to the commissioners of the Sandwich Islands. He said the account in the printed paper was a confused and not very intelligible affair, and his only reason for any reserve in expressing himself on the subject arose from the fact that Lord George Paulet was one of the most discreet and judicious officers of their navy, and could not, he thought, have acted without better grounds than might be inferred from the printed accounts. It will perhaps be in my power, by the next steamer, to give you further information on the subject. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, No. 46.] EDWARD EVERETT. Mr. Legaré to Mr. Everett. [Extract.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, It is well known that our settled policy is the strictest nonintervention in what does not immediately concern us that we accept governments de facto as governments de jure, and that above all we have no wish to plant or to acquire colonies abroad. Yet there is something so entirely peculiar in the relations between this little commonwealth and ourselves that we might even feel justified, consistently with our own principles, in interfering by force to prevent its falling into the hands of one of the great powers of Europe. These relations spring out of the local situation, the history, and the character and institutions of the Hawaiian Islands, as well as out of the declarations formally made by this Government during the course of the last session of Congress, to which I beg leave to call your particular attention. If the attempts now making by ourselves, as well as by other Christain powers to open the markets of China to a more general commerce be successful, there can be no doubt but that a great part of that commerce will find its way over the Isthmus. In that event it will be impossible to overrate the importance of the Hawaiian group as a stage in the long voyage between Asia and America. But without anticipating events which, however, seem inevitable, and even approaching the actual demands of an immense navigation, make the free use of those roadsteads and ports indispensable to us. I need not remind you, who are in so peculiar manner related to that most important interest, commercial and political, that our great nursery of seamen, the whale fishery, has for years past made this cluster of islands its rendezvous and resting place. It seems doubtful whether even the undisputed possession of the Oregon Territory and the use of the Columbia River, or indeed anything short of the acquisition of California (if that were possible), would be sufficient indemnity to us for the loss of these harbors. Independently, however, of these paramount considerations, it is impossible that any enlightened American acquainted with what his countrymen have done to make this people worthy of their mission, which ought to be hospitality to the flags of all nations navigating that ocean, can regard without lively sympathy their present unfortunate situation. All accounts seem to concur in representing this tribe, especially its chiefs, as having been within the last twenty-five years raised from a brutally savage state to a condition which may be fairly called civilized. This is the work of Christianity, and it seems to me a touching instance of the beneficent influence of the common religion of all the Great Powers that it had thus prepared an asylum for them all amidst the dangers of that vast ocean and concentrated it by its own peaceful spirit to a perpetual neutrality. It was with this view that we heartily concurred, so far as our good offices went, in promoting the objects of the mission sent to us last winter, one of the results of which was the message of the President already referred to. You are, therefore, requested to use your best endeavors to prevent the consummation of any purpose of conquest that England may possibly have conceived. France is interested in coöperating with us to the same end. Unfortunately there are embarrassments in the way of her doing so, at least of her doing so with all the effect that would otherwise attend the intervention of so conspicuous a power in favor of so great an interest of the whole Christian world. Still, her ministers may be moved to do something. You may, at least, if occasion serve, sound their ambassador in London. Russia has also a special interest in it, if she looks with any solicitude to her settlements on the northwest coast. Might you not enlist her Government in the same cause? On the whole, however, the better opinion seems to be that what Lord George Paulet has done will be disavowed. I have the honor to be, with sincere respect, sir, your obedient humble servant, H. S. LEGARE. June 19.-In the Times of the 15th there was an editorial article of considerable significance on the recent provisional cession of the Sandwich Islands to the British Crown. It wore the appearance at the time of being semiofficial, and from its having remained for two or three days uncontradicted in any quarter I am inclined to think that it was at least founded on good information. Should this be the case it may be considered as certain that the Government here have made up their minds to disavow the cession, and to adhere to the recognition of the independence of the islands. SIR: Her Majesty's Government, previously to the departure from England to the last steam packet, had already received information, though not officially, of the provisional occupation of the Sandwich Islands, in the name of Great Britain, by the officer commanding Her Majesty's ship Carysfort. I am directed by the Earl of Aberdeen to state to you, for the information of the Government of the United States, that the occupation of the Sandwich Islands was an act entirely unauthorized by Her Majesty's Government, and that with the least practicable delay due inquiry will be made into the proceedings which led to it. The British Government had already announced to certain commissioners, who arrived in Great Britain in March last on the part of the King of the Sandwich Islands, that Her Majesty had determined to recognize the independence of those islands under their present chief. To that determination Her Majesty's Government intend to adhere. At the same time, however, it is right that it should be understood that the British Government equally intend to engage, and, if necessary, to compel the chief of the Sandwich Islands to redress whatever acts of injustice may have been committed against British subjects by that chief or his ministers or agents, either arbitrarily or under the false color of lawful proceedings. Instructions which during the past year were addressed by Her Majesty's Government to the British consul residing in the Sandwich Islands and to the naval officers employed on the Pacific station, enjoined those officers to treat upon all occasions the native rulers of the Sandwich Islands with forbearance and courtesy; and, while affording due and efficient protection to aggrieved British subjects, to avoid interfering harshly or unnecessarily with the laws and customs of the native Government. It has been the desire of the British Government, in regulating the intercourse of its public servants with the native authorities of the Sandwich Islands, rather to strengthen those authorities, and to give them a sense of their own independence by leaving the administration of justice in their own hands, than to make them feel their dependence upon foreign powers by the exercise of unnecessary interference. It has not been the purpose of Her Majesty's Government to seek to establish a paramount influence in those islands for Great Britain at the expense of that enjoyed by other powers. All that has appeared requisite to Her Majesty's. Government has been that other powers should not exercise there a greater influence than that possessed by Great Britain. I avail myself of this occasion to renew to you the assurance of my distinguished consideration. H. S. Fox. יין. With respect to the occupation of the Sandwich Islands, I have reason to think that the conduct of Lord George Paulet in coercing their provisional cession to this Government has been formally disavowed. I am to see Lord Aberdeen this afternoon and hope to ascertain positively whether this is the case. If I find that the cession is not and is not likely to be disavowed, I shall address a pointed remonstrance to this Government against the occupation and spare no pains to enlist in the same course the representatives of the other maritime powers. Mr. Marshall of Charlestown (Massachusetts) arrived here yesterday, with authority from the King of the Sandwich Islands, as a joint commissioner with Mr. Richards. He is the bearer of dispatches from the Government of the islands to that of Great Britain. He has been preceded by Mr. Simpson, the deputy consul left in the islands by the late British consul, Mr. Charlton. Mr. Simpson came to London, a few days since, as bearer of Lord George Paulet's dispatches to the admiralty. * * * I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD EVERETT. " Mr. Upshur to Mr. Fox. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, HENRY S. Fox, Esq., etc.: SIR: I have received the letter which you did me the honor to address to me on the 25th ultimo, explanatory of the views of the British Government respecting the Sandwich Islands, and stating, by direction of Her Majesty's secretary of state for foreign affairs, for the information of this Government, that the recent occupation of those islands in the name of Great Britain by the officer commanding Her Majesty's ship Carysfort was an act entirely unauthorized by Her Majesty's Government, and that with the least practicable delay due inquiry will be made into the proceedings which led to it. I have lost no time in submitting your letter to the consideration of the President of the United States, by whom I am directed to express to you the satisfaction which this prompt disavowal by Her Majesty's Government of the act in question has afforded him. The United States take a deep interest in the condition of those islands-so important from their geographical position to American citizens engaged in the fisheries and other lawful pursuits in the North Pacific Ocean; and hence the President awaited with lively concern the course which Her Majesty's Government should adopt with respect ד' ' to the occurrences referred to. He entertained a confident expectation, strengthened by his knowledge of the reception which had been given in England to the commissioners of the King of the Sandwich Islands, and of the fact that Her Majesty's Government had determined to recognize the independence of those islands, that no undue advantage would be taken by Great Britain of their peculiar political condition, and he sees with a corresponding gratification that this expectation is now realized. Seeking to establish no undue advantages in the Sandwich Islands for citizens of the United States at the expense of other powers, the President receives with much pleasure the assurance contained in Mr. Fox's note that none such are sought for Great Britain. He can not doubt that the recognition of the independence and sovereignty of those islands will be found altogether compatible with every just claim of Great Britain, while it will best conduce to the interests of the islands themselves and of all nations having intercourse with them. I have the honor to renew to you, sir, on this occasion the assurance of my distinguished consideration and respect. A. P. UPSHUR. I then took occasion to advert to the affairs of the Sandwich Islands. The commissioners of the King of those Islands are here, Messrs. Haalileo, Richards, and Marshall, and have presented a written statement of considerable length (as they inform me) to Lord Aberdeen, containing the requisite explanations of the matters alleged against them by way of complaint by the late British consul and others. Lord Aberdeen told me there was a good deal worthy of consideration in their statements, and that he did not apprehend much difficulty in coming to a satisfactory settlement. With respect to the acknowledgment of the independence of the islands, the following seems to be the precise state of the case: The English Government, following our example, acquainted Messrs. Haalileo and Richards in April last that they were prepared to acknowledge their independence. Meantime Lord George Paulet, acting without instructions, had taken provisional possession of the islands by a treaty extorted from weakness of the native Government. Great Britain feels herself pledged to adhere to the recognition of their independence and has invited France to follow her example. France has agreed to do so as soon as Great Britain withdraws her occupation. Great Britain, before giving up the occupation, means to do two things; one, to obtain satisfaction to the matters of complaint above. alluded to, which I am inclined to think will not be attended with difficulty; the other, to come to some arrangement with France which will prevent that power, at some subsequent period, from taking possession of those islands, as they have lately done of the Marquesas, S Ex 77- -8 |