A new edict of the imperial government, displayed upon the public edict-boards in 1868, first called the notice of the foreign representatives to the measures which were being taken.(324) It was as follows: “The evil sect called Christian is strictly prohibited. Suspicious persons should be reported to the proper officers, and rewards will be given.” Nearly all the ministers of foreign powers remonstrated against this proclamation, as throwing discredit on the religions of their countries. The Japanese officials defended the punishment of Christians by alleging the national prejudice against them, which had come from the preceding centuries. They argued that the question was one of purely domestic concern, of which foreign nations could have no adequate knowledge, and in which they had no right to interfere. The Christians chiefly lived in Urakami, a village near Nagasaki. They were said to number about four thousand. Orders were sent by the government from Tōkyō in June, 1868, that all the families who would not recant should be deported and put in the charge of daimyōs in different provinces. Only a small part of the Christians were thus exiled. The government probably dealt with greater leniency because they found the treaty powers so deeply interested. Subsequently the measures taken against the native Christians were withdrawn. In March, 1872, those who had been dispersed among the daimyōs were granted permission to return to their homes, and persecution for religious belief was ended forever. On April 17, 1869, before his court and an assembly of daimyōs, the emperor took what has been called the charter oath(325) in five articles, in substance, as follows: 1. A deliberative assembly shall be formed, and all measures decided by public opinion. 2. The principles of social and political economics should be diligently studied by both the superior and inferior classes of our people. 3. Every one in the community shall be assisted to persevere in carrying out his will for all good purposes. 4. All the absurd usages of former times should be disregarded, and the impartiality and justice displayed in the workings of nature be adopted as the basis of action. 5. Wisdom and ability should be sought after in all quarters of the world for the purpose of firmly establishing the foundations of the empire. The promise in the first article to establish a deliberative assembly was watched with the greatest solicitude. And when during the same year the _kogisho_(326) (parliament) was called together, great hopes were entertained of its usefulness. It was composed of persons representing each of the daimiates, who were chosen for the position by the daimyōs. It was a quiet peaceful debating society,(327) whose function was to give advice to the imperial government.