erations, on the one side, I feel very sure, nevertheless, that it is not in this age that the dissemination of the principles and sentiments of the Christian religion is to be arrested or even interrupted or hindered by any possible ecclesiastical or political national combinations in Japan. You express with emphasis an opinion that it would not be prudent to do more in regard to this Japanese religious persecution than has been done already, and you add that your colleagues and yourself are of opinion that the duty to be enjoined upon the representatives of the western powers for the present should not go beyond urging the authori ties persistently, in a firm and friendly manner, to adopt a more humane policy and to revise the laws in a more liberal sense. This subject has been already discussed to some extent between the United States government and the other western powers. The governments of Great Britain and France have substantially agreed in approving the line of policy which you have thus indicated. I now cordially concur in that approval, and therefore you will not be expected in any case to go beyond it, without the full assent and concurrence of your colleagues. Nevertheless, you may make known to them that I am oppressed with a painful apprehension that if the present persecutions shall be continued, then it must happen that in some, perhaps merely accidental way, the sympathies which foreign Christians residing in Japan cannot fail to feel and manifest may bring those foreign Christians themselves into conflict, either with agents of the domestic government or with an infuriated people. When one foreign Christian shall have suffered martyrdom in Japan for his faith, Christendom will be shocked to its center, and it may demand that the policy of forbearance and encouragement which the treaty powers have hitherto practiced in Japan shall be reversed. Influenced by these apprehensions, I sincerely hope that the representatives of the western powers in Japan, besides urging the Japanese government, as they propose persistently and in a firm and friendly manner, to adopt a more humane policy, and to revise the laws in a more liberal sense, may find it neither unsafe nor imprudent to seek and obtain the restoration of the natives now suffering under the existing persecution to their freedom and their homes. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Esq., &c., &c., &c. No. 85.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 5, 1868. SIR: Your dispatch of the 20th of August, No. 85, has been received. The events which it recites do not open to us a prospect of a speedy peace, nevertheless they do prove that the revolution in Japan has attained a new and interesting stage. When the civil war began Japan had one Mikado (a sovereign in spiritual things) and one Tycoon (practically sovereign in secular affairs.) The Tycoon has disappeared, and there is now no temporal sovereign, while there are two Mikados, in conflict. It is hard to conceive how order and authority can be maintained at all in this anomalous condition of government. While there seems to be no way now open to friendly nations to induce a mitigation of the atrocious cruelties practiced by the Japanese in the civil war, we are, nevertheless, left to enjoy the consoling reflection that licentious cruelty is always swiftly followed by a reaction in favor of humanity. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith inclosure No. 1, translation of an announcement by the army and naval officers of the late government to the foreign representatives, of their intention to abandon the course of neutrality to which they had hitherto adhered, and to take an active part in the struggle with all the means at their command. This document was received at this legation and promptly communicated by me to my colleagues. It is dated the 4th instant, and early on the next day the Tokugawa squadron was seen passing this port outward bound. A land force of between five thousand and six thousand men, well armed and equipped, are said to be on board of those steamers. The fact of such a force having been organized and shipped in Yedo, and leaving that capital in broad daylight without molestation or even protest, sufficiently shows the utter powerlessness of the (Kioto) Mikado's authorities, who are residing and issuing decrees there. Considerable bodies of troops have been landed by the southerners from steamers on the west coast. The northerners continued falling back, skirmishing, and in this manner the entire province of Itshingo was retaken, including Neegata, which was evacuated after the guns of the fort had been spiked. A few foreigners, who happened to be there at the time, I learned, escaped on board of a foreign steamer and were safely landed at Hakodate, though not without suffering loss, as some of their goods, it is reported, fell into the hands of the southerners, from whom it will be impossible to recover any. On the west coast, therefore, the great northern Daimio of Shonai, Sakai Sayemonnojo, has to bear single-handed the brunt of the onslaught of the southerners, who are aided by the prince of Akita, another northern Daimio, who, from the beginning of this civil war, declared in their favor; and thus far Shonai, who is reported to be cordially supported by his people, has held his own successfully. The odds against him, however, are so great that it has been impossible for him to lend any aid to his allies, the great Daimios of Sendia and Aidzu, who are hard pressed by a large and well-armed force of southerners, having Yedo for their base of operations, in so far, only, that they draw their principal supplies from there. Rumors of northern and southern victories and defeats are very plentiful; but as they generally proceed from interested sources, no reliance can be placed in them. The general impression, however, that the northerners are avoiding, as far as possible, engaging for the present, but are preparing to act vigorously on the offensive when the cold weather shall have set in, is entitled to some credit. From Hakodate I learn that the garrison, consisting of soldiers from Hambu, another northern Daimio, had set fire to their barracks, spiked the guns of the fort and crossed the straits in a foreign steamer chartered by them, and from this undoubted fact it would appear that their prince had abandoned his neutrality policy, and was preparing to join his northern neighbors in resisting the southern invasion. The only item of interest that reached here from Hiogo is, that owing principally to counterfeits the Mikado's paper money had become worthless, all the efforts of his officers, notwithstanding. As I reported in one of my preceding dispatches, no circulation of this paper currency has obtained in Yedo, and the people's point-blank refusal to take it has been respected. The late Tycoon remains at Suruga, in a temple near the castle, which is occupied by Tokugawa Kamenoske, his successor, as chief of the clan, who is now gathering those of his officers and retainers around him who remained faithful. The fidelity of those officers and men, it appears, is likely to be put to still further tests; no pay or rice allowances are granted, but to each person a lot of ground will be given to be culti vated for support. Poverty and compliance with the (Kioto) Mikado's commands are thus ostentatiously paraded-with what sincerity, time alone can show. The interest of the struggle is now centered on the movements of the naval and military chiefs of the late government, which will no doubt greatly influence the results. The contest in some respects has now become a sort of triangular one. When the late Tycoon withdrew and declared his submission to the Mikado, the southern troops bearing this Mikado's flag marched without meeting with any resistance through the Tokugawa territories to those of the northern princes, where they found themselves suddenly checked. They have been permitted to go to a certain point unmolested, and all their efforts to go beyond it have been fruitless. The late Tycoon declined to become a belligerent; and if he adopted that course with the view of being called in as mediator between the northern and southern factions he has not yet been successful. That something of this kind was contemplated, and is perhaps being entertained at this moment, appears highly probable from the tenor of the document (inclosure No. 1) above referred to. The avowed object of the naval and army officers of the late government is to establish an equilibrium between the contending parties; and it is well worth observing, that while they frankly state it as their opinion that the southerners are carrying out a policy of confiscation, they at the same time admit that the aims of the northerners do not differ from those of their opponents. A northern supremacy would probably be as much mistrusted as one from the southern Daimios; and if the Tokugawa officers succeed, either by persuasion or by force, in convincing either party of the hopelessness of subjugating the other, the way may be paved for compromise and peace. No Daimio in Japan, however powerful in his province or influential with his neighbors, is of sufficient rank to undertake the mission of mediator. The late Tycoon is then probably the only personage who could assume this task with the prospect of successful accomplishment. The language used in the announcement of the Tokugawa officers would seem therefore to indicate the policy adopted by their chief, the late Tycoon. It may be found quite difficult at present to procure the assent to any such policy from the southern princes, who still have field artillery, of which the northern Daimios appear to be destitute. They have apparently not yet abandoned the hope of getting the upperhand in the strug gle, and until they are prepared to admit their inability in this respect, it may be expected that they will decline to listen to any overtures for peace. It is thus quite probable that the officers of the late government will be obliged to establish by force their right to use persuasion. Their departure must have caused great uneasiness to the Mikado's officers in Yedo, who at once issued a decree, a translation of which I herewith transmit, (inclosure No. 2.) I also transmit inclosure No. 3, revised translation of the manifesto addressed to the Mikado's court by those army and naval officers who, in the evening previous to their departure, sent copies to the local press for insertion. A financial transaction of some importance has within the last few days been consummated at this port. The local (Kioto Mikado) authorities borrowed a large sum of money, estimated at between $500,000 and $600,000, from an English banking corporation, pledging the customs revenue as security for both principal and interest. I can furnish no details, as nothing in regard to this transaction is allowed to transpire; but it is surmised that this sum has been appropriated to pay the second installment of $50,000 of the 'Sakai murder indemnity due to France; and also a sum of about $500,000, alleged to be due to the same power in repayment of advances made to the late government for army cloth, and machinery used in the docks at Yokoska, near this port, and which are still under construction. The legations all remain established here. The Oneida is in port. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [Translation.] We, the officers of the army and navy of the late government, respectfully represent, for the information of their excellencies the representatives of the treaty powers, that since Japan became involved in civil war, the contest between the north and the south, as their excellencies are aware, has been uninterrupted, and the whole nation has suffered to an extent that is indescribable. The southerners, pretending to act under the orders of the Mikado, have committed innumerable outrages on innocent and peaceable people, murdering and plundering them without cause or provocation. The northerners, thus roused, have determined to maintain their rights at any sacrifice. The object of one party is to utterly destroy their opponents and take possession of their property; nor has the other party any other object. The Mikado is entirely ignorant of the schemes of these two parties. There are Daimios at present who seem desirous of proposing peace, but their efforts would probably be unsuccessful, as the resentment of the north is too great to admit of reconciliation. Until now we have carefully watched the national interests and feelings, and in our opinion the convulsion has not yet arrived at maturity. Many have strenuously endeavored to establish a balance of powers, but, alas! all these attempts have been in vain, and an equilibrium between the contending parties has not been found. Wherefore, we, the officers of the navy and army of the late government, after due deliberation, have resolved to achieve by deeds what words have failed to accomplish, and with all the means at our disposal to repress the arrogance of the southerners and to aid the distressed people of the north in the maintenance of their just rights. For this purpose we leave Yedo. Our object is to hasten the return of peace in Japan, in the hope that both parties will consider their condition and raise their exhausted and down-trodden populations into healthy activity, to be free in their vocations, in order that the civilization of the country, and consequently our political and commercial intercourse with foreign nations, may be promoted. We have undertaken this mission on our own responsibility. The inclosed dispatch, the tenor of which is nearly identical to this, we desire to present to the Mikado; but owing to many obstacles we are unable to do so. We therefore request that their excellencies, the foreign representatives, will have the kindness to present it to the Mikado on our behalf, at the earliest opportunity. The officers of the navy and army of the late government avail themselves of this opportunity to assure their excellencies, the foreign representatives, of their profound respect and consideration. OCTOBER 4, 1868. [Translation.] Decree from the Yedo government office. The authorities of Kamenoske have reported that Enomoto Kamajiro and his subordinates, on board the eight men-of-war and steam transports of Tokugawa Kamenoske anchored off Shinagawa, decamped from that place on the night of the 4th instant. These vessels have, from the beginning, been constantly lying at anchor off Shinagawa, and the authorities of Kamenoske had given a positive assurance that they would regard the submissive will of their old master Joshinobu, and would not weigh anchor in violation of good order. After this, their sudden decamping, and still more, their leaving behind them documents highly arrogant and disrespectful to the Emperor, is, of course, really an act of rebellion; and having decamped regardless of the will of their master, and without any reason, they are certain at last to commit acts of piracy. Orders have therefore been given to the authorities of Kamenoske, and the above is to be communicated by the proper officer to all the foreign representatives. Supposing they should go to attack any of the open ports and commit illegal acts against foreigners, whatever action is taken that circumstances may suggest, it need cause no concern; and moreover, if they should cross the seas, and foreign governments should rigorously refuse to receive them as friends, it is hereby ordered that it is to be so arranged that this shall not disturb the treaty relations between Japan and those countries. Names of the ships.—Kaigo, Kwaiten, Banriyo, Chiodagata, Chokei, Mikaho, Shinsoku, Kanrin. OCTOBER 10, 1868. No. 110.] 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 (Kioto) Mikado had been crowned in that city. No date nor particulars of this coronation festival or ceremony have been furnished. The acting Mikado of the north is now seldom mentioned, probably because he strictly confines himself to his spiritual functions. The Kioto Mikado's visit to Yedo appears to have been postponed, though it is quite possible it may soon take place, as a strong pressure to bring it about is evidently being brought to bear upon those who have charge of him. Tranquillity prevails in Yedo. A few days ago a small fight took place in a Daimio's residence in the rear of our legation buildings, on which occasion between twenty and thirty men were killed. They are said to have been robbers. Small fights of that sort are now of frequent occurrence. With the withdrawal of the Tycoon's government the police arrangements became disorganized and the force disbanded. Numbers of vagrants and vagabonds, taking advantage of this state of things, prey upon the industrious citizens, and perpetrate those murders and robber |