Year: 1867

sioners from Japan, with their suite, pro-
ceeded in carriages to the State Depart
ment, whence, after brief interview with
the Secretary Of State, they were accom-
panied by him 10 the Executive Mansion.
The party were introduced to the Presi.
dent by the Secretary Of State.


oSo ToNoooRo, the Chief Commissioner,
said: '-arsIri .
have the honor TO offer TO the honora-
BILE President Of the United States the as
surance Of His Majesty the Tycoons best
respects and his earnest wishes for the ex-
celient health OF the President, and also his
best wishes for the happiness and pros
perity Of the people Of the United States.
His Majesty the Tycoon sincerely desires


that the friendship now existing between


the honorable President and himself and


between the people Of both countries


may continue and grow firmer in coming
years; that the intercourse between the
two nations may be extended, and thus
the welfare and happiness Of both may be
promoted by their dealings with each other.


The President replied as follows: .
Ono Tomogoro and Matsmoto Judayu !:
bid you o cordial welcome TO the seat Of
Government Of the United States. You
will please make known to his Majesty the
Tycoon my thanks for the good wishes
which. in his behalf, you have expressed to
me for my health, and for the prosperity
Of my countrymen.


Ono Tomogoro and Matsmoto Judayu,
| believe, without any distrust, that the
desire OF your Government for friendly
Il and tntiFn tn ralatinnu hat tppanT tha ITnttad
States and Japan is sincere. believe this
because am sure it is sound principle
of human nature that trust bcgets trust
and that jealousy is always born Of envy
and suspicion. Why shouldno the United
States and Japan be friends? They are SO
widely separate that neither have any rea-
son to covet what the other possesses, and
that without unnecessary provocation
neither can find cause to do the other an
injury.


/ am glad to sec the representatives Of
Japan here that / may say to them per-
sonally, and with full knowledge that
what I am saying may 60 abroad through
out the world, that from the first hour in
which the United States were admitted to
look in upon Japan we have sought to OBJ
tain from her people no advantage which
was not reciprocally beneficial to them
selves; and on the other hand, that while
my own country has been tried in the fur
mace Of civil war, as Japan now is, every
word that has been uttered to us by the
| Tycoon Of Japan has been frank and sin
cere, Just and honorable, and that what
ever difficulties have at any time arisen be-
tween some Of his people and citizens Of


the United States. your sovereign has al


ways done oil that was in his power to
avert and heal them.


We are advancing our frontiers near to
Japan, while we are at the same time con.
Meeting our ports with hers by new, reg
ular and frequent steamship line.


II shall not be my fault il the two coun.
tries do not come to esteem each other the
more by reason Of greater commercial and
social intimacy.


You will make your special business
known to the Secretary OF State at your
own convenience, and it will receive the
attention and respect which is always be-
slowed by this Government upon the
wishes of friendly nation.


II, beyond this, It shall be in the power
OF this Government to aid you with disin-
terested advice, counsel and assistance,
they will be cheerfully afforded


The Commissioner rejoined, that they
were made very happy by the kind and
words Of the President.


The Secretary of the Treasury was then |
introduced to the Commissioners. He as
sured them that every facility would be
Afforded for the accomplishment of the mis-
sion on which they had come, and that an
other interview would be accorded should
hey desire it. The President then retired.
The party were then shown the river
rom the southern portico of tho Executive
Mansion, and were escorted into the East |
Room.
They soon after tool. their leave.