In 1873 when politics became complicated with the issue of the drastic theory against Korea, and political change occurring in Meiji 6, the Emperor worked as a mediator to stop the conflict within the government, by stopping Takamori SAIGO's armed force from going to Korea by issuing the Emperor's official order, and he proceeded to issue an Imperial rescript to establish a gradual constitutional government while there was a Freedom and People's Rights Movement between 1874 and 1875.
明治6年（1873年）に征韓論を巡って政府部内が紛糾した明治六年政変では、勅旨をもって西郷隆盛の朝鮮派遣を中止させてこれを収め、明治7年（1874年）から明治8年（1875年）にかけて続いた自由民権運動では、立憲政体の詔（漸次立憲政体樹立の詔）を発して政体改革を進めるなど、天皇は政府内部の政治的対立を調停する役割を果たした。