HORATIO POTTER, Bishop of New York, and Chairman to 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, November 13, 1866

[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.