The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-09

When the group of islands composing the Ia
waiian archipelago visited in 1888 by Captain
BLIGH, so well known from the romantic interest
which has been flung around the story of the Pit
carn isanders-the descendants of the mutineers
OF the Bo"my-the native population of Hawaii
occupying the eight inhabited islands of the group
was roughly estimated at four hundred thousand
and the character condition, and habits of the isl
anders, were, at that time described as presenting
strong contrast to the ordinary features of savage
life. ''They were kind, mild-tempered, social
'and aiiecuonate race, living in harmony amongst
themselves; their whole lives being one UNMARRIED
round of cheerful contentment, luxurious ease
and healthful exercise and amusements This
primitive Arcadia, in the North Pacific possesses
one of the most equable climates in the world, the
temperature seldom falling below roo or rising above
$40 whilst from its geographical position forms "a
connecting link in the trade, present and prospec-
tive, between Western America, and Eastern Asia
Lying, as it does almost directly in the track of com
merce between the ports of Australia: the Russian
land English settlements on the Northwest coast
1.-THE Pacific States and territories of the United
States, China and the East Indies" Here, too.
some three hundred American whaling ships touch
seml-annuay, to take in supplies and to recruit
the health otthe seamen Strange to say, notwith-
standing the salubrty of the climate and the oen-
eta freedom OF the Islanders from the grosser vices
the native population is rapidly dying out having
decreased from some four hundred thousand to sew
enty thousand, since the Bounty visited the group in
1858 ior cargo of bread fruit trees. with which
the English Government at the suggestion ofSir TO-
sEPH BANKS, proposed to stock the West India COLO
Mes 1t is singular fact moreover in the history Of
THIS group, that the numerical decrease of the ma
1--WE population has kept pace with their advance
IN CIVILIZATION, and with the extension of their
commercial relations with other countries Ouite
variety of opinions have been hazarded with
respect to the causes which have operated to pro-
duce so remarkable result. Some nersons have
ascrlbed it to the sudden abolition of the old eudal
system originally prevailing in the islands, and to the
auophon OF free institutions, which left the poorer
classes, who were previously in a condition of
serfdom, at liberty to choose between life of labor
and life of incidence in a region Astounding in
tropical fruits and where it needed no exerton
whatever to procure the means of subsistence
others charge it upon the reforms too abruptly
introduced by the missionaries, and even to the
means adopted by them to perpetuate the native
race. Another and more plausible, hypothesis is
tha' the diminution Of population is owing to the
pernlcious influence which has been exerted upon
the morals of the islanders by the twelve thousand
seafnen, the crews of foreign vessels. with
whom the islanders are annually bronobt
lnto contact and whose manners thew endeavor
u Initiate, and whose vices they adopt From
seven 10 eight hundred whaers, and merchantmen
touch at the Hawaiian Islands every wear and
many OF them remain there for months at = timo
Ihere are also four thousand foreigners, chiefly
Americans, scattered over this compact little
Archipelago, who have built flour mills and
"uu opened sugar and coffee plantations. These
may oe regarded as permanent residents. If is
owing 10 their exertons that serfdom has boer
aooisl'eu, ana liberal form of government estab-
hsheu. III was also, by the advice of his Ameri
can counsellors, that the late Kino of Hawai-;
solicited, In 1851, the annexation of his islands IN
the UNITED STATES In 1856, the late WILLIAM
LEE formerly Chief Justice and Chancellor of that
little sovereignty, negotiated, at Washington. a
treaty OF commercial reciprocity on the part of the
ha"aiian government; but, we believe that it was
never ratlned by the Senate. The present Hawaii
an Oaoinet comprises Chief Justice, Minister
OF FINANCE Minister of Foreign Relations and
Secretary of the Interior. The two first men-
toned offices are filed by Americans. both IF
whom previously held places under the govern
ment OF the UNITED STATES and arel staunch Re-