If the following description seems taken out of chronological order, it is even though I am still presenting things in as much of a chronological order as possible, taking various news articles from the years 1853 and 1854 from newspapers in the United States.
Part 1 - Alexandria Gazette, September 13, 1852
Part 2 - Plattsburgh Republican, November 20, 1852
Part 3 - Charleston Courier, November 22, 1852
Part 4 - Weekly Herald, January 1, 1853
Part 5 - Alta California, May 16, 1853
Part 6 - Daily National Intelligencer, November 3, 1853
Part 7 - President Fillmore's Letter To Japan, November 13, 1852
Part 8 - List Of Presents From The US To Japan, July 14, 1853
Part 9 - National Aegis, November 9, 1853
Part 10 - Daily Democratic State Journal, December 7, 1853
Part 11 - Sandusky Register, April 6, 1854
Part 12 - Sandusky Register, April 15, 1854
Part 13 - London Times, June 17, 1854
The links above - they each offer a unique perspective on how much importance was place on the Japan Expedition, the U.S's attempt to set up a treaty and commerce agreement with Japan, which had for the past 200-plus years removed itself from the global social and fiscal economy with a closed-door isolationist policy known as Sakoku.
Though that isn't exactly correct either, as Japan still did a smattering of trade with the Dutch and Portuguese, and there were certainly a handful of foreigners living and plying their trade within its borders.
At this time, 1853, we must recall that the U.S. was officially only 77 years old as an independent country, and as part of its still young identity sought to create itself as a major global player.
Making inroads with China and Japan were seen as things which could really help the country be considered more than an uppity colony of Great Britain. It would legitimize it.
While there was of course the pretext that the U.S. really sought a maritime treaty with Japan so that its whaler's would be allowed to port and purchase fuel, as well as to ensure safe passage for any shipwrecked sailors—Japan did not go out of its way to provide aid to maritimers seeking aid—in reality, the United States wanted to go boldy where no man had gone before… a trade relationship with Japan.
Call it what you will, but there was no reason to send what essentially amounts to four warships into Japan just to parlay for safe passage for its sailors should they be shipwrecked (and just how many were affected by that?).
Neither was there any reason to send a Commodore (Perry) to lead such an expedition. In case you are unaware, the naval title of 'Commodore' was created just for Matthew C. Perry, who had served the U.S. Navy so well, that there was no higher rank this admiral could receive—so they made a new rank.
So why would the highest ranking member ever of the U.S. navy be required to play postman for the President (Fillmore) of the United States of America?
Well, perhaps it's because the Japanese really weren't that interested in letting foreign countries trade within its borders. Which was why the U.S., knowing this from how other countries were rebuffed by Japan, decided to send a mini armada to Japan, to impress upon them the need to do business (we have weapons), as well as why they should so business (we have cool things you don't, like steam locomotives - which they brought with them).
Did the U.S. bully the Japanese into opening up its closed door? Did it ignore the wishes of another country and exert its own customs upon a country it visited?
I'm pretty sure it did - have a read of the following article and see for yourself.
It's huge, and I am splitting it up into at least two parts (I'm still transcribing it during my lunch at work).
Having said all that, what I like BEST about the following news article from the Richmond, Virginia newspaper, the Richmond Whig of November 8, 1853 (the day, not the date, is my birthday!), (though it is actually reprinted from the Washington Sentinel), is the editorial provided before the actual letter from a member of the Japan Expedition.
The editorial freely admits that because the letter is NOT penned by someone looking for publication, they expect that more people will actually enjoy reading it.What does that tell you about journalism? Even journalism from 160 years ago?
Even then they realized that nothing beat having a story presented in everyday speech rather than journalistic double-speak.
Back then, with the publication of letters from travelers to describe a situation, newspapers created the earliest blogs.
Although if one wants to get specific, I suppose any bit of cave art describing the latest sabertooth tiger hunt would qualify as the earliest form of blogging.
Oh… I believe the typed symbol '&e' = 'etc.'
What do I hate about this article? At no time is the actual letter writer identified. Perhaps this had something to do with U.S. naval policy, but I have searched for the writer's name and rank - only to discover that in all of the articles I have seen on this subject, it implies that Commodore Perry was the one doing all the talking and negotiating.This letter implies that was wrong...
This letter shows that while Commodore Perry may have indeed been in charge of The Japan Expedition, he didn't do all the talking all the time.
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From the Washington Sentinel
Latest from the Japan Expedition
We are under great obligation for the privilege of publishing the following extracts from a letter written by a prominent and distinguished officer of the United States navy, to his estimable wife, resident in this city. The extracts contain matter of interest, and cannot fail to arrest the attention of our readers, although not intended for publication, and written with the freedom and minuteness which always distinguishes such correspondence, they will, therefore, be perused with more avidity than if prepared purposely for the press.
Interesting from Japan
Private letter received from an officer off the squadron, dated U.S. steamer Susquehanna, off Oragara, Uraga, Bay of Jeddo, twenty five miles from the city of Jeddo.
Friday, July 8, 1853.
"Tis distance lends enchantment to the view." Here we are in the harbor of Jeddo, after running over nearly 80,000 miles of various seas and of various clines—here at anchor four miles higher up the bay than has ever yet anchored ship bearing Christian flag. We anchored at 4PM and soon large boats, rowed cheerily about, twenty men, and in each some mandarins, or gentlemen with two swords, neat and well dressed, came swarming off with determination fell to come on board, demanding the names, the nation, and the intention of the four craft thus coming boldly in in joy and calm. They were met with a wave of the hand, and "kept off, no one allowed to come on board except the highest mandarin." This literally took them all aback, but they clustered together and insisted upon admittance. At last, a voice said in Dutch , do you speak Hollandese, soon the commodore's clerk, Mr. Postman, was in high confab.
After much persuasion on their part, and their insisting that one of them was a high mandarin, the commodore ordered me to put on my uniform and to receive him and the interpreter on board in the cabin, and to represent himself; saying that our mission is a friendly one. We are the bearers of a letter from President of the United States to his Majesty of Japan; that it was necessary to send on board a high mandarin to receive this letter, and the sooner the better. Again I was to insist upon it that boats should not lie, by the hundred, near and around our ships, thus guarding and watching us as has been their custom. (The Columbus and Vincennes having from five hundred to one thousand boats around them constantly, all linked together.) That we would not submit to this, but would drive them off. Here you have the basis of my instructions. Thus armed, I took Mr. Mandarin and interpreter, with my two interpreters, Mr. Williams, in Chinese, and Mr. Postman, in Dutch—into the cabin.
After being seated a moment, Mr. Mandarin arose, made a salaam a la Japanese, and then extended his hand, we shook hands, then seated ourselves, using Mt. Postman as interpreter, as the Japanese interpreter spoke Dutch fluently. I thus opened: "Tell the Lieutenant Governor (for such was the Mandarin) that I am the aid of our chief, the admiral, and am instructed to speak for him. We have come here on a friendly mission, with friendly intentions, to deliver a letter from the President of the United States to you sovereign, the Emperor of Japan; that the letter is ready for delivery by 9 o'clock, to-morrow, to any Mandarin sufficiently high to receive it." To this was replied: "It must be referred to higher powers to know who can receive the letter." I then asked, "How long will it take to give us an answer?" They could not tell. I said, "I think the sooner the better, as we are anxious to be off." The reply was, "I do not think it will take long." and it was then understood that, in the morning, a Mandarin would be of to receive the letter.
I then emphatically said: "This ships has aboard the chief—there is his pennant. All messages from shore must come here by a high mandarin. No boats must go to the other ships; their commanders have orders not to permit intercourse; they have no right to think, and must obey. We insist that no boats shall hang around our vessels to watch them."
This was not palatable.
They said: "It is Japanese custom, law, and we must carry them out."
Says I: "Tell him, sir, that we to have our customs, and with men-of-war, one of the laws is that no boat is allowed to come within a certain range.
There was no positive consent given just then as to what they would do; they evaded it by asking questions. "Where are you from?"
"From the United States of America."
"Yes, but what part, Washington, New York, Boston?"
My surprise was so great, that I smiled and told him, "some from Washington, some from New York, all parts; that the President of the United States lived in Washington."
What is the name of the ship, how many people, guns, &e.?"
"Tell him, sir, that we are not traders, we seek no trade, we are armed ships, and our custom is never to answer such questions."
The questions were again repeated in pretty much the same way, when I told Mr. P. to make the same reply, and to add that I have no curiosity to know how many men are either in the emperor's army or in his navy; and also that he could see for himself that we had four ships; that we had others in those waters.
"When will the others come?"
"I don't know; it depends upon the answer to the letter."
"What are the contents to the letter?"
"Tell him, sir, that the letter is from the President to the emperor of Japan, and it would be most indelicate in me to inquire into its contents."
This rebuke was received in an apologetic manner, and this questioning dropped. I then again alluded to the boats which were still clustering around our ship and the other ships; told him that it was absolutely necessary that they should be kept off; that this must be done. "We should be sorry, with our kind and friendly feelings to you, to do you any harm, or to come into collision with you; but if you do not order your boats of, we shall fire into them and drive them off. Our boats are now armed and ready, and we cannot allow you more than fifteen minutes to give your orders and to keep them off. At the end of that time you must suffer."
Mr. Mandarin went out, told this to the boats, sent word to the other boats, and came in.
"Now I must have an answer. What have you decided about the boats?"
"I have ordered them off from all the ships, and with orders only to communicate with this."
"Yes, from all the ships; and if any come around you, send word to the governor, and he will punish them."
Thus was this point, never before yielded, conceded. After a few more remarks, I (??) b wed Mr. Mandarin off, and away he went on shore, taking the boats off with him.
My interview with my friend was again renewed in the evening, and in a rather different phase, which does not promise to end so peacefully; but tomorrow will tell.
At present I am too tired, having been up all day from an early hour—and here we are, too, our pistols loaded, our swords ready at hand, armed men and sentinels patrolling the decks, guns loaded, and trained and cast loose; for we lie down to sleep to-night in the neighborhood of 10,000,000 of men, brave, enterprising, ready, never conquered. It behooves us to be watchful. So I will to bed, and rest.
Okay… I'm breaking the article here. We'll continue this riveting tale soon. The writer is decent enough about presenting HIS facts, but is not the most eloquent when trying to be prophetic or poetic.
As for WHO this writer is - we know he's an officer aboard the sidewheel steamer Susquehanna, and it is commanded by Captain Buchanan, and had 350 men and nine guns (heavy artillery). It was also Commodore Perry's flagship.
But I can't find out his name - anyone know?
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
As for the image at the very top - I found it HERE on this Japanese website (I can't make head nor tales of it), but it is a cross-sectional view of the USS Susquehanna.
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