ter addressed to me by the commanders-in-chief of the military forces of the northern coalition of Daimios. Similar letters were also addressed to the other representatives. This is the first official announcement received of the formation of this confederation, and is the more interesting as it reveals their policy of acting strictly on the defensive and in resistance of the policy of wholesale confiscation which appears to form the basis of the operations carried on by the Daimios under the (Kioto) Mikado's flag. I enclose No. 2, copy of my reply, of which I hope you will be pleased to approve. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [Translation.] The military commanders-in-chief of the Daimios of Mutsu, Dewa, and Itshingo, to the American representative respectively state: Since the establishment of relations of amity and commerce with foreign nations, the stormy ocean of ten thousand miles has been crossed in every direction like a common road, and your country has been prominent in this movement. Not only has trade been introduced but hundreds of ingenious engines and contrivances can arrive in the country on a fixed day. This indeed is a great benefit to our country. The Daimios of Mutsu, Dewa, and Itshingo, have a respectful communication to make. Tokugawa surrendered to the Mikado's court the governmental power which had been handed down from generation to generation. The Mikado is young, and his government inchoate and imperfect, and very unscrupulous subjects, taking advantage of this, rudely seized the governmental power and freely use it as they please. There is no reliance to be placed on the orders that are issued; sympathy and fellowfeeling are banished, and indulgence in cruel and murderous deeds reign instead. The Daimios startled at this sudden conflagration hasten to yield, but eight or nine out of every ten of them do not submit with sincerity. The spirits of the ancestors are watching this movement and the myriads of Japan oppose it. Before long the principal criminals will be punished, and righteousness will burst through the clouds, and peace between brothers, and kindly relations between masters and servants will be restored. It will naturally come to this, otherwise there is no justice and human feeling under heaven, and such can never be the case. The people of the Daimios of Mutsu, Dewa, and Itshingo, from the highest to the lowest, have after careful reflection in public council, and with absolute unanimity, catered into an union with the view of upholding righteousness in the empire. Those who came to assault them will be repulsed and dispersed and those who leave will not be molested. Ruin will be warded off, and peace will be waited for from a virtuous Mikado. It is supposed that the representatives of foreign countries have observed the state of affairs and clearly comprehend it, though it is difficult to convey in writing the true meaning of this confederation of Daimios, as it is sometimes to distinguish between right and wrong. Honesty and perverseness may not be apparent. Criminals may pretend to issue the orders of the Mikado, and in this mauner be enabled to confuse order with disorder. It is from apprehension of this that the liberty is taken to submit the foregoing with respect. The undersigned now appeal to the representative's love of truth to credit them with the sincerity of the announcement. They simply wish to clearly define their position, being aware, also, that this may have an important influence on the future intercourse between the two countries. The undersigned, in conclusion, beg to express the hope that the representative will be pleased to overlook whatever impropriety there may be in the sudden presentation of the present communication. ASHINA ZUKIE, (Morikange Sendai.) LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN JAPAN, The American legation has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the dispatch dated this 7th (Japanese) month, from the officers commanding-in-chief the military forces of the Daimios of Mutsu-Dewa, and Itshingo, conveying the important intelligence of the formation of the nothern coalition. This legation has witnessed with profound regret the withdrawal of a government under which Japan enjoyed the blessings of peace during an uninterrupted period of nearly three hundred years, and at a time when liberal efforts were made to bring that government in closer harmony with the enlightened spirit of the age, and to insure for Japan an era of constant and healthy progress. While during the present unfortunate strife neutrality on behalf of the United States of America will be strictly maintained, this legation sincerely hopes that peace, without which there can be no happiness or prosperity, will soon be restored, and that Japan may thus be able to initiate a policy having for object to secure for herself the high rank among nations to which her important geographical position and the character of her people justly entitle her. Their Excellencies ASHINA ZUKIE, (Morikange Sendai,) IROBE NAGATO, (Hisanaga Yonesawa,) KADJIMARA HEIMA, (Kagemasa Aidzu,) ISHIWARA SOYEMON, (Shingetomo Shonai,) KAWAI KEINOSKÉ, (Akiyosi Nagaoka,) &c., &c., &c. No. 94.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Since the date of my last dispatches no events of importance have transpired; the war still continues north of Yedo. The people of that capital were under some apprehension from the movement of southern troops, who were constantly seen proceeding to the north, and others, it was believed, landing in Yedo. The movement was traced, and it was then found that bodies of those men whom it was probably desired to keep from dissipation in Yedo and at the same time in active exercise, were marching in a circuit, halting in Yedo only at conspicuous places, thus leading the people to greatly overestimate their numbers, and by this means probably intending to prevent their rising or assem bling in inconvenient numbers in the vicinity. From the seat of war the reports of small northern successes appear to be confirmed; the southerners partly in pursuance of their plan of operations, and partly, also, from the tactics of their opponents keeping their troops on the march. They appear to have been driven from an advanced position to which they attached great importance; the only thing known with certainty is that wounded daily arrive in Yedo from the north, thus showing that the war is being continued in the same desultory manner as from the beginning. The people living near the scene of the millitary operations are reported to furnish provisions only under compulsion and in insufficient quantity, thus necessitating the transportation of rice from Yedo, where it has to be purchased with hard coin. Owing to continued rain the roads are in very bad condition, and it has often happened lately that the southern army has been on short rations. It is evidently part of their policy to treat the common people as leniently as possible, as their active hostility would undoubtedly soon cause the defeat of this so-called Mikado's army. It is even doubtful whether in such a case many of the men composing it could escape with their lives. The absence of unanimity among the Tokugawa Daimios, many of whom persistently favor the Mikado's cause, and the avowed policy of the northern confederation to act strictly on the defensive, will no doubt render such a contingency highly improbable. The Miya Sama or northern Mikado of whose advent I informed you in preceding dispatches, while exercising the supreme spiritual authority, still forbears to assume any high title for himself. Nor does he in the least meddle with political matters or the direction of military affairs. The only really interesting event has been the sudden departure of the late Tycoon from the castle of Mito, some forty miles to the eastward of Yedo, for the castle of Futshü in Suruga, also very near to a good harbor. This castle, situated at about sixty miles to the westward of this place, was alloted to the Tokugawa clan, by the Mikado, as the official residence in lieu of Yedo, and shortly Tokugawa Kamenoske, the nominal head of the clan, though only six years of age, will, it is reported, join his reputed predecessor and father by adoption, also, in one of their war steamers. There is good reason to suspect, though reports are assiduously cire lated by his adherents that the late Tycoon sincerely submits to the Mikado and has no connection whatever with the war now going on, that his presence in Mito powerfully contributed to the formation of the northern confederation; and it may further be suspected, therefore, that he will endeavor to influence other powerful Daimios in the vicinity of his present residence and induce them to adopt similar measures. In company with Rear-Admiral Rowan, I recently visited Yedo in his flag-ship Piscataqua, remaining there four days. The city, once so populous, looks entirely deserted, and but very few two-sworded men are met in the street. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. No. 95.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I received a letter from Higashi Kuze Chinjio, announcing that the Mikado intends to take up his residence at Yedo, and that the name of that capital has been changed into East Kioto. In the interval that must necessarily elapse between the conception and the execution of this project, it is quite probable that the military operations will have assumed larger proportions, and that this may induce a postponement of this contemplated change of residence. The removal of the Mikado would involve a great many changes, all so very difficult of accomplishment, particularly at this season, that I have reason to doubt whether it will ever be seriously attempted. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, No. 97.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I received this day a visit from Higashi Kuze Chinjio, who came to ask "whether I could now deliver the Stonewall to the Mikado's government." In reply I informed him that I had not yet received instructions to deliver this ship, but that I hoped that the United States mail due here about the 26th instant would bring me some definite information on the subject. Higashi Kuze then said that the Mikado's government, being at war, had great need of her at present. "If peace should be restored-and it was hoped that this would soon be accomplished-there would then be no use for the ship." He then asked, "If your government continue to hold that ship, will they refund the $400,000 already paid for her by the late Tycoon? We are in want of money." I informed him that the Tycoon's government had paid $300,000 and not $400,000 for her, on account, leaving a balance of $100,000, with interest, to be paid on delivery of the ship, besides some other expenses. I added that I was not prepared to say whether the United States would refund the money at all to the Mikado's government, inasmuch as the ship had been purchased and principally paid for by the late Tycoon; but that question, I assured him, it would give me much pleasure to submit to you if he desired it. The Mikado's representative and his councillors then stated that the property of the Tycoon had all been turned over to the new government, which was therefore entitled to receive either the Stonewall or the money paid for her by the Tycoon. They preferred the ship to the money, as she would be of great service to them at present, and wished to know what the expenses of keeping her amounted to, as they believed them to be quite large. In reply to this I stated that I had not yet received any distinct official information as to what property had actually been turned over by the Tycoon to the Mikado. I assured them that the expenses of keeping the Stonewall were not large, and that I expected those expenses to be refunded on the delivery of the ship. I reminded them that while at Osaka and Hiogo in the early part of the year both Mikado and Tycoon requested me that the United States should maintain strict neutrality in the struggle that was then impending, and it was in accordance with those requests and in concert with my colleagues that I issued a notification of neutrality, which met the approval of both. Under those circumstances and while war was existing it was impossible for me to deliver the Stonewall, and it was with what I rightfully considered the assent of both parties that I held her under the American flag, and I would continue to do so until otherwise directed. The Mikado's officers admitted the justice of this action and asked me to give them notice as soon as I would be prepared to deliver the ship. They then suddenly asked me whether I was willing to withdraw my neutrality notification, as there was no war between the Mikado and the Tycoon. To my question, however, whether war existed in Japan at present, they promptly replied in the affirmative, and on my asking who were the belligerents, they stated that the Mikado's government on the one side and Aidzu and other northern Daimios on the other were at war. I then asked whether it was true that armed ships and soldiers had recently dispatched from Nagasaki to the north for the purpose of carrying on the war. This was also answered in the affirmative, but to my question whether it was true that those ships had instructions to fire into and take any foreign vessels found in the port of Neegata they replied that "they did not think such instructions had been given, though foreign vessels had no right to visit that port, which had not been opened." It could not be denied, I stated, that under the agreement made between the foreign representatives and the late Tycoon's government Neegata was to have been opened on the 1st of April last. No arrangement had since been made to postpone the opening or keep it closed. The foreign representatives have a right, therefore, to consider it opened; and some, if not all of them, do so consider it. The Mikado's officers then reminded me of the letter addressed to all the foreign representatives asking that in view of the war and until it shall have ceased, the port of Neegata might remain closed. To which I replied that, in compliance with that request, they were aware I had instructed the consuls of the United States to permit no American vessels to clear for that port; those instructions had not been cancelled, but the Mikado's officers were also aware, no doubt, that some of the representatives had distinctly permitted their countrymen to visit Neegata for purposes of trade; that port had consequently been visited and was therefore opened in fact. It was again asserted by the Mikado's officers that the opening of the port was not desired. They had no custom-house there and could collect no duties. Not only had all the representatives been addressed in writing, but he (Higashi Kuze) had held a conference with them on the subject. I reminded them that I had been present at that conference, and that no definite arrangement had been made to keep Neegata closed; the representatives had not all been willing to consent to such a measure. At that conference, held some four weeks after the 1st of April, Higashi Kuze had even admitted that he had no right to insist upon its remaining closed in the face of the existing agreement that it was to have been opened on the date named. Higashi Kuze reluctantly admitted this, but observed that at all events foreign vessels had no right to visit other ports on the west coast. This I informed him was quite right, in so far that foreign vessels could not enter unopened ports on the west coast for purposes of trade, unless by some act of their own they had caused them to be considered opened. The Mikado's officers have repeatedly applied to foreign merchants to charter vessels to convey troops to the north and west coasts, and in some cases, I have reason to suspect, successfully. Higashi Kuze, being of course perfectly aware of the meaning of my remark, prudently abstained from arguing that matter; neither did I deem it of much importance to call his further attention to it. I therefore only informed him again that Neegata was opened de facto, and they would have no right to seize or confiscate foreign vessels visiting there. They again begged me to withdraw my neutrality notification, when I asked them how I could consistently do so, while war was ranging in Japan, as they freely had admitted, and while it was generally known that all the troops and ships they could spare were being sent to the north for that purpose. In conclusion, I informed them that I would be pleased at all times to confer with my colleagues on the subject and to act in concert with them. The conversation then turned upon existing differences between them and our consul at this port in regard to seizures and confiscations of American property by their subordinate officers, to which I shall not fur |