The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-27
PU ELiSHED EEKLY RY
III ENRH VI. WHITNEY.

separate line Of steamers between san Francisco and
Honolulu, provided Congress would grant the neces-
saTy subsidy for such service. As Congress has
now authorized such a subsidy, and the Postmaster
General has issued call for proposals. the inference
j. that this Company will be a competitor for the
service. As bids viii be received Washington to
July l, 1867, action can be had on this measure
until after that date. The following is the letter
refcrrel to:
OFFICE OF THE Pacific Mail STEAMSHIP Co,
NEW YORK, February 20, 1867.
nj, EEessHey r. ~ Hafeais0n, Mi~sfs, ef Ipfsrio5 If
DEAR SIR;-lIaying the lst day Of January last
accepted and signed behalf of this Company the
drit Of the contract between the Hawaiian Govern
nent and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
proposed by yourself to Captain F. L. Baby, and
having duly Transmitted said contract, in duplicate
to our san Francisco Agency 10 be presented TO You
for signature the part Of the Hawaiian Govern
meut, now consider it due to you and to your Gov
to give yOu the earliest information that the
Congress OF the Unitel States has passed, and the
President has approved, "a law whereby much of
the China Mail Act OF February l., 1867 requires
the steamers touch Honolulu Is repealed ON con-
ditOn 0f the immediate establishment of IA branch
line between Japan and Shanghle free Of expense to
the United States y copy Of said law respectfully
enclose.
Although the condition imposed is, in an immediate
Pecuniary point Of view, more Onerous than would
be, during several years, the performance of the
service released II must be accepted by the Company
the best that could be obtained and because it
enables at TO proceed To carry out the great
and main objects for which the China Steamship
Line was authorized by Congress and undertaken by
us, namely, the development and diversion 10 the
shores of AMERICA of the vast commerce Of Eastern
Asia, controlled by England and France.
We have not failed to appreciate-and in our en-
deayOrs to secure the release Of main line from
the stoppage, have always admitted and insisted
uI1n-the commercial, and especially the political
importance, alike this country and the Hawaiian
Islands, of their closer and more intimate union by
nOuu and San FranciscO; AMI we have at all times
been ready and willing to establish separate service
ON this route, any terms not wholly inconsistent
with obligations TO the stockholders of this Com
pany- Thus prepared to accept the terms of
the Senate Joint Resolution of the last session, where
by only $4,000 year was allowed for the Hawai-
ian service, provided a clause requiring thirteen
round voyages by the China Line instead OF twelve
annually, were struck out. To this (the House of
Representatives, being unable to act the subject AT
the last sess!On) the proper Committee Of the House,
although not Oljecting to the modification indicated,
unwilling TO agree, refusing not only to increase
the subsidy of the Hawaiian branch to 100000,
should fairly have been done, but to recommend
the less amount, passed by the Senate The menl-
beIs Of the Committee Appropriations likewise
AyOwed their hostility to the grant of additional
subsidy. In this state of affairs it would only have
remained for us to perform the service between Cali
fUrlia and China by way of Honolulu, Just
tice to stockholders, establish and maintain the
branch line at their expense; and felt confident,
moreover, that the public wOuld long appreciate
the as we do, and perceive that III spite OF lts
own importance the service between Honolulu and
San Francisco Is practically inconsistent with the
success Of line between California and Japan and
China and that the other object Is inevitably
sacrificed by the attempt to compass both 10y single
line.
The measure just proposed was then proposed to
by leading members of the Appropriation Committee,
and, already stated, accepted by final
necessity, the exactiOn being submitted to by US be-
cause although OnerOus, We believe it to be iii the
direction of for the main line. Having been
accepted, II received the unanimous support of the
Committee ON Appropriations of tine House of Repre-
scntatves and the Committee Finance Of the
Senate, and passed by both Houses without de
bate division, having met with no opposition what
ever in either body.
When we accepted the very liberal privileges grant
ell to by your Government, 1T distinct be-
lief that Congress would either refuse To release our
China Line from the stopp1ge at Honolulu, would
authorize the establishment OF branch line; in
either of which alternatives, we should have been
prepared To- avail of those privileges and 20 render To
your Government equivalent IN the efficient per-
fUrInance Of service the other Under existing
circumstances. and gratefully appreciating the hber
ality and wisdom eyinced by yourself and the Hawai-
ian Government in the grant of these enlarged con-
cesSiUns, we deem II due not only TO your kindness
but ~ matter of Justice now voluntarily TO
der to you the grant and all rights or claims con-
nectel Herewith
IL only remains to say that shall our
best endcIvors and influence 10 secure the adoption
OF legislation for the establishment of ocean mail
steamship service between Honolulu and san Fran
cisco; that bill to accomplish that object has al
ready been introduced into Congress- and will receive
the support of our friends with good prospects for
it. early passage; and that should this Company be
among the bidders for the service, when authorized,
and the contract be awarded to Us, We may once
more pray YOU for u restoration OF the concessions
herein voluntarily and gratefully surrendered.
! should he unwilling to close this already long
communication without personally repeating To your
Excellcncy the explanation which / promptly in
IA
of the which governed this Company To semi
the COorado ON her first voyage between San Fran
cisco and Japan, by the direct route, instead of hav
nE her touch at Honolulu, as required by the con-
tract As the Company thereby incurred the penalty
Of fine, limited i'll amount only by tine discretion OF
the Postmaster General OF the United States, need
hardly say that no pecunlay consideration dictated
the step t0 which, on the contrary, we were lmpelied
y the constant pressure of the mercantile community,
both here and III California, the stress laid in China,
Europe and America by all classes ON the results OF
the initial voyage; and the necessity insisted ON by
all classes. Of demonstrating by that voyage the best
capabilities Of the Our uncertainty a 10 the
procurement of coal at your port having heard no
Of the arrival of either Of our shipments made
last fall would moreover. have compelled to start
with heavier Load and thereby have added To the
already increased duration of the voyage by way Of
Honolulu. beg your Excelency to remember that
we then believed our regular voyages to your port
were merely postponed for three months, not. a. has
proved. indefinitely interrupted and Furthermore,
that this abandonment formed no part of our plans
or wishes.
In conclusion, permit to express to your Ex
ceIency the readiness of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company at all times do anything III its power To
promote the interest and welfare Of the Hawaiian
Government or people, or To cement the friendship
now happily existing between our respective coun-
tries: and to beg that You will accept for yourself
and convey to His Hawaiian Majesty, the assurances
OF the distinguished consideration OF the PacInc Mail
Steamship Company and the undersigned, person.
ally.
remain very respectfully, your Obedient servaut,
ALLAN MCLANE, President
GEORGE WILLIAMS,
LICENSED SHIPPING AGENT.