The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-01
SOUND VIEWS ON THE RIGHT QUESTION"

Thus the National InteHigencer entities some
quotations from the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer,
and the Charleston Is. c. Mercury, disapprov-
ing Of the scheme of annexing the Sandwich
Islands. 1t will be found that there is almost
always wonderful coincidence of opinion be
tween Conservative Wing journals and South
ern Democratic papers in relation to Progress
They fear the expansion Of our territory in
any other quarter than the South They dep
rccate all Intervention, unless certain pecu
liar interest Is to gain something by it, They
look with dstrust upon any movement that
may and to the power of the non -slaveholdiny
element The InteHigencer styles these views
of Southern Democratic papers in opposition
to annexation, Sound Views on the Right
Question" because it il under the impression
that they will control the policy Of the AID
minisiration. 1t cannot imagine that General
Pierce will venture to take any step in con-
clans.
The following is portion of the editorial
quoted from the Charleston Mercurv'
We have more than once expressed our
opinion about this project, when it only gim-
mered in the distant horizon. We are sorry
to have to notice it as a thing near at hand.
1t certainly gains no attracts on by propinquity.
1t is an ugly and a dirty affair. What posi-
be motive have the United States to NEEDLE
with it? A nest of ragged little islands, three
thousand miles from our coast, frequented only
by tho whaling crews and ragamuitns of all
nations, inhabited by sicky and withered
tribe of Polynesians and 80 cut up by sharp
ridges and gullies that all the science of Chris
tendon could make nothing bigger than kitch-
en- gardens on its soil What can be made of
the Sandwich Islands They serve now as
the tavern of the Pacific ocean. Can they ever
become anything better than that We see
no possibility of it. What sort of material
then, do they afford for a State The very
idea is half disgusting, half absurd. But the
United States cannot acquire them as per-
manent colosy without departing from the very
spirit of our Confederacy, and from all the pc.
litical maxims Of our sages. And IA q colony
these islands could be Of no poss bile use, but as
military post--an advanced post three thou
sand mles from anything worth defending
Is not that a military idea In reality, there
il but one argument in favor of the acquisition
viz that 1t is necessary for every Admini>trd-
ton 10 amer something, and that the Sandwich
Islands, in the order of Providence have fallen
to the lot Of President Pierce We heartily
wish him q more profitable adventure"
These islands, az we showed last week have
larger area than Delaware, Rhode Island, or
Connecticut and nearly Us large one a. thai
Of Massachusetts,, which contains a million of
people, They, too, are capable of sustaining a
dense population and there can he no doubt
that, under the fostering care of this Union they
would in time form powerful State They lie
right on the track Of the vast commerce which
will spring up between our Pacific coast and
Asia, ut Il distance Of little more than two
thousand miles from San Francisco L. il not
better that they should become part of our
political system than that they should fall un.
der the domination Of foreign Naval Power
which could Use them as naval depot, aud
point OF attack, in ease of wari
They have been Christianized by American
missionaries. The civilization of our country
is their civilization. American residents al.
ready govern them, in point of fact. The
islands it is understood, desire annexation
What should hinder The suppcsition that
they must be held AZ colony, placed under a
Colonial Governments new thing in our his
tory, and for which there is. no authority in
the Constitutions merely iancifu How is
Oregon, how is Utah, governed Under a
Territorial Consultation, by a Territorial Le-
gislsture elected by the People, and by u
Governor, with Judges appointed by the Pres
ident What the People do in these Terrific
ries, the People OF the Islands can do, for the
habit Of self government already exists there !;