Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-13
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

As the news spreads of the seizure Of the Sandwich
Islands by British Admiral, the fact creates pro
found IMPRESSION particularly in the Eastern States
where there is much traffic with these islanders II
is not be presumed that the futile reasons given by
the Admiral, the bona fdc of the seizure,
for British officers do not often thus gravely stulliiy
themselves; and indeed, it is hardly to be doubted
that the seizure is made in anticipation of the French
who, 1t was feared, contemplated like act Inc
British Admiral wishing 10 anticipate the French al
mral, who has been trumpng up reasons against me
Sandwich islanders, and who has actually seized upon
the Marquesas, has used, It seems, more effective
trump for while the French have been celebrating, he
has been acting
| Nor is it TO be wondered that this seizure by the
British Admiral creates profound mpre sson IN this
community. 1t not feared, to be sure, that any OF
commercial facilities will be inieriered with, for
the British would be hardly 90 mpotc us thus to add
injury 10 US to the outrage perpeated upon anotne
peoples but our whalers, traders and all others
who have business do there, it cannot be expected
will be well pleased in thus being brought under BIZ
tIsh rule The grave complaint, however, IS this ex
tension OF British power IN the PacIhc owners as
We of the Oregon territory, which they too claim.
not pleasant 10 see this great naval power plant
ing herself upon the important islands the Pa
cic the great highway of nations preparatory TO
adopting the means for prosecuting her claim, or Tor
embarrassing or Gripping the force and means OF the
| U. States.
AS long Great Britain confined herself to aggres
sions to India TO China remonsrance was but feeble
from The world We mourned over the outrages
and the atrocities perpetated in afghan 10 be sure, and
We found IT hard TO reconcile 10 Christian profession
the prosecution OF bitter war against the Chinese,
because under their municipal laws they destroy
ed British opium. Such distant aggressons and out
| RACES, however, were 50 distant, that we could not
ourselves to that energy Of remonstance that
they demanded, perhaps from the whole civilized
world The SEIZURE of the Sandwich Islands, however,
is another matter. If distant from u.s. The outrage is
yet inflicted upon people connected with us by thou
sand agreeable relations and in whose independence,
both of England and France, we have permanent in
terest Added to all this there IS an enormIiy OF
wrong in the act in whatever point Of view may be
| considered. There is not shadow OF Il real reason
given as yet, IN the patry corresponds nce OF the
British Admiral with the Sandwish Islands King. The
veil is, indeed, thrown carelessy the real
causes of the act, that any body may through it.
Fear of France, hostility 10 France, everybody must
zee, is the true secret Of the thing How the Brl
tlsh people, moral and Christian people, going TO justify
a wrong go palpabe and so outrageous as thus, upon
the sole goound, that there is apprehension that like
wrong will be done by ne;ghboring nation with
whom they are in profound peace? Is it polite thus
not only TO nfame the passions OF the already sntii
GENTLY excited Ffenchman, but 10 excite and nlame
| like passions IN these United States
1t TO US, sometimes looking az these repeat
ed aggressons OF The English power all parts OF the
world, that often might has forgotten right it has
never forgotten 1t than in This instance. The
Sandwich Island Government was Just and harmless 10
all nations, so far could 1t sought only
amiiy and concord with The whole world and, to do
wrong TO another people, far from its heart as
from it's manifest interests Now, If in India, or
China elsewhere, there has been probable for
taking up against barbarous half civilized men,
there probable here. The seizure of
Alden from the Arabs, for example, post of vast
importance for the British Government in india, may
he justified, perhaps, upon the grounds, that as the
Arabs agsnst every man, every man might be
against them-but here an innocent, amlable peo
| pie, whose hands open for all men, thus stripped
of their legitimate Government while another is i'm.
posed upon them under the threat of bombardment
and cannonade We forbear however, TO dwell fur.
Their upon this Outrage, till we hear what the British
Government has TO say the conduct Of their Adm
raj We must confess though, in the meantime, that
we do not think any British Officer would have taken
SO grave step, without high authority from home
[.Nc1o York EUening Post.