The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-23
Consul HARRIS has concluded new Convention

of American citizens with that EmpireaaHt which.
so far as an interchange of commodities III
ed. is not worth the paper upon which 1T - & ~
The articles of this Convention are nne'fsssstll-
her and NAV be thus condensed: Art. "opens
the port of Nangasaki TO American vessels; but
only for the purpose of repairing damages, laying
in wafer. fuel &C. PERMITS American citizens
to reside at the ports of Smoda and Hakodade,
but commercial transactions are to be limited to
supplying the immediate wants of American YES
sells touching at those ports. 3-Regulates the
exchange of American gold and silver for the
currency of Japan. 4-Concedes the right of the
American Consul to put trial, and to punish
American citizens committing offences in Japan.
5-Stipulates that American vessels resorting to
the ports of Simoda Hakodade, or Nangasak for
the purpose Of repairing damages, or laying in
supplies, shall pay for them in gold or silver coin;
Or if they have no money goods shall be taken
in exchange-of course at whatever valuation the
japanese officials may think proper TO place upon
them, Judging from their previous conduct in this
particular. G-Admits the right of the American
Consul to 60 beyond the scrimp limits allotted to
American citizens generally, but advises him not
to do so. Makes exception in favor of the
Consul aforesaid, by allowing him to deal with
japanese citizens without the intervention of ia
panese official. The sth and 9th articles are
merely explanatory of the above. As the terms
of this Convention have been officially announced
by President BUCHANAN within the past few days.
we may regard them as the latest evidence of our
progress in opening up Japan. In spite of our
hopes, that something had been accomplished in
interests find Lo
amounts to nothing more than a simple re-affirma-
ton of the stipulations entered into with Commo-
dore PERRY-Wlth this difference, that the Emperor
OF Japan has graciously conceded to Consul HAIR
RIs, and the members of his immediate family. the
privilege of purchasing whatever articles they NAV
require for domestic consumption, directly from
japanese citizens, instead of through JAPANESE
officials, as all other American citizens are still
obliged to do. Let us however be thankful for
small favors. If we go on at this rate we shall
probably have the satisfaction of doinp n small
trade with Japan at some period within the next
hundred years, and may possibly be permitted to
hold occasional intercourse with the inhabitants
OF those islands, without being subjected TO the
constant surveillance of a japanese official. One
good thing Consul HARRIS has certainly accom-
plished:-he has remedied the gross bunder COM
mltted by Commodore PERRY, with regard to
exchange The latter stipulated that the American
and japanese dollar should be considered of canal
value Now, as the japanese dollar is worth only
l,ooo cash, or 33 cents, our mariners in any pur-
chaSes they might find themselves obliged to make
were SUBJECTED, by treaty stipulation, to a loss of
68 cents on every dollar. In other words it
required 100 American dollars to buy ,Japanese
goods, the trade value of which was only 80 dol
lars. As all purchases were made through n
government officer, that functionary paid to the
japanese merchant the SO dollars which was the
price of his commodity and either pocketed the Ga
dollars remaining or, in a fit of sublime honesty,
passed them over to the treasury of the State The
arrangement entered into by Consul HARRIS is, in |
this respect far more equitable. The coins of the |
TWO countries henceforth to be taken at their |
relative values less per cent allowed for the en-
pense OF re-coinago. But we have no commercial |
treaty yet nor are we likely very soon TO have !
one 1t appears, indeed, that the American name
Is not In very good odor among the islands of
Japan. 1t IS reported that the only one of our
merchant vessels, the Caroline Foot which man.
aged somehow or other to obtain an assortment of
paying for portion of her cargo IF this CHARGE
''n oe suostantlated, we can readily understand
mat so dishonest an act has not tended to increase
the affection of the japanese for our merchant
traders, or to help Consul HARRIS in his neootio-
lions. Such appears to be the opinion of Mr.
ihAlN' from whose narrative gather these facts
ana IN this opinion we most emphatically coincide
Notwithstanding, then all that has been published
IN Foreign Journals respecting the changes made
oy Japan IN her commercial policy, we see nothing
10 warrant the belief that anything more has been
gained than mere harbor of refuge for vessels in
oistress or short of supplies We are placed by
our treaty with Japan-such as it is-on an eoual
ioo'ihS with the most favored nations, and as the
l''St convention is of recent date, it, of course,
SHOWS exactly what has been accomplished by us,
anu by Others, and that, commercially speaking, is
just nothing at all. .a 49,.