Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh

No. 27.]

Sir : I transmit herewith a copy of a memorial signed by Bishop Potter and others, and dated the 13th November, 1866, and a copy of my reply thereto, dated the 23d November, 1866, upon the subject of establishing Christian houses of worship in the empire of Japan. You are requested to inquire into the matter, and if you shall find the prospect at all favorable at the present time, to co-operate with her Britannic Majesty’s representative, if, as has been intimated, that gentleman has been instructed by his government to endeavor to have the disabilities against Christians in Japan removed.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

R. B. Van Valkenburgh, &c., &c., &c.

P. S.—I also enclose a copy of a letter from Mr. Isaac Ferris, of the 4th ultimo, and a copy of my reply thereto of the 7th instant, upon the same subject.

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Andrew Johnson, President of the United States:

The undersigned, the foreign committee of the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States of America, respectfully represent that, by the public law of the empire of Japan, between which nation and the people of the United States treaties of amity and commerce exist and diplomatic relations are maintained, any native of that country embracing the Christian religion is rendered liable to punishment by death, together with all the members of his family.

That for the better enforcement of such law, large rewards in money are provided to be paid to informers who shall betray to the public authorities any persons professing the Christian faith, and the penalty of death is also declared against all persons who shall, in any way, harbor, assist, or conceal any member of the so-called “sect of Christians.”

That these provisions of law are embraced in the general penal laws of the said empire relating to incendiaries, counterfeiters, robbers, and other criminals, among whom the aforesaid “sect of Christians” are thus publicly classed.

That in the year ——, the Hon. William L. Marcy, then Secretary of State, instructed Mr. Towsend Harris, our minister to Japan, “to do his best, by all judicious measures and kind influence, to obtain the full toleration of the Christian religion in Japan, and protection for all missionaries and others who should go there to propagate it.”

That strenuous efforts were then made by Mr. Harris, pursuant to such instructions, to cause the insertion of a clause granting religious toleration into the treaty by him negotiated between the said empire and this country, but without success.

That the undersigned are now credibly informed and believe that representations have been made to induce the government of Great Britain to obtain a modification of such laws by the rulers of the said empire.

That the undersigned are advised by competent authority that if efforts were now renewed by the people of the United States to effect a change in the said laws, the present position of political affairs in Japan, and the greater confidence and friendship of the people existing at this time, would operate largely in favor of such effort and would hold out reasonable prospects of success.

Wherefore the undersigned respectfully ask, in the name and behalf of the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States of America which they represent herein, that the instructions given by the Hon. William L. Marcy to our former representative in Japan may be now renewed to our present minister, and that such other and further measures be taken by the President as may seem best adapted to secure full and free religious toleration in the empire of Japan.


HORATIO POTTER, Bishop of New York, and Chairman.

ALEX. H. VINTON STEWART BROWN
M. A. De WOLFE HOWE LEWIS CURTIS
H. DYER. F. S. WINSTON
H. H. MORRELL JARS ASPINWALL
SAML. P. DENISON LEWIS COFFIN

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Sir: The President has referred to this department the memorial of the 13th instant, over your signature and that of other clergymen of your denomination, asking a renewal of supposed instructions of my predecessor, William L. Marcy, to the United States representatives in Japan, for the purpose of inducing the government of that empire to repeal the laws which make the profession of Christianity penal. In reply, I have to state that the only passage in the instructions to Mr. Townsend Harris upon the subject is the following, contained in a letter of Mr. Marcy to him, of the 13th of September, 1856. The intolerance of the Japanese in regard to the Christian religion forbids us to hope that they would consent to any stipulation by which missionaries would be allowed to enter that empire, or Christian worship according to the form of any sect would be permitted. Hence, it appears that you are under misapprehension in regard to the instructions referred to. It is evident from Mr. Marcy’s language that he was familiar with the antecedents of Christianity in Japan. You yourselves are no doubt aware that our religion was in a flourishing state there about two centuries ago; that large numbers of Japanese had become converted to it; that consequently the priests of other religions became alarmed at its progress, when, owing to the imprudence, or, as some suppose, the arrogance of the Christian divines, the Japanese rulers, lay and clerical, caused them and their converts to be attacked and massacred, whereby Christianity was at once, as it were, extirpated. The same penal laws against it to which you refer were then enacted, and remain in force to this day. The occasion and the policy which dictated them may be presumed to be still fresh in the memories of the many cultivated people in that quarter. Some of their prejudices against Christians may have been softened by the intercourse with them which has taken place since that country was reopened by us to foreign trade. It is to be feared, however, that any attempt to, induce them to change their policy in respect to our religion would be premature. Still, this department will instruct Mr. Van Valkenburgh, the United States minister in Japan, to make inquiries upon the subject, and if he should find the prospect at all favorable at the present time, to co-operate with her Britannic Majesty’s representative if, as you intimate, that functionary should also be instructed to endeavor to have the disabilities against Christians in Japan removed.

I am, right reverend sir, your very obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Right Reverend Horatio Potter, Bishop of New York, Chairman of the Foreign Committee of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

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Dear Sir: Several months since the Evangelical Alliance of this country, composed of various evangelical bodies, appointed a committee to solicit the influence of our government to secure a melioration, and, if possible, the abrogation of the law of Japan on the subject of the adoption and profession of the Christian religion. Your absence and health at the time, and the want of documents (which have now been obtained,) caused a postponement of our letter. In the mean time the subject has become more important and urgent, as the schools, or rather classes, taught by our missionaries are making their impression, and their young men are coming to our country and will, in their education, imbibe, and, we hope, be moulded by our views of the Christian religion. Just in proportion as these results follow, even though the youth come for our arts, they are placed in jeopardy. The enclosed documents will show how the rule stands in Japan. Our missionary, Dr. Brown, has prepared the larger one, and the shorter is furnished by the Presbyterian missionary.

It has been said that Mr. Van Valkenburgh has been instructed to act in union with the representatives of other powers on the subject. It is so momentous that our anxiety is that it may not be allowed to sleep. Already some remarkable conversions to Christianity have occurred, and some of them in high place. It is at once apparent that some shield should be thrown around these first fruits of a true Christianity. I would be greatly obliged by learning if any progress has been made, and what may be the present state of the matter, and what hope there may be for the future. The Evangelical Alliance will meet this fall, and will expect a report from their committee. This committee I give on the next page.

With great respect and pleasant remembrances of former years, I am yours, &c.,

ISAAC FERRIS.

Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State.

The committee are Rev. Dr. Holdich, of the Methodist Episcopal; Rev. Dr. Dyer, of the Protestant Episcopal; Rev. Dr. Paxton, of the Presbyterian; and myself, of the Reformed Dutch Church, as chairman.

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Dear Sir: I have received your letter of the 4th instant relative to a repeal of the law of Japan prohibiting the adoption or profession of the Christian religion. Nothing has yet been heard from General Van Valkenburgh on that subject. This department will, however, transmit to him a copy of your letter, with an instruction which, it is hoped, will lead him to take steps for the object adverted to, if the state of public affairs in Japan should, in his opinion, warrant such a proceeding.

I am, dear sir, your very obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Isaac Ferris, Esq., New York.