American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-06
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
fFrom the New York Herald
The Sandwich IsIands-Important Ru-
mOr-What says the Admi mi tratiOn.

mor-What says the Admi nj stratton!
We have been informed upon high authority
that treaty, from his majesty, Kamehameha
the Second, King of the Sandwich Islands, pro-
posing the annexation of those islands to the
United States, has been transmitted to the gov
ernment at Washington, and is now among the
files of the State Department.
Some two months ago we received informa-
tion to the effect, that in consequence Of the
late threatening attitude of France towards the
sovereignty of these islands, the question of
placing them under the supreme protection Of
the United States had been mooted, and that
the people were decidedly in favor OF the
scheme, which we have no doubt is the fact
And If before this, OF subsequently, the king
and his cabinet have made out their protocol,
and transmitted it to Washington, and if the
document is now on file in the Department of
State, it becomes important to know what Mr.
Webster thinks of it-what disposition he has
made or intends to make of it, and what an
swer he has given or intends to give to the
overtureS of annexation from his majesty King
Kamehameha, of the Sandwich Islands
The commercial Importance Of these islands
can hardly be over estimated. Invaluable as is
the island of Cuba, from it's maritime and COM
mercial position, its fine climate, prolific soil,
and rich roductions-inyaluabl as it would be
to the United States for the defence and COM
mand of the Gulf, and as the commercial depot
of our trade across the Gulf, its value, looking
to the future, is secondary in Importance to the
Sandwich Islands. What are they? group
of eleven small islands, altogether covering
territorial area less than Massachusetts, and
one half of them occupied by VOLCANOES. They
owe their origin to volcanic action, aided by
that industrious little Island builder, the coral
insect From their limited surface, they can
never sustain a large population but their po
sition is every thing. Honolulu, the chief port,
is the halfway harbor of the Pacific ocean.
Scarcely a ship, national or commercial pass
ing to the northern whaling ground, or return
ing; or passing across to Asia from any point
of the long extended coast of the Pacific, from
behring's Straits down to Cape Horn; or pass
ing between any of the Atlantic ports of North
and South America, and Chna-scarcely ship
in all this vast amount of trade and navigation
that does not stop at Honolulu for fresh water
and supplies. There is scarcely a sailor who
has crossed the Pacific ocean that has not put
in to this royal harbor of King Kamehameha.
The commercial statistics of these islands, in
proportionat population, abundandy prove that
in a commercial view their value is inestimable
to the Pacific trade. ...--rr
But if the value of these islands to the COM
merce of the Pacific ocean is now SO great,
what must it be ten years hence, when regular
lines Of steamers will be running from San
Francisco and Panama across to China? What
may we not expect from that island continent
Anstr6Iio, should its gold mines turn out as rich
and extensiyea as the first reports indicate?, Will
she not require several lines of steamers to the
ports of the Pacific, and will they not be there
as soon as trade and travel shall demand them I?
They WILL 1t is impossible then, to put too
high an estimate on the value Of the Sandwich
Islands as q halfway house of commerce in
times of peace, and as commanding military
station in the Pacific in times of war. The
sovereignty over them, if possessed by the United
States, would supply very essential desdera-
tum to the commercial supremacy Of the Pa
cife-a halfway station for supplies Of fresh
vegetables, fresh water, fresh meats, fish, and
the indispensable article to steamers of a ready
supply Of coal. In fact, it is difficult to con-
template the extension of our Pacific commerce,
disconnected with the sovereign occupation Of
the Sandwich Islands. ~
This brings us in round turn to the original
proposition. Has the government of King Kam-
ehameha transmitted overtures to the govern
ment at Washington, for the annexation of this
cluster of beautiful islands to the United States?
Are not such documents now on file in the State
Department, lettered, numbered, and endorsed,
and poked away into some obscure pigcon-hole
covered over with dust and cobwebs? If they
are there, will not Mr.. Webster submit them.
through the President, to the consideration of
Congress? Is he not in favor of the annexation
of the royal Islands of King Kamehameha to this
great country, whose increasing commerce so
much requires such cluster of islands out in
the middle of the Pacifc' Is he not in favor
of erecting the beacon-light of our free institu-
tions il the midst Of the great sea? If not, why
not?
If tie king has proposed, and the people are
willing, what impediment remains to the act Of
annexation ?-the mileage of the delegates to
Congress? or the fear offoreign interference in
American affairs? or supposition that the con-
wont work well so far away from Wash
ington? We shall doutless know the truth up
on that subject, and get great deal Of useful
upon various other international
subjects, shortly after the meeting of Congress
INVENTION OF PAPER.-The materials first
used for writing were the leaves or inner bark
Of trees, afterwards linen, and tables covered
MA NO of a.