The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-30

Majesty, with letter from the President Of the Uni
ted States, has just eloquenily expressed TO your
Majesty Ia the most suitable manner the sentiments
OF confidence and good viii that are entertained by
the government Of the United States towards your
Majesty's government. ...
But IL would be a puerle affeetstion If | were
upon this occasion to deny myself the honor and
the pleasure OF offering your Majesty my hearty
congratulations on the recovery of the queens health
and for the many blessings that -benefcent Proyl-
denee has besto we'd upon your Majesty, and your
Malesty's family, upon your government, and upon
your people.
l may be permitted, in conclusion to say TO your
Majesty, that this scene is TO me intensely interest
ing coming from far, far, distant land (having
sailed some eighteen thousand mlles)--from couD-
i try which but few years ago was never known in
Polynesla--sanding here upon an island in the sea
surrounded by persons from the remotest quarters
Of the globe-wtnessing, as now do, the advance
i ment made by you in the science Of government
remembering, as do, the scene which witnessed
last Sabbath day III the native church, where two
thousand Of your Majesty's subjects, lin the COM
Portable babiliments Of civilized fe) were listening
TO the services of the church with interest and
attention, which could only have been expected
from people well advanced in the principles Of the
Christian religion. "A.
| must tell your Majesty that these things are
well calculated 10 extort from the human mind as
piratons Of gratitude TO God and holy wonder at
his mighty works, and the progressive fulfmenT Of
prompt me to ask your Majesty in the kindest and
most respectful manner to what think you is the
4 cess and happiness of your Maesty's government
TO be principally attributed Is II 10 he attributed
| exclusively to the wisdom and integrity Of your
statesmen Oh, no--that is all well; nay adtnira.
bic; but nevertheless something more was required.
IL is, nsy IL phase your Majesty, because (whateyer
may be the evils engrafted in the constitution of
your government by It's earliest friends) your const-
tuition and laws are based substantially upon the
immoveable foundation Of the law Of the Bible.
Twill now only add my best wishes for the con.
unuation Of the health and happiness of your Males
~ and the royal family; and that all things may be
ordered and settled upon the best and suest founda-
tons, and that peace and happiness truth and JUS
tee, may be established among your people for all
time 10 come.
The commodore having concluded, his majesty,
after short pause, replied az follows:
4 REVISED TRANSLATION.
/ To rue COMMODORE:
/ | most cordially salute you, commodore. Every
word you have said goes TO my heart. | cannot
adequately express my feelings upon this occa-
sion. Before your arrival | had heard Of your
bravery. Your arrival has made me know your
magnanlmiiy and your generosity, the qualities
most worthy Of brave What victory can
you gain over us but the victory Of kndnessl That
victory you have gained. Your words Of peace
have conquered all our troubles They are in the
spirit Of the religion which your pious countrymen,
the good missionaries, have taught US; and they
lead to that love and friendship which ought al
ways to exist between my islands and the United
States.
| am most sensible Of all the advantages that my
people have derived from the United States and the
worthy teachers Of religion that they have sent me
and have supported at a great annual expense. Ii
is to their efforts under God that the great changes
that you refer TO have been made The last quar-
ter OF a century my people have truly advanced far
They are slowly advancing. Our laws and tribunals
are not perfect, but they are improving; and with
the blessing Of Col they will improve as to an.
swer all the wants Of the different classes of resi-
dents within my jurisdiction.
Ii has greatly pleased me to know that you have
incucated respect to my authority and my lavs and
advocated my rights as equally sacred in your eyes
with those Of the greatest kings in the world.
look to your government one OF my best protec-
tors IN the enjoyment Of those rights without which
| cannot govern my islands, execute my treaty en-
gagements with foreign nations, nor maintain that
strict neutrality upon which my safety and the we'll
being of my islands depend.
Neither can the march of my government be
steady and uniform, Il my jurisdiction is to be re-
sisted, my lava to be Infinged, and my policy in
fuenced to-day by one nation one way and to-mor-
row by another nation in another way.
!, The principles that you have expressed esmmo-
dore, all of which have been explained to me, are
what please, and what will perpetuate good will be-
tween my islands and the United States.
the hearts Of all my subjects, who will long remem-
Der your visit, under present circum stances, as
kind dispensaton Of Providence
thank you for your kind wishes for the queens
health and my own prosperity; and believing you to
be sincerely my friend, pray that God may bless
and long preserve you.
The king then thus addressed Mr. Ten Eyck:
My heart sincerely rejoices to see you, Mr. Ten
Eyck, as the commissioner of that nation which is
| my greatest benefactress.
receive the letter of the President of the United
States with much gratitude and admiration. Ii is
indeed true, he has shown himself TO he my great
and good friend. His acts Of kindness bury in for.
getfulness everything that is past, except the re-
membrane of blessings conferred me and my
people by the United States.
From my boyhood the principal foreign trade of
my islands has been with the United States and the
very last year it increased $4,000. 1t is their
| whaers who purchase the produce raised by nv
people-lt is their missionaries who give education
to my subjects, and show them the road to heaven
and IT is the pety of American citizens who support
these missionaries in this far distant group of islands
How can forget all these benefits Nothing affects
me more than to be represented as ungratefu for
them, or granting more favors to other foreigners
than to citizens Of the United States. On examna.
ton you will find this charge is unjust, and that my
policy has ever been-as it ever will be--to place
all American citizens under equal circumstances on
the practical footing of the most favored nation.
am glad to hear that you have powers to make
a treaty with me- Considering that the chief inter.
est Of the United States in my islands Is a phan-
thropic one, hope your instructions will enable you
to relieve me from treaty engagements restrictive Of
my own rights as sovereign, and Of the equal rights
of my subjects men, and prejudical to their NOR
ais, which submitted to under the pressure Of adj
| verse circumstances.
You will thus secure my gratitude, the love Of my
| subjects, and the prayers of all good men.
What you say in regard to the intercourse which
| should be maintained between you aud the depart.
ments of my government, is just what we wish. will
order my minister of foreign relations pass you
certain resolutions upon that subject and upon new
treaties passed by the Legislature before its adjourn
ment. You will thus that what we want is
system of frank intercourse, and settle things, if
possible, verbally, without unnecessary writing IL
your principles agree with those expressed by the
commodore-if you ask nothing for any American
citizen beyond what has been granted to any other
foreigner under the same circumstances-and if you
seek only for substantial justice through my tribu-
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