The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-25

Fro@ the Richmond Enquirer,
urk.s Yrenou az Honolulu

Fro~ the Richmond EAqurss
e The French az noaoIuia.
The last accounts from California present one very in.
leresng iem viz the probable blockade OF this, the
most prominent OF the Sandwich Islands The causes OF
the difficulty as we gather them from the papers, may be
stated as follows The principal reason for the threat
ened blockade is the refusal OF the Hawaiian government
TO accede TO the demand oil the French that their wines
and bandes should be received al lower duties than
those now imposed In the treaty which the Hawaiian
government made with England and France il slip
ula,ed that ad oaorem duty OF five cent should be
fixed upon all imported articles except wines and bran
dies Upon these the duties were to be optional. pro-
yided they did not amount TO prohibition The govern
men laid duty Of five dollars per gallon wines and
brandes and included ale and beer The British govern
ment demonstrated against CHASING ale and beer with
wines and spinluous liquors; and the former not
named in the treaty. the duties that had been paid upon
them refunded and more than the ordinary duty
subsequently, levied The French, upon this, insisted
that as wines and brandies much the natural
growth and production of their country malt liquors
were OF England, the exemption IRON the duty OF live
dollars equally due 10 them.
AT the last accounts the French authorities not only
demanded repeal OF the duty wines and brandiesa
manifest violation OF their previous compact-bu insisted
with singular absurdy. that because two members Of the
Hawaiian ministry happened to be Scotchman and an
American, lMr. Wyllie and Mr.. judd Frenchman
should also be chosen to the cabinet OF King kameha
meha Another demand is, that the French and Ameri
missionaries should be placed upon equal footing
with regard to the fsnds devoted by government to the
support Of the missionary enterprise II was also COM
manded that all correspondence between the two govern
ments should be carried on in French, notwithstanding
the well known fact that the English is spoken through
Out the Islands, and has been declared the official Ian
guage of the country account OF the poverty OF the
Hawaiian tongue The frivolous and ridiculous character
OF these demands needs no showing.
Such, it appears, was the ultmatum sent to the Ha-
waiian government with the declaration that il the de-
mands were not complied with BY the 10th Of March,
the fortress would be again seized and the port block
AIDED The government continued firm in its intention to
believed would throw itself under the protection Of the
United States The San Francisco papers assert with
confidence that the American colors will be at once
adopted in case OF an attack The Americans constitute
large majority OF the foreign residents at Honolulu. and
the commerce Of the islands with California and Oregon
is now equal 10 their entire trade with England and
France.
AT least -fouhs Of the foreigners Honolulu
Americans, while there not dozen French subjects
there. shot cannot be fired into the towns oil the
Hawaiian kingdom without destroying the property Of
citzens OF ths United States Should this occur, our
government will at demand and obtain strict
count The people Of California are already looking
with wshful eye to the possession OF the Sandwich
Islands, which are situated the route from San Fran
cisco. from the Oregon coast, 10 China, and must be-
the great depot Of supplies for the whole of that
important trade Honolulu, the largest Of the Islands, Of
which there eleven, says the Baltimore American, is
the place for the vast deposes OF coal which Will be
necessary for the Pacific steamers numerous as they will
be when the OF the Pacific is fairly drawn 10
our western coast and to the ishmus. The island of
Honolulu is ninety miles in length and seventy
eight in BREADTH and much the largest Of the group it
contains some four thousand square miles while all the
others contain but little over two thousand. They lie
between the eighteenth and twenty second degrees of
north latitude, having salubrous climate and pro-
ucye soil II is in reference to commerce, however,
tuat these Islands grow into consideration and in that
their future importance hardly be estimated
No spot in the Pacific compare In value and
in commanding advantages of position with that group.
The population of the whole group estimated by the
missionaries, is about 10000
AT the last date there much excitement. The
Kings palace was closely guarded governmental paper
and funds removed to place OF safety. and other active
measures of defence taken We cannot believe that
government will 60 further than 10 protect citi-
zens and prevent the ascendency and permanent control
OF any European power those Islands Ii cannot do
American citizens, and the important relation which the
Islands must bear towards this country and future
commerce in the Pacific. appealed TO by the Hawaiian
King and ministry, our government will probably inter
pose medative influence But is thought that the
Califonians will hardly wait for the tedious movements
of diplomacy, but, shortly after receiving intelligence of
the blockade by the French. will land the Hawaiian
shores shp loads OF adventurous allies The New York
Tribune looks still further ahead, follows. We have
not the materials for the calculation but II is clearly the
duty OF government 10 that no European nation
shall have there foothold and congoi
"That the sandwich Islands will remote day,
the Tfbune be Incorporated into the American
public, recognised The Pacific coas, manifest dies
predictions oil their inhabitants, and the Intimate
relations alre ady established between them and
ports OF Caiornis and Oregon point directly this
suit We do discuss the question whether such
would be desirable mention II as inevitable
consequence of our growth the West. How far the
present difficulty with France will hasten It's advent
mains 10 be seen"