Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.

No. 59.]

Legation of the United States, Yokohama, June 14, 1868.

Sir: The intelligence of the return of the Mikado from Osaka to Kioto, reported in my dispatch No. 57 of the 4th instant, has been fully confirmed. It would appear that a majority of the prominent members of his court, from the beginning, objected to such a departure from the ancient customs as a Mikado leaving his palace, and that in deference to their wishes the Daimios who have the Mikado in charge were compelled to hasten his return.

The reports that reach us from that part of Japan are not satisfactory. In the great province of Owan there are now two parties—one in favor of the old and the other in favor of the new government—and the presence of Daimio in person has been insufficient to prevent hostilities. The same appears to be more or less the case in other provinces

In this part of Japan skirmishes are occasionally reported, and it seems as if the war had somewhat subsided.

Of the southern, or Mikado’s army that came here, and which was estimated at about twenty thousand men, a small portion is now attempting to reconquer the province of Etshingo, in which Neegata is situated. The remainder of about ten thousand men, all that is said to be left, now hold the castles of Mibu Utshinomiza, Koga, Yuki, Tatebayashi Simodate, and Sekiyado. There are probably not more than five hundred of those southern troops at present in Yedo, and they are seldom seen in the streets.

A portion of that city is patrolled by squads of about twenty men occasionally, and this patrol duty is also performed by Tokugawa men, who are apparently in the majority, yet no fighting takes place between the forces of the contending parties.

Those of the Tycoon’s or Tokugawa officers who, on the first approach of the southern troops, tendered their resignations, were promptly mustered out of the service, and those who remained faithful have regularly been in receipt of their salaries. All those officers have uninterruptedly continued to discharge their duties, totally ignoring the presence of the southern troops. At the few points where these are stationed, they levy, in the name of the Mikado, contributions on the people for their subsistence, and these requisitions are promptly met. In other respects they remain isolated, and exercise no authority whatever.

What renders this state of affairs still more anomalous, as far as understood, is that the late Tycoon or Tokugawa, in addition to the two thousand shogitai (volunteers) in Yedo, has enlisted some three thousand more of these men. Those who as ronins (guerillas—that is, by fighting on their own responsibility) have so distinguished themselves, withdrew principally to northern castles in or near Aidzu’s province, whither the southern troops appear disinclined to follow them; and now the principal question is, will the Mikado’s government persist in attempting the confiscation of all the Tokugawa property or not? In the latter case there is a probability of an early settlement, but in the former there will be war to the knife. I am informed this question is expected to come up for solution within three weeks, as soon as the rice shall have been planted in the northern provinces; perhaps it will not be solved for three months.

In the meantime southern troops are being conveyed in English steamers to this part of Japan, where a great anxiety for reenforcements is manifested by the chief officers of the Mikado’s government. Their losses in fights, from murders, poisoning, &c., have been severe, and necessitated the isolation of the remainder in the castles named. At a conference ofthe foreign representatives, I called the English minister’s attention to this violation of his neutrality proclamation, but as yet no action appears to have been taken by him. The American steamer Kaga No Kami, at this port, was taking armed men on board to be sent to fight at the north, as the ministers for foreign affairs candidly informed me. She was, however, promptly seized by Commander English, of the Iroquois, on the 12th instant, and will be released as soon as satisfactory security for her due observance of neutrality shall have been given.

This neutrality I consider it my duty strictly to maintain. I respectfully decline to listen to overtures for the transfer of the Stonewall, repeatedly made within the last few days by the representatives of the Mikado’s government, assuring them that I must await the instructions applied for. This great anxiety to obtain possession of the Stonewall, and to re-enforce the troops who are operating in this part of Japan, conclusively shows that there is great need for maintaining neutrality between the belligerents. An official letter was received from the Mikado’s ministers for foreign affairs, yesterday, informing me that the war was over, but I prefer to believe the evidence of my own eyes; and notwithstanding the pressure that is unceasingly brought to bear upon me for the withdrawal of my neutrality proclamation, I shall take no steps in this matter, at all events until the next steamer from San Francisco, now due within two weeks, shall bring me the instructions I am awaiting with solicitude. I transmit, inclosures Nos. 1 and 2, copies of two interesting documents bearing on the present political situation of Japan.

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 from No. 10 of the supplementary issue of the Yeddo Home and Foreign News.]

Memorial of a person holding high office in the house of a certain prince of the blood.

I respectfully present the following memorial:

The objects of our late prince (the Mikado Komei Teuno) were the enrichment of the people, the strengthening of the national defenses, homage to hereditary authority, loyalty to the court, the reform of meanness, and the practice of highmindedness. I should have expected these intentions to have been taken as a model in returning to the ancient form of government by the sovereign; but, on the contrary, that policy which is the foundation of these aims has not been carried out. War and foreign intercourse alone have been deemed the pressing requirements of the time, and this return to the ancient form of government by the sovereign cannot, therefore, be looked upon as genuine. These two things, war and foreign intercourse, naturally excite great disgust and distrust in the national mind. If the sovereign, the parent of the people, in the commencement of establishing the constitution, makes these things which excite the hatred and disgust of the nation his first object, the national mind becomes averted from him, and patriotic men find themselves deeply disappointed. Such a course of action is, in my humble opinion, widely at variance with the imperial announcement that we were to be rescued from misery, and is nothing more or less than exchanging one form of wrong and violence for another.

Now, the forces of a sovereign are only put in motion when no other course of action lies open, and are not to be employed for the mere purpose of displaying military superiority. For some time now, the Tokugawa family, and the other clans which have incurred the imperial displeasure, have been constantly presenting petitions, in which they have declared their desire to submit and make atonement for their offenses, but nothing has yet been heard of any announcement of pardon and clemency.

The movement of troops eastward, culminating in his Majesty’s appearance in the field, has not been caused by any absolute necessity for employing the forces of the sovereign. It has been an overbearing expedition for the sole purpose of triumphing in battle. If this universal movement of troops is to continue, sooner or later the funds will become deficient, provisions will become scarce, and the nation will suffer great misery. Now, this is what military writers carefully warn us against, and if their warning is not heeded the national strength will decay, and the final consummation of this decay will be that we shall fall into the snares of the outer barbarians, so that the position is one of great peril.

The cause of the Tokugawa family’s restoration of the supreme authority into the hands of the imperial court was, that, since the American barbarians came into our ports, many thousands of patriotic Samurai, throwing away their lives and despising death, have advocated homage to the sovereign and the expulsion of the barbarians. It might be wished that the imperial court, on taking possession of the supreme power, would endeavor, however slightly, to gratify the departed spirits of the dead. Allowing that the expulsion of the barbarians is no easy matter, still their admission to the court shows a great want of proper feeling towards these faithful and zealous men, who have suffered unmerited punishment and lost their lives in the cause. If the imperial court acts in this way, there will soon be an end of patriotic and loyal Samurai. Shameless and insincere men only will increase; the national spirit will gradually become infected with foreign notions; we shall haVe tight-sleeved clothing and short-cropped hair, and, I speak with the greatest reverence, our true Japanese costume will be abolished; the Yamato spirit will daily decrease, until the imperial authority becomes powerless. Thus will the grand policy of the preceding reign, consisting in the enrichment of the people, the strengthening of the national defenses, homage to hereditary authority, loyalty to the court, the reform of meanness, and the practice of highmindedness, entirely disappear. This prospect causes the greatest sorrow and lamentation.

Now that the sovereign is concerned in the exercise of the functions of government, it is impossible for him not to be responsible for mistakes in policy and national misery. I pray that he will for the future exert himself strenuously, and, taking example by the last reign, establish an endurable basis of government; that, insisting on an undeviating return to the principles of monarchical government, his Majesty will display thorough justice and impartiality; that, by the exercise of that glory which has descended in one line from Jimmu, the Emperor 2,700 years ago, he will assert his power over foreign nations.

Your servant’s low rank and wild language make him worthy of ten thousand deaths.

With respect and veneration: The most pressing duties at present, without referring to many other matters of the highest importance, are the enactment of a general amnesty, by which the hearts of the people shall be reconciled to each other; the relief of the clans from the great burdens imposed on them; economy and the collection of treasure; and the completion of the national defenses. And I would wish that your Majesty would do all in your power to serve these objects, so that when war or tumults arise there may be no shortcomings; and if, after this is done, your Majesty proceeds to deal with the barbarians, the question of peace or war will be in our own hands, and we shall be able to put down the haughty pride of these people.

March, 1868.

(Signed)

———— ————.

This document came to us inclosed in a letter from Kioto. Some say that it is a memorial written by one of the household of Chion-in-no-Miya, named Kinnira Oye; but we do not know how far this statement is reliable.

[Translation from No. 8 of the Yedo News.]

Memorial of a certain Daimio.

Your insignificant servant, —— ——, takes the liberty of expressing his foolish opinion to your Majesty with the highest respect and veneration.

In the month of January last, Tokugawa Keiki dared to fire against the imperial palace, by which act his treason became clear and manifest.

The imperial forces were sent against him and his chastisement decreed. In a few days, in a short time, the rebel forces were subjugated, and Keiki, abandoning the castle of Osaka, fled to the east. This may be ascribed in some measure to the bravery of the government forces, but I believe it to have been caused by the irresistible moral force of the throne; subsequently the people of Kioto and Osaka, of the five home provinces and the seven circuits (whole of Japan) acknowledged the imperial favor and bounty.

Your Majesty’s beneficence and dignity were established, a result which proceeded from your Majesty’s infinite wisdom and goodness, and from the successful restoration of the imperial glory.

A royal army was sent to chastise Keiki, generals despatched by the different great roads, and the important charge of commanding the whole of the forces was intrusted to a prince of the blood. The naval and military forces advanced to the attack from all sides, but the royal army met with no opposition, and in less than a month the clans of the north and east had all acknowledged the imperial authority.

Keiki himself, deeply regretting the acts by which he had incurred the guilt of a traitor, behaved with submission. He fulfilled the duty of a servant towards his lord in submitting to the royal sentence, evacuating his chief castle, surrendered his weapons and vessels of war; finally retiring from Yedo on the 3d of May to Mito to live there in seclusion. Probably this was because he thought himself unable to cope with the royal army. But the low vassals of Kuanto were ignorant of what is consonant with just principles, and alleging the benefits they and their ancestors had received since the time of Iyeyasu down, professed a fidelity and honesty which were not real, and it was apparently possible that they might prefer bearing the stigma of traitors in all future ages and act like the dogs of Kee barking at Yasu. But Keiki by his own single resolution kept them quiet; the most material proof of his submissiveness being continuously afforded, and the military prestige of the royal army being thereby fully maintained.

I think, therefore, that your Majesty should now accept his penitence and decree most liberal terms, and that your Majesty should issue orders to the commander-in-chief of the army of execution to withdraw his forces. Then would experience and dignity better be displayed. The great fundamental principle of the restoration of monarchical government would be re-established and the empire be free from trouble and pollution. Since April the royal army has advanced upon Yedo by the three roads of the north and east and is now encamped there. I hardly think it a good measure to advance thence far into Oshiu and Dewa through a mountainous country, where they would be ignorant of the topography, and have to undertake a lengthened occupation. I have heard that tacticians highly disapprove of sending a single force into an enemy’s country and of keeping soldiers in the field until their strength is exhausted. Should the retainers of Tokugawa erroneously think that, as your Majesty, in spite of Keiki’s submissiveness and his endeavor to keep them quiet, does not decree any liberal terms, your Majesty intends to destroy utterly the family and name of Tokugawa, it may follow that they will become desperate and resolve to fight—like the mouse which bites the cat when hard pressed by her—and oppose the royal forces in arms. It may be your Majesty’s intention to put down these rebels, one by one, with the sharp weapons of the royal forces, and to rout out the whole nest in a hundred victorious engagements; but would it not be contrary to your Majesty’s holy desire of cherishing the countless myriads of the whole land, to destroy the lives of thousands and tens of thousands in the struggle, and to inflict the evils of fire and sword on the innocent populace. But the issue of a fight cannot be known beforehand, and I fear that if the royal forces were to suffer a defeat through a loss of opportunity or a had position, not only would your Majesty’s previous victories become tarnished, but the great scheme of a return to monarchical form of government might he entirely subverted.

Although this is the state of the case, if your Majesty would adopt the advice offered privately by your insignificant vassal already, by giving Keiki a territory and appointing him chief among the Daimios of the empire, there can be no doubt that Keiki’s vassals would appreciate the greatness of your Majesty’s beneficence and do their best to assist your Majesty in your duties. The services performed to the court during the last two hundred and fifty years since Iyeyasu’s times would not be forgotten, and the whole of Kuanto, Oshiu, and Dewa, by a single act would be brought into tranquillity. At the present moment some of the stiff-necked people of Aidzu in Oshiu, and Shonai in Dewa, are ignorant of the greatness of your Majesty’s policy, and refusing to submit to royal authority are preparing for war, which state of things, I understand, gives your Majesty a considerable addition of anxiety. It is certain that as soon as your Majesty’s method of dealing with Keiki is settled, these stiff-necked people will cast away their arms and submit to the imperial authority.

As therefore, the success and prosperity of the throne depend entirely on the action now taken, if your Majesty will only adopt the advice of your insignificant vassal, he will joyfully kneel on the bare ground and undergo the punishment of the axe. Rashly incurring the penalty of death, he makes this representation.

With the profoundest respect and veneration.

May, 1868.