September 14th, 1854

By Andrew Hale
AND DELIVERS PRESIDENT FILLMORE'S LETTER TO OUR GOVERNMENT CONCERNING TRADE BETWEEN AMERICA AND JAPAN. It was announced yesterday by shogun Kayama in a press conference that Commodore Perry has returned to America after negotiations with our government concerning trading agreements. The talk also mentioned the treatment of US steamship traders stranded in Japan because of becoming shipwrecked in the journey to China(1).
Commodore Perry carried a letter by the president himself addressed to the Japanese Shogun Kayama(2) explaining the US's intent to trade and explaining that they wanted their sailor's back(3). These sailors had been stranded off the Japanese coast so our government went to help them. It has been reported many times to the American people that the sailors are fine, but they do not believe it, and they think that the sailors are being mistreated. This has caused a tremendous rush of anger for the US president, because the sailors are not being allowed to leave due to diplomatic reasons.
Perry's job was as messenger boy to the president: "Perry set forth from Newport in Rhode Island with four of our navy's finest warships at his command. In his pocket he carried the Fillmore's letter and a directive from the state department that instructed him to be patient in his dealings"(4). The four boats were of marvelous construction, and were bigger than any that our shipbuilders had built. But the men on it were treated like slaves, and they had no real strict discipline code like our navy.
Among other things, we were given an exclusive look at the notes and journals of Commodore Perry. He seemed to thing that our armed forces were below par, but that our navy was good. He said things like, "The soldiers were tolerably well armed and equipped."(5) and "The boats skimmed briskly over the smooth waters; for such was the skill and the consequent rapidness of the Japanese scullers that our sturdy oarsmen were put to their mettle to keep up with their guides"(6). He also wrote of the scenery, it must be nothing like the American valleys or gorges, or he wouldn't have written this. "A luxuriant valley or gorge, walled in with richly wooded hills, opened at the head of the bay, and breaking the uniformity of the curve of the shore gave a beautiful variety to the landscape"(7).
We were also privy to the information that was contained in Fillmore's letter by special permission by the Press Secretary to the Shogun. We know that Fillmore's letter spoke of his wish that "The United States and Japan should live in friendship and have commercial intercourse with each other"(8). Within the letter, it became clear that the US had three requests for the Japanese people. The first was that the President wish that ""it would be extremely beneficial" for both nations if Japan would "change the ancient laws as to allow a free trade between the two countries". Second, he asked the Japanese to treat shipwrecked sailors "with kindness". Finally, with so many American ships plying in the Pacific, he wished "that our steamships and other vessels be allowed to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions, and water."(9). Some of the Japanese people are unhappy about the whole idea of trade with the Americans, feeling that they are untrustworthy.
Commodore Perry is an avid sailor, diplomat, naval reformer, and advocate of the steam navy. He was born on April 10th 1794 and he grew up on the western shore of the Narragansett Bay in the US. He first considered a career as a civil merchantman, but then his mind set on the navy and he entered. His first job was under Lieutenant Perry (no relation) of the brig Chippewa. He was promoted to First Lieutenant and given a job on the Cyane. His first command in 1821 was of the Schooner Shark. He was then transferred to North Carolina where he was given command of the Brooklyn Navel Yard(10). He is also a tested veteran of the Mexican War and the scion of one of America's most distinguished naval families"(11) If this mission is a success for the Americans, then it appears that Mr. Perry will be just an errand boy for the President. If it isn't a success and the Shogun decides against trade, no doubt this commodore will be back, and he will have turned into a pirate and force us to trade.

Bibliography

(1) Jackson J. Spielvogel, World History-A Human Odyssey, West Educational Publishing, 1998, 785-787

(2) The notes and journals of Commodore Perry arranged by Francis L. Hawkins, Modern History Sourcebook: Commodore Matthew Perry: When we landed in Japan 1854, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1854Perry-japan1.html, 1/29/02

(3) Spielvogel, 785-787

(4) James L. McClain, Japan-A Modern History, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 1944, 136-137

(5) Hawkins, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1854Perry-japan1.html

(6) Ibid

(7) Ibid

(8) McClain, 136-137

(9) Ibid

(10) Commodore Perry - Who Was He?, http://www.grifworld.com/whoperry.html, 1/29/02

(11) McClain, 136-137

Images Cited

(1) Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan, http://www.grifworld.com/perryhome.html, 1/31/02

(2) Ships of Commodore Perry's squadron, http://www.baxleystamps.com/litho/ships.shtml, 1/31/02

(3) Maps.com, http://www.maps.com/cgi-bin/search/hyperseek.cgi?search=CAT&Category=Asia%3AJapanP&Qualifier=, 2/01/02

(4) Commodore Perry - Who Was He?, http://www.grifworld.com/whoperry.html, 1/31/02

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