Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1854-07-01
DEPARTMENT OF FoREIGS RELATIONS,
II....l..l-. a.


Honolulu, 9th June. 1854.
To ths Speaker ofhe House of Representatives.
SIR Il have the honor to acknowledge the IT,
ceipt of Mr. Guliek's letter of the 9TH inst hand
ing to by order of the Honorable House of
Representatives, copies of two resolutions passed
by them, the first declaring that they regard the
despatch of the Commissioner of France of 9th
March last, as dlsrespectful and implying deter
minatlon in the-said Commissioner 10 coerce the
Legislature into particular line of action and
the second declaring that until the said Commits
sloner shall either withdraw explain satisfactO-
rily the despatch in question, the House will not
entertain any project implying an alteration Of tho
present tariff Of duties
1t is not for me to oppose the prerogative of the
Honorable House of Representatives Of the People,
in regard to whether they will entertain or not en-
tertan any proposal for altering the present tariff
or 70 prevent them from adopting any ground that
they choose in justification Of their decision in that
respect.
So far as my opinion may he held TO be of Off
cial weight with the Honorable House. that official
opinion was clearly stated in the second paragraph
OF page "A, IN the last paragraph of page y Of
my Report, and | may add that / did not so ex-
press myself without ascertaining in the usual d-
plOmatlc way OF the Commissioner of France him
self, that the language used by nae did convey in
my public report precisely his meaning.
have therefore the fullest confidence that in re-
ferring to these paragraphs of my said report as
correct explanation Of Mons Perrin's intention in
his dispatch Of the 9th March, (and as what my
colleagues considered at the time, in connection
therewth,) | say for him what, ifany necessity
isted he would cheerfuly say for himself There
was, in my belief. intention whatever to coerce,
threaten intimidate the Legislature in the eXer
else of its independent functions but there was,
believe, an intention to explain frankly the nature
Of the instructions under which he acted, and the
reasons why he had delayed to fulfill all that he
had announced in his dispatch TO me Of the 2lst
March, 1853, and to impress upon me AMI through
me upon the Legislature, the confidence that he
had in the liberal policy of the King the Crown
Prince, of the Kings Chancellor aud Chief JUS
tice, and of the Minister of Finance, that the
course Of the Government would be such would
be concurred in by the Legislature and conduce u
the presentation and conclusion of treaty equally
favorable to the interests of France and Of the Ha-
waiian Islands
1t appears to me that if the Honorable House
Of Representatives will read NJ Perrin s dispatch
of the Dist March, 1854, Cat page of the Appen-
dix to my repOrt,) in careful connection with his
dispatch of the 9th March. 1854, (at page "a of
the Appendlx,) In their wisdom and patriotism,
they can hardly require any more explanation than
what Is now rendered, to enable them to discuss
upon its abstract merits, the tariff submitted 10
them by the Minister of Finance, upon the adop-
ton of which will clearly depend nv success in
concluding with NJ Perrin new treaty, to use his
own words, Equally favorable to the interests of
France and of the Hawaiian Islands -
More than this, IN any treaty, | could not ask
for, nor could the Honorable House of Representa-
tives desire.
IL a new tariff, taxing the rich and relieving the
poor, be good thing, and if new treaty with
France, equally favorable to her and to us be also
good thing, there is no reason why we should not
cordially concur in our endeavOrs to obtain this
double good.
have the honor TO he, Sir,
Your most Obedient humble servant.
X. c. WILLIE