The expense of a war could be paid in time; but the expense of opium, when once the habit is formed, will only increase with time.
From Townsend Harris
As the treaty made with the United States was the first treaty entered into by your country with other countries, therefore the President regards Japan with peculiar friendliness.
The President regards the Japanese as a brave people; but courage, though useful in time of war, is subordinate to knowledge of arts; hence, courage without such knowledge is not to be highly esteemed.
The nations of the West hope that by means of steam communication all the world will become as one family.
The United States have no possessions in the east and do not desire to have any, as other countries do.
Since the invention of steamships distant countries have become like those that are near at hand.
By means of steam one can go from California to Japan in eighteen days.
Any nation that refuses to hold intercourse with other nations must expect to be excluded from this family.
Two things are desired in order that intercourse may be had: First, that a minister or agent be allowed to reside at the capital. Second, that commerce between different countries be freely allowed.
Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the state of affairs in China also.
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