The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-09-12
From the POlynesian.
Consular Drafts.
CONSULATE OF The UNITED STATES OF ANERIcA,l

CONSULATE OF The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
9TH Sept. 1861.
MH. EDITOR A sense of duty to myself, and others.
alone, induces me to ask n space in your paper for the
purpose Of making n statement, and defending the
official action Of this office.
The day after my arrival here, while walking the
streets with Judge Borden. he said he had been required
to perform an unpleasant duty-that of removing the
late Vice Consul-and took from his pocket and read
to me the annexed letter, showing the authority upon
which he acted. The last paragraph h. of that letter
would have been unnoticed by me. if he had not asked
me, if you a. had received any Instructions on that
point to which 1 replied II had not" He then said.
according to my distinct recollection, -" presume, then,
you will draw your drafts as formerly to which, of
course, I assented. 1t is due to Judge Borden that 1
should say, that ! am informed his recollection varies
somewhat from mine. but substantially it is the same.
He thinks he asked me - if you ~ knew that the rule
had been changed" t. which l responded | I" did not,
OF curse, / could know nothing Of the change of a rule,
the existence of which / was wholly ignorant-and this
what is called an - official notice
Or returning to the office l was informed by Mr..
Stiliman that no letter from the Department or from
the Commissioner was on file, OF had been received at
this Office. and not until long after my drafts were
drawn, was anything said by Judge Borden to me, or
by me to him on the subject nor has any official COM
munieation been receiyedb me ON the subject up to
this date.
Soon after the drafts drawn by me had been sus-
pended, and some returned, I obtained, through the
Kindness Of the present Commissioner, a copy of the
annexed letter and not a doubt rests on my mind Holo.
that the letter was originally intended to apply, alone,
to the Vice Consuls, who had been left in charge. and
who were discharging the duties after Messrs. Pratt
and Chandler &. had been superseded" and TO such ap-
pointees as Judge Borden should temporarily place in
office. I could readily see irhy that course should be
pursued rs To them but i cannot see why it should ap-
ply to those who had given bonds for n large amount
to the United States for tine = fIithful discharge Of their
du;ies.' lift was intended to apply to the regularly
appointed consuls of the Islands, why should not the
cnnsuI at lilo De embraced: That the whole was an al
ter thought, and brought about by means known to
me, but which / fOrbelr to comment upon, 1 am fully
prepared TO show. And have evidence IN my posses
ssion that an effort has been made to make that letter,
(whether Is Il temporary or permanent Instruction.
apply to other matters, not embraced in it, and thereby
to have an er post tdeto operation
The present Consul ut Lahaina had his attention
specially called TO the letter by the present Commits
siouer. but he viesed it as I did, and drew his drafts
.. rs formerly
As soon as / WAS Informally informed of the nom
payment Of the drafts i called on the present Commits
sioner. and mace full exhibit of my accounts for the,
quarters ending the 3Ist March and the 30th June,
aud n full statement of the drafts drawn TO meet them.
and he very kindly. AMI promptly. endorsed the whole;
and his certificate was sent 20 the Department Of State
on the 9th Aug. 1861 This course L have taken (and
shall hereafter takel to protect and facilitate those in
terested, and who may hereafter be nterested-protest-
ing. however, against the construction AsOlc put upon
the letter of the 9th Of September last.
IL Is TO me a source not only OF veXatiOn but Of NOR
LITIGATION, that any difficulties should be thrown in the
way Of the discharge Of duties assigned me by the laws
and Instructions placed in my hands for my guidance.
I an the more sensitive on this point for the reason that
I did not seek this office. and was induced to accept it
under peculiar circumstances and at personal and Pc
cuniary sncrifces-not on political or partisan grounds
having but a short time previously resigned a much
more important and lucrative Office important as
this Isl because i would not consent 10 hold any office
rs a partisan, and because / desired the quietude and
comforts of a home and domestic circle, after having
served nv Government for upwards of twenty-five
years. Under Administrations of different politics, in
nearly every capacity, including the present, the Offices
have literally sought me.
hope to be excused for q few words personal TO my
self 1t is known that there are many applicants for
this Office, doubtless under the delusion that it as what
IL tcas in other days-CHe of a very lucrative character
and every vessel that arrives brings some surmises
Of some one being certainly about to be appointed
These surmises DO not affect me in the least. When il
pleases the Government 10 supersede me, | shall, with
much more cheeTfulneSs surrender, than receive, office
which has TO charms for me. But for the information
of those who may be interested / can say that [ have
already asked to be recalled, or TO have the privilege of
saying when l shall withdraw 1t Is to me a matter Of
perfect indifference how my application may be an
swered-as answered il certainly will be soon.
In closing this first and last publication, | should not
do justice to my own feelings if I did not acknowledge
the very great kindness which | have received officially
and personally from every one with whom l have been
connected during my brief residence here. and the re-
greet l shall have in parting with valued friends. They
will ever live in my memory
Yocr obd't servt, JOHN \. PARKER,
T.. :. Consul.