Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 8th of July, No. 67, which is accompanied by a copy of a letter which was addressed by the consuls of the treaty powers residing at Nagasaki, on the 12th of May last, to the governor general of the province of Kinsin, in relation to the treatment of native Christians in Japan; and the reply made to that communication by the secretaries of the governor general.
The President finds no difficulty in approving of the letter of the consuls. Its sentiments are just, and they are temperately and respectfully expressed. The reply of the secretaries, however, cannot be suffered by the treaty powers to pass without comment. In effect, that paper declares it to be a political crime for a native subject of Japan, in the exercise of freedom of conscience, to forsake the religion which prevails in the empire, and to accept and practice the Christian religion. It asserts it to be the right and duty of the sovereign political power to punish such changes of religion; and it declares that it will be impossible for the government to be remiss in the performance of the duty thus asserted.
Your dispatch is further accompanied by a decree of the Mikado’s court, by which it appears that four thousand and ten native converts to the Christian religion are directed to be seized and distributed among [Page 812] several Daimios, by whom they are to be held to hard labor and scanty supplies of food, until they shall abandon Christianity and return to the traditional religion.
The policy which inspired that decree is elucidated in a paper written by a native Japanese scholar, in which he has discussed the history, principles, and sentiments of Christianity.
In regard to the necessity for issuing this decree, you inform me that there appears to be no doubt, that under the pretense of professing Christianity, many of the people who belong to the humblest and most ignorant classes have neglected their avocations and have held so-called religious meetings at night, where gross licentiousness has prevailed.
You further inform me that it is uncertain whether the Daimios selected to take charge of the unfortunate persons named in the decree have been consulted on the subject, and it is impossible to ascertain whether they will accept the charge of those condemned persons or will refuse compliance with the decree. You further inform me that it is the belief of yourself and your colleagues that the Mikado’s decree will remain inoperative, and that no measures requiring the interference of the representatives of the foreign Christian powers will be carried out by the Mikado’s government.
It is sincerely to be hoped that the expectations which you have expressed may be realized. Nevertheless, the measures which have been adopted by the Mikado’s government are calculated to excite profound apprehension and alarm among the friends of civilization and progress throughout the world. The Japanese have a task sufficiently arduous and perilous in the efforts they are wisely making to accommodate their political and civil institutions and customs to the commercial and social movements of the age, and to the principles and policies established by the law of nations.
They have conducted themselves hitherto in making these efforts with such sincerity and directness, that they have thereby engaged the forbearance, sympathy, and friendship of all civilized nations. If now they shall under the influence of a traditional superstition reject the principle of religious toleration, they will only prepare the way for fearful and bloody political convulsions, which will not cease until Christianity shall have established its claim to be recognized and maintained by the government, and shall be universally accepted and adopted throughout the empire. What the Mikado is attempting to do in Japan differs neither in pretext, purpose, nor mode of operation, from what was attempted eighteen hundred years ago, under similar circumstances, by the imperial government at Rome.
Humanity, indeed, demands and expects a continually extending sway for the Christian religion. Nevertheless it can wait the slow but steady and secure progress of conversion which is always effected sooner or later by a diffusion of knowledge and calm and persevering appeals to the reason and consciences of men.
You may forbear from making a formal representation to the government of the Mikado on the subject of the late decree, until it shall be more clearly seen that the measure of persecution thereby commenced is likely to take effect. In that event you will protest earnestly and firmly, but not without moderation and kindness, against the recent severe measure which the Mikado’s government has adopted, and will warn him of the grave political consequences which may be expected to follow so great an error.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
R. B. Van Vankenburgh, Esq., &c., &c., &c.