Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-07-31
Sandwich Islands.

The proposition TO annex the Sandwich Islands
TO the United States has found much favor in
California, but throughout other portions of the
Union, The scheme is reprobated by every one
who desires to preserve and perpetuate the Uni
Oh. Any further acquisition of foreign terrific
ry cannot fail 10 bring upon us renewed asita-
ton of the exciting issues, which so lately dis
tracted us.
The Government at Washington, il is said, has
acted upon the Hawaiian application in the most
prompt and determined manner. II has agreed
TO signify to the French Government that the u
States will not permit them to execute their
threats in regard to the Sandwich Islands. nor
permit the Hawaiian Independence to be Destroy
ed by any European power; nor will they toler-
ate the surrender of the Sandwich Islands to any
foreign power, whose rivalry or hostility might
in any event deprive the United States of the
commercial facilities which they now afford us.
1t is not TO be supposed that the United States
will look Oh quietly and suffer the French Gov
eminent to subvert the nationality of the Sandwich
Islands as she has done that of Tahiti. These Is
lands have peculiar claims upon America. Our
government was the first to recognize their indie
pendencc, and it was because of that recognition
that England and France also treated them as be-
ing of the family of Nations. Under our auspi-
ces more Immediately they flourished; and with
them we have close and intimate relations. Their
continued independence is Of the utmost impor-
lance to our commercial and maritime interests.
The importance of these interests forbid the sup
position that we should quietly submit 10 their
being absorbed by France.
The Sandwich Islands are the great depot for
our whaling fleet in the Pacific, as they are the
halfway station for our new and growing COM
merce between California aud China. Our GOV
eminent should feel called upon by self interest,
if for no other more honorable considerations
TO shield aud protect them from the rapacity of
European nations; and should the United States
assume protectorate over these Islands il should
be distinctly understood that their nationality is
to be respected as well BY ourselves as by France
or any other European nation.
In allusion 10 the statement that our govern
nent had protested against the course pursued BY
France, the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser says:
at would be wrong TO this country for the
Executive TO remain an inactive spectator while
either France or England was endeavorins TO CO.
cree the Islands into the making Of treaties. or
into the constituting of treaties as either of those
powers chooses to demand. The United States
Government has an undoubted right TO meet any
such movement by firm protest. and by resist
ance il need be-I,st as it has right to protect
its commerce. Although the Sandwich Islands
are prctege of this government-owng their in
dependence and prosperity in full measure to
the United States,-yet we claim no exclusive
rights or privileges there, but simply say, by the
act of the Administration, we have interests on
those islands which require us to proven, any az
gressions upon them.