Joe Sessions: The USS Columbus and Vincennes

JWS

The 1848 folio lithographic image, The U.S.S. Columbus and Vincennes in Japan, based on sketches drawn by John Eastly and originally published and disseminated by Wagner & McGuigan,[1] represents a highly politicized attempt to inform the general American public of James Biddle’s failed negotiations with Japan in 1846. At the beginning of the 19^th century, Japan saw a dramatic increase in the number of foreigners landing on its shores for both economic and religious purposes; however earlier incidents with traders from Russia and England spurred Japan to close its doors to all but the Dutch.[2] Seeing the potential benefits of trade, the United States began actively pressuring Japan to also open its doors to American traders, including a failed visit from James Biddle and culminating in Matthew Perry’s grandiose 1853 “Black Ship” ultimatum.[3]

The U.S.S. Columbus and Vincennes in Japan, attempts to soften Biddle’s failed negotiation in the eyes of the general American public. The first part of the lithograph portrays two large ships surrounded by hundreds of smaller ships that seem to fade into the horizon. The two ships– the USS Columbus and the USS Vincennes– have just completed a diplomatic visit to China that concluded with an economic treaty and are now docked at the mouth of Edo Bay; England’s victory over China in the Opium War of 1839-1842 spurred the United States to expand its conception of Manifest Destiny outwards and explore trade opportunities in Asia.[4] The ship’s commander, James Biddle, is seeking an agreement with Japan similar to the one recently negotiated with China. Despite being surrounded, the lithograph portrays the American warships as vastly superior to the Japanese fleet, based on both the size of the ships and the level of technological innovation surrounding them compared to the small and seemingly primitive Japanese boats. In showcasing both the power of the American fleet and the sheer numbers of the Japanese, the lithograph makes Biddle’s failure seem more a product of circumstance than a product of poor planning or diplomacy.

The image further drives this point home by including an explanation of the events that occurred. As the second part of the Lithograph points out, Biddle was not met with open arms; Biddle and his crew were constantly watched, commanded to stay on their ships, and ultimately told to leave Japan forever. This again points towards a “softening effect” in that the account provided places the blame solely on the shoulders of the Japanese. The Americans arrived ready to negotiate but because of strict regulations issued by the Shogunate, negotiation was deemed impossible. But the image does have traces of hope. The entire passage focuses on the fact that, while stern, the Japanese were actually very polite towards the Americans and that by the end of their nine-day stay, ‘hundreds of Japanese had visited the Ships.’[5] These natives were not afraid and were simply obeying an old law, thus setting the stage for potential future negotiations with the ‘Amiable locals’.