Mr. Pruyn to Mr.
Seward
No. 45.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yedo,
September 1, 1862.
Sir: Agreeably to your instructions I
immediately forwarded to the ministers of foreign affairs the short
sword recovered in Baltimore, which had been taken [Page 1044] from one of the attendants of the
Japanese embassy during their visit to that city, accompanying it with a
letter, of which I enclose copy, (enclosure No. 1,) and I have now the
honor to transmit No. 2, translation of the reply of the ministers.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident in
Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.
[Untitled]
No. 71.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yedo,
June 6, 1862.
While the ambassadors from Japan to the United States were in the
city of Baltimore, in June, 1860, a small sword belonging to one of
their attendants was lost or stolen.
In the month of November last it was recovered by the deputy marshal
of the police at Baltimore, and I now have the pleasure to ask
permission to return it to the owner through your excellencies.
The laws of the United States are framed more with reference to the
certainty of the detection and punishment of crime, than to severity
in the mode or extent of the punishment. The guilty may escape for a
season, but the ends of justice seldom fail of accomplishment; and
the vigilance of the authorities is never relaxed, when an offence
has been committed, until the offender has been arrested, tried and
punished. This is occasioned by our abhorrence of crime, and for the
vindication of the laws and of the government, which would otherwise
cease to be respected; and when this happens, they fail of the
purpose for which they were created.
When fraud or violence has been committed on a citizen of a friendly
power, then another motive is superadded—the sacred law of
hospitality has been violated, and that must be vindicated equally
with the law of the land.
With respect and esteem,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident of the
United States in Japan.
Their Excellencies Wakisaka Nakatsaka no
Tayu, Midsuno Idsumi no Kami, Itakura Suwo no Kami, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, &c.,
&c., &c., Yedo.
[Untitled]
We received your letters, Nos. 71 and 73, dated the 6th of June, and
understood that a short sword, which was stolen when our embassy was
in the United States, from one of their attendants, having been
recovered, is thereby returned, and we now tender our thanks for the
trouble taken in regard to this friendly arrangement.
It was also stated that his Majesty the President had learned with
pleasure that two more of the criminals engaged in the attack on the
British legation had been punished, which we immediately reported to
his Majesty the Tycoon.
Stated in reply to these two
letters, with respect and esteem. The
7th day of the 6th month of the 2d year of Bunkin, (the 3d
July, 1862.)
WAKISAKA NAKATSAKA NO TAYU.
MIDSUNO IDSUMI NO KAMI.
ITAKURA SUWO NO KAMI.
His Excellency Robert H. Pruyn, Minister Resident of the United States of
America, &c., &c., &c.
