The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-11
Protest Against the Annexation of the
"a. Sandwich Islands.

: The New York papers Of Saturday publish
at full length the protest said to have been de.
livered by Gen. MILLER, the British Consul
General at Honolaiu, TO the King and privy
council of the Sandwich Islands against the
annexation of those islands to the United
States. 1t is lengthy document, and is said
to have occupied an hour and fifteen minutes
in its delivery. Want of space will not per-
nit our publishing it in full, but the following
extracts will be read with interest, and consti-
tutc fair specimen of its tenor; -,-- 4...-
As the representative of 11er Britannia Ma
jestys Government, have sought this inter-
view in order to lay before your Majesty the
sentiments of my government in regard to
your Majesty's sovereignty 81" ,
| The subject of the annexation of these isl
ands to the United States is matter of daily
conversation in Honolulu, and it is even as
serted that treaty is in course of negotiation
to effect that object. These rumors, taken in
connection with certain newspaper articles
published in the United States, and want of
frankness on the part of your Majesty's Min
lister of Foreign Relations towards myself, i'm
posed upon me the necessity of asking for this
audience to ascertain, if possible, from your
Majesty, if any change of sovereignty was con-
templated, and to give my reasons why no such
project should or could be entertained without
violation of good faith with my government.
! am aware of the cOuntenance and support
that the project of annexation to the United
States has received from high official function
aries ut Honolulu, which has given rise to con-
siderable excitement among British residents.
consider it my duty to remind you that the
treaty entered into with the Sandwich Islands
by Great Britain was based on the express
condition that your Majesty your heirs and
successors are bound to extend, at all times, to
British Subjects the same advantages and priv
ilegcs as may be granted to citizens of the most
favored nation and that the joint declaration
of England and France, of the 2Sth Novenl-
Der, 1S43, was founded upon the clear under
standing that your Majesty was to preserve
your kingdom as an independent state. l beg
therefore, to acquant Your Majesty, in the
name of my government that any attempt to
annex the Sandwich Islands to the United
States would be in cOntravcntiOn of all exist
ing treaty, and could not be looked upon with
indifference by the British government.
would further observe that no monarch what
ever has right to ALLEVIATE his kingdom, or en-
ter into negotiation with that view, without
the concurrence of his people.
cannot believe that your Majesty would
for one moment entertain such u scheme, with
out an official notification to the British Gov
crnment of desire to ALLEVIATE your sovereign
ty and that of the kingdom. And feel bound
to protest against the project, gotten up by
American merchants, landed proprietors and
other citizens of the United States, as not be-
ing sanctioned by the Hawaiian Constitution
and treaty stipulations.
Should your Majesty desire to transfer the
sovereignty of your islands, there are many
and cogent reasons why a closer connection
with Great Britain should be preferred to that
of any other nation. Nothing could be more
fatal to the future happiness and welfare OF
your Majesty and your people than annexation
to the United States.