Mr. Seward to Mr.
Van Valkenburgh
No. 27.]
Department of State,
Washington,
September 9, 1867.
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,
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.
[Untitled]
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.
Respectfully submitted, this 13th day of
November, 1866.
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 |
[Page 60]
[Untitled]
Department of State,
Washington, November 23, 1866.
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,
Right Reverend Horatio Potter,
Bishop of New York, Chairman of the Foreign
Committee of the Episcopal Church of the United States of
America.
[Untitled]
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.,
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.
[Page 61]
[Untitled]
Department of State,
Washington, September 7, 1867.
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.
