Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Extracts from Pirate Letter dated Honolalu October 10
The great subject which occupies the attention of the
wiseacres, magnaes, kings princess and coered royalty
OF the present Is the transfer Of the allegiance
Of this mighty kingdom that Of the Brareau arms Of
our great Republic. The problem as am informed at
headquarters is gradually being worked out the only
ground Of difference at the present being whether
they shall be admitted State or Territory In order
or the protection Of the native popuation to avoid the
chance of slavery The King and all the Chiefs have given
their adherence to the project and the settlement OF the
question is left in the hands Of Judge Lee on the part Of
the Chiefs they all have implicit faith In him, aud he
yields influence among them by far than any other
white the island. In view of the final settlement
Of this question we have already two steamers coming
down for ntersland navigation and run between
San Francisco and this port branch Of the banking
house of Page, Bacon Co., Of San Francisco with
capital Of and the prospect of being
with all sorts Of ragamufns yagabonds, spectators
traders and broken-down gamblers from San Francisco
as we hear that thousand passengers viii be down
during the next two months We have already had taste
of their quality the last arrival brought forty
passengers from that quartet and every vessel that
rves brings less What the effect OF this nroad
is to be Heaven only knows but apprehend that cope-
tion and overtrading will bring about any thing but
pleasant results to the business community who have been
residing here.
The talk case Of the annexation Of these islands Is
to make them the West Indies of the Pacific but the
perments which have thus far been tried upon the soil
uaVe nloet cases, laeu most umentHDly, partially,
perhaps from the nexperence Of those who would draw
from Dame Nature those productions which wont
flourish upon tropical SOIL and partly from the great diff
Guilty in procuring labor the natives being very much
ayerse to work of any kind and in my opinion, def
cent in intelligence, capacity, and activity that several
generations must be born before they reach that point
of civilization which will enable them compete success
fully with white men In addition to this drawback
large portion of the soil fitted only for pasturage the
valleys being in fact the only part which will amply
ward the labor of the husbHndman and they, in all
mountainous countries, OF limited extent, and
most Of them used for the cultivation OF the taro, the
main SUPPORT of the native population.
The productions Of the country sugar, coffee, to-
bacco arrowroot, and indigo which latter article grows
in great prouson spontaneously, and will doubt not
some future day form important staple In the exports
of the country Sandal wood formerly grew in great
quantities. but the folly Of the chiefs for
temporary gain almost exrpated this article which they
are prohibited by law from exporting. There are
two plantations the islands which have proved
BILE. and only two, sugar plantation and coffee.
Boston Afias.