New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-30
THE SOCIETY ISLANDS.
ANNEXATION PROPOSED.

The San Francisco Herald publishes important cors
respondence from the Society Islands, written by Mr..
Thomas Croft residing in that country. We make tho
following extracts
"RlATE,, s. l., june g. 1854
About two weeks ago, Tanat0a V, the King u
these islands, WAS dethroned by the Governors-ths
kiDg-makDg and king breaking power here. The hag
Of the King then hauled down in the presence OF
Count Ponget, Cornmandant, particular and Vice.
Governor # Tahiti, and also in the presence OF the
commander of his Imperial Majesty steamer Milan,
and the acting British Consul who disclamed any
right to interfere ia the mater-a treaty 10 that ecs
having been made between France aad Grea, Britain.
Henry Owner esq, the United States Consul Who
was also present, when called upon to give his opAoa
in the matter, said that he not authorized BY hs
Government 10 interfere, in any manner, with the IL
ternal Affairs Of this Government.
" little more than year ago an invitation Wa
extended TO 1amatOa "a son Of Pomare, the Queen VI
Tahiti by the Governors Of Raiatea and Tahas, %
10 come down here and accept the office Of King, and
they promised 10 crown him and install him into tts
office &c. He accepted the invitation, and on the
18th day of August, 1857, he was duly crowned and
installed into office.
For a while he performed bis duties to the salts.
faction Of the powers here, but when he found hHsef
well seated his throne he began 10 commit off nses
similar 20 those committed by the former Kings II
these Islands, l. e., selzng the peOpes lsId food Sc1
without paying for them, notwithstanding they bd
committed no ofense, otherwise rendered ther
lands Ac., liable 10 seizure. Ofenses similar 10 these
have caused nearly all the revolutions these isIaD
ana nave caused the unseating OF severa! kings and
considerable boodshed. The newly crowned kns
could expect no better treatment ard; the 10th lf,
on the occasion Of the French steamer Milan coming
here for PomGre, who had accompanied her son here
ard was deslrOus VI returning 10 Tahiti the Governors
politely told the King that, in consequence OF MS
tyranny, they could DO without HE services az knf,
but as landhoder here he could stay, 20 " Ishu
with his mother. lie chose 10 20 to Tahiti.
The Office Of King was thereby male vacant, aed
the administrative power fell, in Consequence, tho
Governors, the highest remaining executive power.
AFTER celebrating for several days on the condition
Of affairs, they came 10 the conclusion Of offering tns
Government TO the United States and IL ask adrlsson
into the American Union.
Accordingly, on the 18th Of May last the Cover.
Dors &C., OF TaLaa, Of the two islands under this
Government, invited the United States Consul Henry
Owner, esq, to public dinner, and after making
number " speeches. placed in bis hands several copies
of q letter to the Government of the United states,
asking admission into the Union, aai offering 70 pscs
Their irlsnd IN the possession of tie United Ststes
without asking anything for themselves, and wit5ous
demanding anything Ike purchase money, or making
any stipulation or in other words presenting them
selves tAelr Islands and tlfr Government ancoDa'-
tionally.
Mr.. Owner, in a neat speech, accepted their letter
and promised 10 forward il to the United States, stat
lng nat his Instructions bound him rot only scceps
and forward letters from Government, &C., a. IN ths
present case but also from the humbest person pres
ent, and that he would forward their letters with Plea
sure. and by the first opportunity
" THE movement Yves followed up by the Govern
ors Of Ratea on the 9TH OF June, list, by snnnH
letter.
The above Offer on the part of the chiefs here,
comes very opportune for the United States, a. there
is an infant commerce row growing up between mo
Anglo Ss xon popu alton located the eastern shore
of the Pacific and those Of Austra5a ana Nsw
Zealand, &C., which commerce VIII, IN AZ pf09a0-J