Comly to To R. C. Wyllie, August 5, 1878

No. 237. Mr. Comly to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of amended tariff act, restoring duties to former grade of 10 per cent. ad valorem; also copies of report of special committee of legislative assembly on foreign affairs, having reference to matters growing out of reciprocity treaty. These papers did not reach me until after the regular mail closed. I shall endeavor to get them into the agent’s mail for the steamer, which is not yet closed.

There is no time for comment further than to say that Great Britain will be satisfied, except as to remission of duties collected from British importers on goods received before the denunciation of 3d, 4th, and 5th articles was complete. The legislative body will be prorogued to-morrow.

Very respectfully, &c.,

Exhibit C.

However brought about, the important fact is that Great Britain voluntarily sent out the draft of treaty concluded on the 10th July, 1851, between H. B. M.’s Consul-General William Miller and me, of which I inclose copy, marked No. 6.

Exhibit D.

The United States have regarded the existing authorities in the Sandwich Islands as a government suited to the condition of the people and resting on their choice; and the President is of opinion that the interests of all the commercial nations require that that government should not be interfered with by foreign powers.

Of the vessels which visit the Islands, it is known that a great majority belong to the United States. The United States, therefore, are more interested in the fate of the Islands and of their government than any other nation can be; and this consideration induces the President to be quite willing to declare, as the sense of the Government of the United States, that the Government of the Sandwich Islands ought to be respected; that no power ought either to take possession of the Islands as a conquest or for the purpose of colonization; and that no power ought to seek for any undue control over the existing government, or any exclusive privileges or preferences in matters of commerce.

[Extract of copy of the dispatch addressed by H. S. Fox, esq., the British minister at the court of Washington, to the Hon. H. P. Upshur, Secretary of State, June 25, 1843.]

All that has appeared requisite to Her Majesty’s Government has been that other powers shall not exercise there a greater influence than that possessed by Great Britain.

[Extract of copy of the Hon. A. P. Upshur’s dispatch in reply to that of H. S. Fox., esq., the British minister at the court of Washington, July 5, 1843.]

Seeking to establish no undue advantage 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 cannot doubt that the recognition of the independenee and the 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.

Exhibit E.

The legal objection in the Senate arises from the most-favored nation clause in other treaties. * * *

I have seen a great many of the Senators when I came here; that most-favored nation clause met me everywhere. * * *

In relation to the treaty I can only say that the only serious obstacle seems to be the most-favored nation clause in other treaties.

* * * * * * *

Exhibit F.

Twenty per cent. ad valorem.

articles of apparel.

Aprons, breeches, coats, capes, cloaks, furs, frocks, hoods, and hats, bobs, jackets, mantles, scarfs, night-dresses, petticoats, ruffles, robes, shirts of all kinds, stays, shawls, trowsers, vests, men’s, women’s, and children’s underclothing, silks of all kinds and in part.

Carriages and carts, furniture, agricultural implements, machinery, manufactures of metals of all kinds, manufactured stationery, musical instruments, wooden ware of all kinds.

Ten per cent. ad valorem.

Carpeting and druggeting, clocks, combs, gloves, watches, woolen piece goods.

Almonds, bacon, biscuits, 2d. per pound; ale, porter, and other beer, 9d. per gallon; bags and sacks, 1s. per dozen; boots and shoes (men’s), 25s. per dozen pairs; do. do., youths’, 15s. do. do.; do. do. (boys’), 11s. do. do.; do. do. (women’s), do. do.; playing cards, 3s. per dozen packs; china ware, 9d. per cubic foot; cigars, 5s. per pound; doors, 5s. each; aloes, 12s. per hundred weight; chlorodyne, 1s. 4d. per pound; morphia, 1s. 6d. per ounce; potassium, 10d. per pound; earthenware, 9d. per cubic foot; lead, 2s. 6d. per hundred weight; matches per gross (boxes containing 100), 6d.; nails (common), 3s. per hundred weight; horseshoes, 12s. per hundred weight; oils, 6d. per gallon; oat meal, 3s. per hundred pounds; onions, 20s. per ton; parasols and sun-shades (silk), 1s. 99. each; paints (ground in oil), 40s. per ton; powder, 3d. per pound; sugar and molasses, 3s. per hundred weight; spirits, liquors, and cordials, 10s. per gallon; perfumed spirits, 20s. per gallon; tobacco (manufactured), 2s. per pound; do. unmanufactured, 1s. per pound; wines 4s. and 6s. per gallon.