Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-17

I
the Chief Of the Nation.
THE ARRAY IN THE EAST ROOM.
Long before the appointed hour OF II m, the
last Room was completely filed with the dis
Ilngulsoed or the land now in Washington city,
Tor the most part attended by fair and elegantly
atred ladies, who composed half the spectator
guests Of the President; present among them
Were nearly all Of Congress, many foreign min
listers, mot in their court costumes, however
and between eighty aud ninety u 5. Army and
Navy officers, 1t General Scott at the head Of the
former, and Commodore Shubrick at the head
of the latter, all In their rich, graceful, and so
striking uniforms-until a few minutes before IL
IN the appointed hour, the scene resembled that
which one always sees In the same gorgeous
chamber on the LIST of January; except that the
throng embraced hardly any persons not known
to fame in our country in some connection or
other
DR.. Blake, the gentlemanly Commissioner of
Public Buildings, otfciated master of the cere-
monies Of the occasion, aided by Mr.. Ledyard,
the son-in-law of the Secretary Of State General
Cas- BY the exertions of these gentlemen an
opening was made In the crowd from the great
double door Of the chamber to the center Of its
east wall, about twenty feet wide and the ARMY
officers, under General Scott ranged themselves
on the north side of the opening, and the Naval
officers, with Commodore Smith at their head
along Its south side. In their rear pressed the
crowd of distinguished civilians and elegantly
atiired ladies. The coup d'olI presented by this
military and naval and civil cortege was the most
brilliant one we ever saw
There were Generals Scott, Totten, Jesup,
Churchill, and Johnson, Colonies Thomas Cook
Craige, Childs, Taylor, and Major Ramsey and
host of other Army officers who have impressed
their names upon their country's history: also
Commodores Smith, ShubTick. Buchanan, and
rainfall, and Captain Rtnggold, and Col Harris
(U = nj CD, and host of others of the Navy no
less distinguished by their public services A
inner looking body of gentlemen were never seen
collected together in the service Of any govern
ment. The civilians pressing on so close behind
them being nearly all men of mark, bore that
impress of graceful aud striking Individuality
that is marked feature of the Americanism OF
the u mes. French naval captain in full uniform
was also among them.
A few moments before twelve the great door
swung upon its hinges, and the President entered
thanked by the Secretary Of State on his right ana
the Secretary of the Treasury at his left hand and
followed by the rest of the Cabinet This cortepe
advanced to and took position at the east end of
the opening made for the due performance Of the
ceremony.
At the very instant the clock struck II m again
the great double doors Of the East Dom swung
nOlselessy on their hinges and those in view of il
caught their first glimpse Of the japanese En-
oassy There were three ambassadors on a line
In the centres on their right hand stood the Secre
tary Of State, (who had retired to accompany them
In their entrance y behind him stood the Ameri-
can Governments interpreter, (Mr. Portman and
behind the right-hapd Japanese Commissioner
stood the chief (JaPunese) interpreter to the En-
bassY.
Some distance in rear of the Embassy stood one
of their high officers, probably the Chief Censor
On their left hand stood Capt Dupont the Chief
of the Naval American Commission. having the
Embassy in charge here. The right hand Com
missioner bore gorgeous box, and they were all
richly attired in heavy brOoade silk mantles over
full (fOwing) pantaloons Of the same material
the Colors of which were sober greens and browns
On their heads they wore caps or ornaments of
bead-work, resembling not little the morocco
travelling bags of ladies, the fashionable ap-
pendageS OF American ladies' arms These were
kept in place by fat silk cord extending down
under the chin. Each ambassador and the Censor
wore two japanese swords
LIN half minute after the opening Of the doors
the Embassy gravelv, noiselessly and slowly an
preached the position of the President and Cab
met, every one present being breathlessly still
They stopped twice in their approach bowling
low each time, and the President each time hun
self bowling gracefully to them. On reaching
his position, the ambassador on the right hand
read lin JaPanese) the following address to the
President:
THE ADDRESS.
The Majesty, the Tycoon, has commanded us
that we respectfully express to his Majesty, the
President of the United States in his name, as
follows:
Desiring to establish on firm and LASTING foun.
dalton the relations Of peace and commerce so
happily existing between the two countries, that
lately the PlenipOtentiaries of the two countries
have negotiated and concluded Treaty Now
be has ordered us to exchange the LITIGATION of
the Treaty In your principal city of Washington
Henceforih he hopes that the friendly relation
shall be held more and more lasting, and he is
very happy TO have your friendly FEELINGS that
you have brought us to the United States and will
send us back TO japan in your man of war
Then handing 1t TO the japanese Interpreter, the
latter read II in low tone TO Interpreter Portman
who, In turn pronounced tito President
bows. which were reel procated by the Chief
Magistrate Of the United States
The right-hand Commissioner then took from
the box mentioned above, (Which was held by
IutPTDrster n \ fbe Latte
III tg &em to the Government OF the United States
unrolling from II the folds Of its large and mac
nfcent scarlet satin envelope. 1t was a huge
parchment and was formally handed by the rig bt-
hand Embassador TO the President. who, in turn,
delivered l., as formally, to Seer, tar Cas-.
Next, the Embassy retired from tue Presidents
presence to bring with them on their speedy re-
turn the Imperial (principaD Embassador who
according to their etiquette, could not be present
at the delivery Of the letter accrediting them
They retired slowly backwards, Stopping twice
to bow low, receiving each time a bow from
President Buchanan. Shortly afterwards they
returned, entering the room with the same cerc-
monies previously observed, bringing the Chief
Ambassador in tue middle. After then signify
Ing through their own Interpreter, to Mr. Port
man, and throUs the latter to he Pr, dent q
readiness TO receive his reply to their address
Secretary Cobb handed 10 President Buchanan
that paper, which he read as follows, viz:
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
give you i cords welcome {; s reprpsentati yes
Of his Imperial Majesty the Tycoon of Jaran to
the American Government
We are all much gratified that the first embassy
which your great empire has ever accred tied to
any foreign power has been sent to the United
states, and trust that this will be the harbinoer of
perpetual peace and friendship between the two
countries. The treaty of commerce whose rati
d alton you are about to exchange with the
Secretary Of State cannot fail 10 be productive OF
benefits and blessings to the people Of Japan and
the United States.
can say for myself and promise for nv success
sors that IL shall be carried into execution in a
faithful and friendly spirit 10 secure to both
countries all the advantages they may Justly
from the happy auspices under which IL has been
negotiated and ratified.
I rejoice that you are pleased with the kind
treatment you have received on board Of our YES
selsof-war, whilst your passage to this country
You shall be sent back in tee same manner TO YOUR
native land, under the protection of the American
flag. Meanwhile, during your residence amones st
us which hope may be prolonged as to enable
you to visit different portions OF our country we
shall be happy to extend to you all the hospitality
AMI kindness eminently due to the great and
friendly sovereign whom you so worthiIy repre-
sent
The President read IL sentence by sentence 10
Interpreter Portman, who repeated il (probably
in low Dutch,) to their interpreter In a whisper;
who, in turn, transmitted IL In japanese In a tone
hardly louder, to theschief ambassador.
At the conclusion Of the reading, the President
IL