The Hawaiian Islands: Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and FinancialHawaii. Department of Foreign Affairs
History
The Hawaiian Islands: Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and Financial
Hawaii. Department of Foreign Affairs
Hawaii; Hawaii -- Economic conditions
Kaahumanu died June 5th, 1832, and was succeeded by Kinau, half-sister
of the king. The king's minority was declared to be at an end in March,
1833. A tract of land was leased to Ladd & Co. in 1835, and about the
same time a silk plantation was commenced by Peck & Titcomb. Cotton was
raised and manufactured on a small scale at Kailua, Hawaii.
PERSECUTIONS.
During the next few years the chiefs persisted in a harsh and
unjustifiable policy, which imperiled the independence of the country.
On the return of the two banished priests from California, in April,
1837, they were ordered to return in the same vessel in which they had
come, and were obliged to go on board of it. Meanwhile the British sloop
of war "Sulphur," Captain Belcher, and the French frigate "Venus,"
Captain Du Petit Thouars, arrived and interposed in behalf of the
priests. As a compromise, they were landed again on condition that they
should leave by the first favorable opportunity. Again on the 3d of
November, another priest, Rev. L. Maigret, and a lay brother arrived
from Valparaiso, but were not allowed to land. Finally Revs. Maigret and
Bachelot left in a schooner for Bonabe, Micronesia. From 1835 to 1839
the persecution of native converts was resumed, but was at last put an
end to by the declaration of rights promulgated June 4th, 1839, and the
king's edict of toleration, issued June 17th.
VISIT OF THE "ARTEMISE."
In consequence of these proceedings the French frigate "Artemise,"
Captain Laplace, was ordered to Honolulu, where it arrived July 9th, 1839.
Captain Laplace immediately sent the Government a peremptory letter
demanding that full religious liberty be proclaimed, and that the sum of
$20,000 be brought on board by noon of the 12th, or hostilities would
commence. The required treaty was signed and the money promptly paid,
and on the 16th, a commercial convention was also signed.
FIRST CONSTITUTION.
The declaration of rights, mentioned above, which guaranteed religious
liberty, produced a feeling of security unknown before, and formed the
first step towards establishing individual property in land. The first
constitution was proclaimed October 8th, 1840. It constituted a
Legislature, consisting of a House of Hereditary Nobles, and
Representatives to be chosen by the people, who voted as a separate
house. It also defined the duties of the Governors and provided for a
Supreme Court.
THE FIRST EMBASSY.
During the next two years the French and English consuls seemed to vie
with each other in the manufacture of petty grievances. Aware of the
dangers impending over it, the Hawaiian Government sent an embassy to
the United States, Great Britain and France, in July, 1842, which
consisted of Messrs. Haalilio, William Richards and Sir George Simpson,
one of the governors of the Hudson Bay Company.
VISIT OF CAPTAIN MALLET.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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