Mr. Legaré to Mr. Everett.
Washington, June 13, 1843.
Edward Everett, Esq., etc.:
Sir:
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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 [Page 114] 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 cooperating 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.
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I have the honor to be, with sincere respect, sir, your obedient humble servant,