“When a candid and impartial view is taken of the nature and condition of our trade and commerce among the South Sea islands, and of the condition of the governments of those islands in 1823 …”
“… compared with what they now are, and with what they are destined to be, it will hardly be denied that our interests in that quarter, even in 1826, were sufficient to warrant the expense of a mission of high grade.”
“Between our trade with China, and our whale-fishery and commerce among the South Sea Islands, I consider the latter vastly more important to the United States, viewed in whatever light the question may be.”
“Master Commandant Jones was instructed to endeavor to relieve those islands from American seamen, who improperly deserted from whaling and other vessels, and taken refuge there, to the annoyance, not only of the people, but to the injury of our own citizens …”
“… to make arrangements by which such desertions might be prevented, and, if possible, to secure certain debts due to our citizens by the people, and government.”
Thomas ap Catesby Jones was born April 24, 1790 to Major Catesby and Lettice Turbeville Jones at Hickory Hill in Westmoreland County, Virginia. (The ‘ap’ in his name is a Welch prefix noting he is ‘Thomas, the son of Catesby Jones.’)
Growing concerns over treatment, safety and attitudes toward American sailors (and therefore other US citizens in the Islands) led the US Navy to send Jones to sail to the Islands, report back on what he learned, banish the bad-attitude sailors and maintain cordial relations with the Hawaiian government.
In his words … “The object of my visit to the Sandwich Islands was of high national importance, of multifarious character, and left entirely to my judgment as to the mode of executing it, with no other guide than a laconic order, which the Government designed one of the oldest and most experienced commanders in the navy should execute …”
“… if then it should appear that I have transcended the authority legally vested in me by the course I have pursued, whether as regards the arrangements made with the authorities of the several islands …”
“… or with respect to the exercise of judicial power over, and the removal of citizens of the United States from the scenes of their lawless practices, I once for all place my defence upon the grounds of imperious necessity in a situation altogether then novel and without a precedent.”
“For here we find the flag of most commercial nations covering their ships richly laden, whilst their heterogeneous crews promiscuously intermix on shore without the constraint of law …”
“… which, if necessary, to curb the inordinate propensities of man in the best regulated societies, what might we not expect of sailors, who from time immemorial, have been looked upon, though with great injustice, as the very refuse of the human species …”
“… when those who convey them there, and who ought to set a better example, declare that ‘there is no law round Cape Horn,’ and that no act however atrocious, committed by a foreigner at those Islands is cognizable, or can be punished by the laws of the country to which the offender owes allegiance …”
“… and they even go further and declare that the Rulers of the Islands have no authority to punish foreigners who transgress their laws. Such were the judicial views of the foreign residents and traders at ‘ Woahoo’ when the Peacock arrived.”
“Then may I be asked what guarantee had the American Merchants for the safety of five millions of their property that enters the port of Honolulu annually, or the individual engaged in this commerce, for his life and liberty. The answer must be none!”
“Again we see a great influx of English Renegades from New South Wales into the Sandwich as well as the Society Islands, and I was informed by the English Consul-General for those Islands that his orders were not to molest these scape-gallows …”
“… who as soon as out of the reach of the halter, according to the views of the British ministry, are fit subjects for increasing His Majesty’s influence, and even for giving laws to the South Sea Islanders.”
“The missionaries at the Society Islands will bear testimony to the great evils Otaheite has already experienced by the interference of convicts who have escaped from Botany Bay, and forced their way to that Island.”
“Their number is quite sufficient now, at the different islands – and I know it to have been their design, in the event of war between the United States and England …”
“… to fit out the small vessels of the islands for the purpose of predatory warfare upon our defenceless commerce and whale-fishery in the Pacific Ocean, which, with the assistance of the Islanders, they would have annihilated before protection could be sent to its relief …”
“… hence the importance of strict neutrality on the part of all the South Sea Islanders in future wars between the United States and European Powers.”
“Under so great a responsibility, it was necessary for me to proceed with the greatest caution, and to measure well every step before it was taken; consequently the first ten or fifteen days were devoted to the study and examination of the character and natural disposition of a people who are so little known to the civilized world, and with whom I had important business to transact.”
“I however, at an early period after my arrival, took an occasion to state verbally to the chiefs, etc., that I should in a few days address them some communications designed to place upon a firm and permanent basis the friendly intercourse between our respective countries …”
“… to which they answered ‘it is good,’ or ‘it will be well,’ which is the highest term of approbation their language admits of. At this time Kalaimoku, the Prime Minister, a chief of great talents and influence was laboring under a severe dropsical attack …”
“… and Kaahumanu, in whom the government of the islands at present rests, was absent, and whose approbation could alone render valid any arrangement that might be effected …”
“… my principal communication was not made until the 13th of November; in the mean time preliminary notes were addressed to the King under dates of Oct. 17th, 23rd, and 31st, and November 4th, 1826.”
“The regulations which accompanied the letter of the 23rd were immediately approved of by Governor Boki and the King, and were accordingly adopted, and now form a part of their code …”
“The rule suggested by myself, and which was adopted on that occasion, with regard to citizens of the United States, and which ought never to be departed from, was, that all those sailors who had deserted, however remote the period …”
“… should be removed from the island, and those who were there from any other cause who had not some visible means of making an honest livelihood should also he removed, as well as all other foreigners who did not support a good character.”
“The number of American deserters banished from the scenes of their iniquity (many of whom, however, had been driven to it by the oppression of their employers)on this occassion, amounted to near thirty …”
“… most of whom were ultimately disposed of to the whale-ships in port, while the remainder, with the exception of one or two who were of notorious bad character, were permitted to sign articles for, and now compose a part of the Peacock’s crew.” (Jones Report to Navy Department, 1827)
Jones resolved the sailor desertion issue, the chiefs agreed to pay in full the debts and then Jones negotiated ‘Articles of Arrangement’ noting the “peace and friendship subsisting between the United States and their Majesties, the Queen Regent and Kauikeaouli, King of the Sandwich Islands, and their subjects and people,” (later referred to as the Treaty of 1826, the first treaty signed by the Hawaiians and US.)
He “secured for himself among the people the designation of ‘the kind-eyed chief’ – a compliment falling on the ear of many of different classes”. (Hiram Bingham)
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