Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-10-20
Trouble ut nm American Consulate.

THE CONSULATE AT HoNoLULU-THE U. s. MARINES
TAKE FoRoIBLE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AND
RECALL OF CONSUL ADAMSoN-INDIGNANT COM
MENTs OF THE HAWAIIAN PRESS.
We have received, through Ziba Ferris, Jr. a
copy of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser of
September "a, published at Honolulu, Hawaiian
Islands. 1t contains, amongsta variety of other
local intelligence, an announcement of the death
of Her Majesty. the Dowager Queen Kalma, and
also quite full report of the recent trouble at
the American Consulate, which incidentally grew
out of her death. 1t heads its report of the lat
ter "a High Handed Proceeding" 1t states
that on Wednesday, September 21st, file Of
marines under command of Lieut.. Cochrane,
from the U. s. Steamship jamestown, proceed
ed to the u. s. Consulate and took possession
of it by force, after brief resistance from the
Consul and Vice Consul. In seems, according to
the Advertiser, that false report of the Queen
Dowager's death about month before it occur
red had led to the lowering of the Consular flags
at the British and French Legations. After the
death did occur the flags OF the two legations
named were again lowered to half mast, but it
was noticed that that of the American Consulate
was still flying Mr.. Adamson, the Consul,
stating that he had not received official notice Of
the death of the lady from his superior, the
Minister resident On receiving such informa-
ton he would lower the flag.
On Wednesday morning (21st) an officer from
the jamestown waited on the Consul and stated
that the Commander of that vessel ordered the
flag to be lowered to half mast. Mr.. Adamson
refused to receive orders from Commander
Trixtun, when the latter sent file Of marines
as above stated who took possession OF the Con-
sulate and lowered the flag. Shortly afterwards
the Minister Resident deposed Mr.. Adamson and
put Mr.. Christie, Vice Consul in charge OF the
Consulate.
The Advertiser says:
1.-THE quarrel as it stands between the several
United States officials is none OF ours but we
may be allowed to protest at the course taken by
the Commander of the jamestown in landing a
force upon our shores as an insult to this Gov
ernment. American interests here cannot be
benefited or promoted by such outrageous pro-
ceedings."
Elsewhere it notices the appointment of Mr..
Lowry, of Pennsylvania, as Consul, in place of
Mr.. Adamson. and expresses its regret, which it
says is shared by large majority of the citizens.
1t says In the year that Mr.. Adamson has
held the position of Consul, he has won the re-
spect and esteem of our best citizens, because
of the conviction, often publicly expressed, that
he had honestly, conscientiously and fearlessly
performed the duties of his Office" 1t attributes
his removal to the manipulations of the "whaling
magnates of New Bedford" who sided with the
masters of the whaling ships in bitterly opposing
Mr.. Adamson because he had meted out full
justice to the men Of the fleet.
Il. J. Adamson, Jr.. the Consul referred to, is
a Chester county Quaker, an ardent Republican,
and lifelong abolitionst During his short
occupancy of the consulate at Honolulu we are
told he brought order out of Chaos and made
the office paying one to the Government.w which
it never was before. While in Pernambuco,
where he was appointed by President Lincoln,
he protected over hundred prisoners left there
by the Anglo-Rebel pirate Florida, and provided
for their wants, and borrowed money from John
W. Matthews, wealthy English merchant there,
to send them home, not knowing whether his
Government would approve his action The
action was approved, however, and he remained
undisturbed in his office during Johnson's
Administration. Although Quaker, he is not
altogether man of peace as one of the sailors
OF the pirate Florida found out after insulting
him in his office at Pernambuco. His friends in
Chester county, this city and elsewhere will
regret his removal from Office.