The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-12-02

II WILL be remembered that in September last
the statement was made in the papers Of the
DAY, that the delay a, Washington in taking the
necessary measures for carrying the Reciprocity
Treaty into effect was caused by the absence from
that city of the Hawaiian Envoy. In justice TO
Judge Allen We print the following letters. the
latter of which conveys a high testimonial. and
is valuable as coming from undoubted authority.
Copy Of a letter from the Acting Secretary Of
State, the Honorable W. Hunter, to the Honorable
Elisha Il. Allen.
lUNoTFICTALl
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHTN0rox,
September sih, 1876.
M DEAR SrR,-I am sorry TO notice that some Of
the public prints insinuate that the delay in promul-
eating the Hawaiian Treaty, or rather the Pre-
sident's Proclamation in regard to it, may be i'm
puted to you. In this they are quite mistaken
The delay has solely been occasionsd by necessary
formalities, or rather in part by the absence Of 90
the President and the Secretary of State from te
city. This, certainly. you esuld not help.
}sisnsdj w. HUNTER.
Minister of Foreign Affairs. from the Honorable A.
A Sargent.
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
Washington, Sept. 18th, 1876.
DEAR SIR,-I notice that a telegram has been sent
from here stating that delay has occurred in issuing
the Presidents Proclamation announcing to the
country that the Hawaiian Treaty is in force, on
account Of the absence Of Chief Justice Allen, the
Hawaiian Minister. 1t is an entire mistake. The
law was signed by the President, Tuesday night, the
10Th ult, and the very next morning your indefati-
gable Minister sent q dispatch to the Secretary Of
State inclosiug an Act Of the Hawaiian Legislature
and the Kings Proclamation. He urged immediate
action. This was his whole duty except to sign q
protocol when the Department was ready. But your
Minister did not rest here, but he went TO the Treas
ury Department, where / met him. and then urged
irnuna1iaAa foouanNa Of the rnlaa and ra1nlaAInna
He was earnest TO complete the business, and | Co
operated with him., for my constituents we're as ear
nest as his own. The Department Of State took
time to prepare the necessary papers, and to examine
the rules and regulations Of the Treasury Depart
ment. These formalities, between different Depart
ments Of the Government, always take time. After
Mr.. Aliens earnest and intelligent support OF the
treaty land l believe he was not absent q day during
the whole unusually hot summer), l felt indignant
that q charge so false should be made. The oppo-
sition in the House was very strong, and composed
Of some Of the ablest men, SO placed on Committees
as to make the opposition peculiarly dangerous. /
felt that q crisis was passed when the passage Of the
bill was announced in that body. Mr.. Aliens in
dustry and intelligence conspicuously secured the
result. In the Senate there was q strong opposition
also, more especially from the South, as they alleged
that the treaty was hostile to their local interests /;
and it required great effort to secure q vote during
the session. l had something to do with securing
the vote, and therefore speak understandingly Of the
aids to it. Mr.. Allen was constantly present during
the sessions, and at night when not 80 engaged was
holding interviews with Senators. explaining, etc.
To me he was invaluable in the facts and figures | gain
ed from him for use in the debates.
I have therefore deemed it q duty and o pleasure
to vindicate his good name, and testify to the ample
share he had in securing the ratification by Con-
gressional legislation Of the treaty, and its speedy
proclamation. Respectfully yours,
(Signed) A. A. SARGENT.
His Elk. VIM. L. Green.
Minister Foreign Affairs, H.. 1.