The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-06-12

ss1lao14le1h935 -
The uhlseu sta.es hAvs rsssrdsd Tbs cAislnt
authoiilies OF the Sandwich Islands Al Yosetnnens
suited TO the condition Of the people, and res'ins 0"
| iheir own choice and the President - oil opinion
| hdf me interests Of all tie c0nsperciat nations re-
qure that that Government should not be tSltsrtsrsd
~tM 6y Joyeign pcOers OF the vessels when ''s''
The Islands, II Is known that grea majority Deo"s
TO the United States The United States, therefore,
Interested in the fate Of those islands, ana o.
their government than any other nation can be anu
this induces the President TO be qu"e
willing to declare as the sense OF the Gover"ms ~ Oh
The United States thai the Government OF the Sand
wich Islands ought to be respected ana that NO
POWER ought either 10 take Possession OF 'he s'ahus
as coNoufsr, OF for the purpose OF COL AlAS''os
and that NO ought to seek tor any uNDuA DoN
troll over the tx sting Government, or any EAcIo-
sivE PRIVILEGES preferences In matters OF CON-
MERGE"
The President followed up this strong, dign'hea'
and appropriate language, in his special message -
Congress Of December 80, 1912, transmitting inc
above document.
He says of this interesting community:
" Its nearer approach to this continent, and the
intercourse which American vessels have with 1t
such vessels constitute fve-sixths Of all which annu-
ally visit itcould but create dissatisfaction on
the part of the United States at amy attempt by ano-
her poUer should such attempt be threatened or
feared to take possession Of the islands, colonze them,
and subrert the native Government Considering,
therefore, that the United States ssess 80 very large
share OF the intercourse with those islands, II IS
deemed not unfit to make the declaration that their
Government seeks nevertheless, peculiar adyan-
tages, no exclusive control the Hawaiian Co.
vernment; but is content with its Independent exs-
ence and anXiousy wishes for its security and pros
perity. It's forbearance in this respect, under the
circumstances of the very large intercourse OF their
citizens with the islands, would justify ths Govern.
ment, should events hereafter arise to require It, IN
making decided remembrance against the adoption
of an opposite policy by any foreign power"
The correspondence between the agents from the
Sandwich Islands and the Department of State, Mr..
Webster promises December IS, shall be "etfcialy
made kr0tCn TO tn Governments Of the principal
mercal poacers Of Europe" 1t remains to be
what notice the Government of Great Britain will
take of this correspondence. We only know now,
that Lord George Pauet, acting under Instructions
one of Victoria's servants, lays the brcadsde of
her AlaJesty's ship Carysfot opposite Woahoo, de-
mands what he knows the feeble Government Of
simple semi civilized people cannot comply with, and,
on REFUSAL threatens an immediate attack The
King Of the Sandwich Islands, in perplerty BY
Of difficulties ito ,ohich he has been brought Without
cause with tears in his eyes, gipes array the life Of his
land The assailant stands as the representative of
a Christian Dation--the assaiIed is called heather
The grounds upon which Lord Paulet acted are so
obviously frivolous to be hardly worth examining
Nobody believes, for moment, that the Sandwich
Islanders intended to insult the British, in any way
10 wrong Tie DFltiSn. LOfO rautct appedTeu DcloTc
Woahoo with the same dspdston that the wolf in the
fable stood beside the streaA4at which the lamb was
drinking. Up stream or doaa stream, it was all the
same with the poor lamb the wolf was determined
to eat him. So with Lord Paulet and the Sandwich
Islands: he was determined to add this group to the
British dominioRs. The mblaints mere pre-
fences. Had he said to the King: The French have
seized the Marquesas; therefore, (the BritisL) must
seize your domnions,' he would have given dplo-
matte reason for dirty piece Of work.
1t Is an important question, what course Will the
United States take in case Great Britain chooses to
hole possession of these islands, Once this naughty
power claimed the dominion of the Her
tors, and even her cabinet ministers, wont to
assert boldly n peeches and in policy, that, it
had lost the faire jewel in its crown-its American
possessons-it my st retain its sovereignty Of the
ocean at all haZaro5 1t has been driven from this
nsOlent claim And now it aims at shutting out the
commerce Of the nations from every port
where II can do it, For ten years past, the
plants Of our traders the Pacific of the grasfing
policy Of Great Britain, have been many, and well
founded. Notwithstanding our immense interests in
the Pacific, we allow this power peaceable posses
sion in Oregon of the only decent harbor west Of
Cape Horn, and allow the Hudson Bay Company to
monopol,ze the trade of that region. Great Britain
is hourly extending her possessions in Polynesia and
wherever she plants her foot vexatious restrictions
trade, if not absolute prohibitions,
TO follow This late act is the most wanton of any
this power has, OF late years, committed Ii takes
possession Of nation where fve-sxtbs of tue Euro
pean interest IN 1t belong TO citizens o! this country,
and which our Government has declared that no TO-
reign pocer otghl 10 take possession Of NO occasion
has ever presented itself where the claim for action,
on the part Of tbs country, has been so urgent.