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

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward

No. 5.]

Legation of the United States, Yedo, January 12, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 5, under date of October 15th, 1866; also No. 26, dated October 22d, 1866, directed to A. L. C. Portman, esq., late chargé d’affaires ad interim.

Through the kindness of Sir Harry Parkes, her Britannic Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at this capital, I have been furnished with copies of certain documents, translations of which I enclose, (No. 1.) They are important as bearing upon the present state of affairs in this country.

The first is an address directed by 22 of the Daimios to the Mikado, and purports to have been delivered in person to him at about the time of the death of the late Tycoon.

It seems by the second paper that the Mikado immediately sentenced the Daimios who were so bold thus to address him, to confinement in their own residences, but on the 1st of November he issued a decree summoning a council of Daimois at Kioto, upon representations made to him by Tokugawa Chinnangong. The Tokugawa family is that from which the Tycoon is taken, and the title “Chinnangong” is given to the successor appointed by the Mikado previous to his investiture as Tycoon.

The last paper is a letter from the Prince of Etshizen to Hotsbashi, now Tycoon. The prince is one of the most powerful Daimios and is considered a man of ability.

Shogun is the title by which the political ruler of Japan is known. Tycoon, while meaning Great Lord, was not his title until adopted by foreigners, and he is now better known as Shogun, meaning “commander of the armies.”

The recent council of Daimos held at Kioto seems to have had its origin in this decree of the Mikado, but whether it accomplished anything we do not, as yet, know.

The new Tycoon has not been invested with his office according to the ceremonies attendant upon it, but it is supposed such investiture will take place immediately at Osacca, where he now is.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH,

Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

Proceedings at Kioto.

Address of twenty-two Kuge to the Mikado.

On the 8th October, 22 of the Mikado’s court presented themselves before the Mikado and addressed him in person the following discourse:

1. Japan has, at the present hour, arrived at an important epoch, and still, up to to-day, no steps have been taken to assemble the Daimios and to take council with them. For whatreasons has such an important step been delayed ?

Your petitioners pray that even on this very day measures should be taken to summon Daimios, as the state of affairs will not bear any delay.

2. The war with Chosin should be put an end to by an order of the Mikado.

3. It is improper that the Mikado’s policy should be always changing, as in the present case.

4. Pardon should be granted to the officers of the Mikado’s court at present incurring his displeasure and undergoing punishment.

ORDER ISSUED BY THE MIKADO CONSEQUENT UPON ABOVE ADDRESS.

Many persons having plotted together and addressed the Mikado without due respect, thus committing an extreme breach of reverence, they are therefore condemned to be confined to their residences.

The necessary guards for the execution of this order will be supplied by Aiza (protector of Mikado) and Kuwana, (Tycoon’s representative at Kioto.)

DECREE OF MIKADO SUMMONING COUNCIL OF DAIMIOS.

9th Month, (October and November, 1866.

In consequence of the representations made to us by Tokuzawa, Chinnaugonz, and also imbued with a desire to hear the opinions of the various Daimios, we desire that you will come up to Kioto immediately. The decisions of the meeting are to be brought before us through the Chinnaugonz.

To Owari, Kushee, Kanga, Thizen, Hiogo, of Rinoske, if the Prince is prevented; Awa, or his son; Chickuzeu, Matsdaira Dura No Kami, Kurimie, Matsungama, or his son; Maba, Iosa, Igo, (Uwajuna;) Satsuma, Ise, or his son; Matsdaira No Kawa No Kami, Bizen, Tachibana Hida No Kami, Sendai; Matsudaira Okura No Tayer, Ugulhegi Sakibon Tayer, Aizu, Kuwana, at present already resident at Kioto.

The following Daimios were summoned by direct writ from the Uye Sama, the same being carried by his retainer Mawe Iawa Magohachiro: Owari Matsundaira Linsa No Kami, old prince of Hizeu Kanga, old Prince of Josa Yodo, old Prince of Uwajima, Date Iyo No Kami, old Prince of Satsuma, Shumadzu Osnim No Kami, Nogeska Rionoske.

ADDRESS OF THE PRINCE OF ETSHIZEU U STOTSBASHI.

It is now evident that the shogunship does not at present exist. It belongs now to the Mikado to bestow the appointment either, as customary, on the Tokugawa family or upon some other person. If the Mikado insists upon bestowing it upon the Tokugawa family I advise you to assemble the Daimios and not to accept it before having consulted them. You should request the Mikado to issue a mandate to the Daimios to assemble in council. (Note written in small characters.) The best and shortest way would be to put a isugo or Mikado’s officer and a member of the Gorogio on board a steamer and make them the bearer of the summons.

If the Daimios, having assembled, shall decide, after public discussion held, that the appointment should be bestowed upon the house of Tokugawa, you should not then hesitate to accept it. (Note written in small characters: Would it not, for the present, be better to decline the change of government if at once delegated by his Majesty?)

The government for the future to be adopted in the country, as well as the settlement of Choshin, should also form the subject of your council with the Daimios. You should ask their opinion as to whether a liberal pardon would not be the best means of effecting this. Let the question be, at any rate, fully discussed, and submitted to the final decision of the Mikado. In thus acting you will, whilst obtaining the assistance of the mandate of the Mikado, impress the people with the conviction that, if elected new Shogun, you would act in a public spirited and unselfish manner, and thereby you will gain general confidence and allay suspicion. But if, at this moment of transition, any failure should attend your proceedings, it may be foreseen that your government will be thereby obstructed hereafter.

If you cannot now master your ambition, and lay the shogunship open to the whole empire, you must not expect to see peace again restored to the country.

Said to be dated 8th month, (October,) 1866.