The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-06-08
OF THE SANDWICH Is
LANDS

From the Boston Bee.
II is we'll known that the government of the
Sandwich Islands has offered to cede the same
TO the United States. No conditions were made
in the offer. 1t was probably made in general
TERMS as sort of feeler. day or two since,
President Pierce instructed and forwarded a
Commissioner hence, to accept the offer, provi-
ded certain conditions will be complied with
These are also to all outside the Cabinet. in the
fog. The probability is that before twelve or
perhaps six months are over, the Islands will be
part of our country, and under the stars and
stripes of the American flag
The Sandwich groupe consists of eight Is
lands, occupying an area of several hundred
miles in extent The main Island is Owyhee,
or Hawaii, and contains 300 square miles In
an agricultural point of view it is not of much
value, since the Island is almost complete mass
Of crusted lava. This is perforated in every d.
rection, and there are few days in the year
when the boiling and raging earth below does
not belch forth its fiery and destructive liquid
The capital ofthe group is Honolulu, place
ofsome 1000 inhabitants, and important main.
Iy for its harbor, where some 100 vessels can be
safely closeted
The population of the islands is now about
100000, l25 900 of which reside on the Hawaii.
1t has been the surprise and admiration of civil
lied mankind, that the inhabitants on this island,
as we'll as on Honolulu, have made within fif-
teen years, the most wonderful progress in edu-
cation, the arts, science, religion and social life
1t boasts its Protestant churches, its school
houses, its public buildings, its warehouses, its
wharves, and munticent and tasteful dwellings.
In fact. every thing betokens an advanced state
of civilization. Man has, as it we're, lifted him
self from the earth and the savage, and stands
boldly and nobly forth in high mnhood Once
| almost frightful in corruption, IN degradation,
in the loOsest practice Of all that marks mankind
with the biackest moral and physical stain, it
has risen to an important position among the
nations. All this within few years. To be
sure this has been effected in pat by the mis-
sionary, but only for the prompt and generous
noble secordng of the inhabitants, it never
could have been accomplished.
The Sandwich Islands may be called the half
way house from the Pacific shons to China, and
all Asia. They are situated, itappears TO us,
as if to be the obedient handmails of our mighty
republic, whose population quarter Of CEN
fury hence, will be one third onthe distant gol :
den shores. We regard the possession of this
group, rising from the vast expnse of the Pa
cifc waters, like point Of Animation before the
western portal of the republic, as Of the utmost
importance. 1t will both enrich and strengthen
our ration. America, we believe, to be the ma
tiol OF tHc WOIiu her ucStlny, teT government,
her institutions are TO spread, Ike the common
wind, over the wide earth. She may here
stretch out her arm and Obtain, in peace AMI
honor, by the overtures of the lawful govern-
meni, those islands. They arethe connecting
link of that stupendous chain, beginning on this
our bleak coast of the western hemisphere, and
spanning almost the entire gobe-forming a
circle OF the poles and placing tie United States
il the grand centre, the monarcl OF the g gantic
highway of nationr.
AS general thing we oppoe the enlarged
ment of territorial possessions o our country;
and We believe it, for the most prt Fl aught with
imminent danger But as we ,ew the matter,
the Sandwich Islands are an exception. They
are virtually presented to US. will involve no
national dispute, no litigation, or arbitration
with other nations, no malice, 10 war. The Is
lands are an independent and free country
This people own the soil. T,ey desire, after
the deliberations of years, 10 be Incorporated into
our Republic, and to form a pat of its great and
truly glorious sisteriood No lonor is compro-
missed, no law of nations vioh,ed in the offer,
nor will there be, in its acceptance by the United
States. We shall assume no undue burdens,
for the government of the Islads is not greatly
in debt-nolhing but which is resources can
very soon and easily meet.
We regard the proposition immensely i'm
portant to the welfare of the Tilted States. We
shall take an early occasion to show whereby
more in detail