of the treaty
IN this he successful and the first year of his resi-
aehce IN Japan WIS sgnazed by the execution OF
thuOn, under which purchases could be made direct,
without the cumbrous machinery of agents and Amei-
an coin for the first time taken at discount of only
Two per cent These important steps in the work
Of negotiation, but something aimed at BY Mr.
harris Advices have been received in the agreeable
information that he has succeeded in penetrating the
hitherto impossible barriers of Japanese ignorance and
suspicion Mr.. Harris admitted to the presence OF
'he Emperor in July last, less than two years from
Tue time of his arrival at Japan, the result of
ans TACT courage, and pleasing The par
acuiars OF his intercourse known and have
'ened in his conduct OF afs In the East with that
Mr. ia al