Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1855-05-26


very winter Of consular discomfort with tn
Kings government, in the cases of Mr.. Charl
ton. James Ruddack and others, and with tn
courts of justice, arising out of the cases @
John Wiley, James Gray, Sturgis s Co.
Charles Brewer s. Co., and other cases
which the then commissioner of the Unite,
States. the late George Brown, Esq, backed
by other agents of the United States, haC
taken up, with the evident intention of break
ing down the government, on the ground o
its incapability TO administer justice, where
the rights of American interests were con.
cerned. So violent had the agitation become
that several of the American residents unds-
guisedly advocated the transfer Of the Islands
to Great Britain, and here, | must do the JUS
tice to the British Consul General, which he
deserves, of declaring that while greatly dis
satisfied with the. course of the government
| in the cases referred to, and entertaining
much distrust of the King S tribunals he new
pr, so far as remember. indicated the most
remote wish, that the independence, of the
kingdom should be destroyed, and superseded
by British or any other foreign domination
Notwithstanding the many and bitter COM
plants that he heard in all quarters, against
the government. Captain Billie viewing things
with the just and discriminating eye of a man
Of the world, considered that the government
was one Of those, which his general power
and instructions authorized him TO admit to
conventional, relations with Denmark, and
very courteousy, made known to me, his
willingness TO enterin into negotiations with that
view. AS preliminary to negotiation he de-
sired TO possess copies Of all our previous
sc oil
and Of the causes that had created so much
excitement in the community. All these were
furnished to him, including the above table
of consular grievances, discussed dplomati-
cally as such, previous TO his arrival, which
he took on board with him and had in his pos
session for three DAYS. When he returned il
with caution quite cOmmendable under the
circumstances, but vet with poIiteness that
barred all possibility of offense, he remar ked
that the statements made in that table, were
so extraoI dinary, that before he made up his
own Judgment, he wished TO confer on the
state OF things here, both past and present,
with some of the foreign consuis. He had,
believe, more than one conference with Joel
Turril, Esq :, The consul for the United States,
whose citizens were at that time the most dis
affected and whose interests were by far, as
they are now, the largest foreign interests on
the Islands.
Alter these conferences with Mr.. Turril,
and perhaps with others unknown 10 me, the
gallant captain told me, that IN his opinion,
no government could stand the sy stemaiic al
tacks made upon The courts of justice, in de-
tiance of all international law; and that he
proposed making such treaty as would rem
der ii incumbent upon The Consul of The King
of Denmark, To keep within The rule Of thai
law, perform his duties M counselling and
amicably settling, differences, arising be-
tween Danish subjects, without troubling The
courts, and in cases pnI admitting of such an
settlement, but necessarily requiring
the action of the national Courts, to decide
them, TO attend and witness The proceedings
for themselves, So as TO satisfy themselves OF
their Justice and mpartialiiy, without starting
a diplomatic correspondence with me, on mere
er pGrte statements made to them, before ca
ses had been fully heard and finally adjudica-
ted, as had heretofore been loo often the
case. Captain Billie further stated that he
would propose treaty, relieving The King en-
lirel,. from the restrictions of the third and
SIKH articles Of the treaties with Great Brit
ain and France, providing, however, that Da-
nish commerce and shipping, should in the
import trade enjoy always the privileges OF
The most favored nation, that this also, should
he he rule, in regard to the carrying trade;
but stipuIating, that in all cases, where goods
OF Danish origin or otherwise impUrled in
Danish vessels, should be liable to an en-
trance duty Of more than 5 per cent ad ra-
loren, such goods should be allowed to lie
bonded, subject only 10 the usual transit duty
He stated further, that as danger might arise
la The kingdom, from the IndIscI inmate ad-
mission OF foreigners and their admIxture with
the natives, he would propose, that theDanish
Consul should examine into the character of
all Danes wishing to settle OF the Islands,
and issue certificates OF their good character,
and that DANISH sailnrs should mol pretend Ia
hal right, without previous permission from
he government, obtained through the Danish
Consul. ,
Whether compared with the late Kings
pre-exi>ring treaties. with his Majesty,'s rights
under the Jaw OF nations, or with those great
evils To his couIts of justice, witch the SAID
able of consular grievances showed the ne
cessity o: remed, ing. maintain that the trea
" with Denmark, was honorable IN Capt.
Bile TO propose, IN the name of his SOyer-
sian, and for me to accept, on behalf OF mine;
and that, properly interp'ete by the:wrll un
ierslood IuIentIOns which led TO It's iorma
Ion, aud by iaIr construction OF It's wordn e,
L Is, to thIs day, one of the simplest and best
reaIies that we have.
can assure you, it was so viewed by his
ate Majesty, as you will see, Dy my despatch
% Captain Bile Of 3lst October, lS46, of
which | append copy, marked No. 80.
Nevertheless, doubts have heen started and
questions raised, IN regard 10 the true meaning
If the 9Th article of that treaty land conse-
lueutly 10 the meaning ofthe 7th article ofihe
reaties with Hamburg and Bremen, which are