The Polynesian., 1840-09-19

French protective policy, remarks on the
"Laplace Treaty." and the evils which in
his opinion flow to this country by its opera
ton, and broadly inimating that His Ha-
waiian Majesty in signing the Treaty did
not act freely; that nothing but the threat
Of future exercise of force compelled the
King to ailix his signature to it; that the
French have, by the strong arm of power,
wrested from him his sovereignty, SC.
+ Mr.. Castle also tells us in what manner
the Treaty ought to have been drawn up;
what is most for the commercial interest of
the French; something about the Philadcl-
phia humbug, the Black prince, sc. This,
sir, is the second chapter we have had from
Mr.. Castle, upon pretty much the same sub
lcct For chapter the first | refer your
readers t. his "Accnunt of the transactions
connected withthc Visit the Artcmisc, use.
published in the now dehlnct Hawaiian Spec
taor, Vol II No. ", Article ".
beg leave at the same time to refer your
readers to the Supplement of the Sandwich
Island Mirror" OF Jan. 10, l8 20, published
in a pamphlet form, wherein they will see
the sort of figure which the said "Sumucl n.
Castle" cuts in the various Statements made
in the "Account" alluded to.
In your last paper (No. "a, is the an
swcr of ga Resident" to my letter of the pre-
vions paper. As the same opinions. scnti-
monts and tone are common to both your
correspondents, shall take the liberty Of
addressing them jointly or scveraIly as may
suit me lIest-rspecial!y as a Resident" is
doubtless of the same missionary body with
Mr.. Castle, and like him speaks for them all.
SO lar as concerns my first article (thc in
terpletatlon Of the Laplace Treaty. | could
with proplioty IseciGg they do not disagree
with me in that natter drop the subject
bat when attempts are made by the calvinis-
tic missionaries of this country to create
abroad false impressions as to the manner in
which the Treaty was obtained, and to excite
by false accusations and assertions. bad feel.
ings against the French, and CAPT. Laplacc
the ncgot!ator the Treaty. in Particular, |
feel constrained to say something more
1t appears that Capt. Lapace, acting in
the name of the King OF the French, negoti-
atcd or obtained from this government a com
mercial treaty highly favorable to French in
tcrests. Well, sir. is there any thing wrong
in his so doing? Did he not do RIGHT to for
ward the interests Of his country; to obtain
" ''N"'. 10 i"''' aUiO poSalDlc, even IllDuOn
the terms OF 1t were not reciprocal and bcnc-
hcal to the other contracting party; No one
can dispute it. But your correspondents say
that he obtained the Hawaiian Kings sigma
turc TO the Treaty by coercion, by a threat
cned future eXercisc,o force, sc. This is a
very serious charge. aud ought, | confess, to
induce the French government to consent io
the annulment of the treaty, when requested
to do so by this government.
Having sought for the fact, am now sat-
isfied of the ialsity of the charge. have the
best authority for saying, i.aplacc used none
of the means alluded to abovc-on the con-
trary,hc clearly and distinctly gave the King
to understand, both before and at the sioninp
OF the Treaty, that there was no obligation
on his part to sign any treaty whatevcr-but
left it his pleasure to sign the offered treaty
or not; desiring him 10 oci freely in the mat
ter, as no compulsion was or would be at
tempted.
five shall be told that the King did after
all sign the Treaty through fear excited in
his mind by friend to the French. we can
only say in answer, that His Majesty was
perhaps unfortunate in his councils, and that
neither the French or the public can be an
swerable for what took place behind the cur
tan-thc responsibility must rest on the in
dlvidual actors, as they must have taken it
upon themselves to do so without authority.
IA Late Al