Phillips to General E. M. McCook, August 20, 1868

Mr. Phillips to Mr. McCook.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 29th ultimo, inclosing a copy of the resolution of the Senate of the United States in regard to the so-called coolie trade, by which it is sought to indicate the moral sentiment of the United States, and in which the fraudulent traffic in Oriental labor is denounced as “inhuman and immoral.”

His Majesty’s government recognize the influence of this declaration. The exalted character of the body originating it, and the importance of the philanthropic question considered, demand for it high respect. Neither has your dispatch done more than justice to the humane and elevated sentiments of his Majesty the King of these islands You are aware, sir, that the constitution granted by the present sovereign, on the 20th day of August, A. D. 1864, contains the following:

“Article 11. Involuntary servitude, except for crime, is forever prohibited in this kingdom; whenever a slave shall enter Hawaiian territory, he shall be free.”

His Majesty’s government are bound to resist all attempts, under any disguise, to revive a system of involuntary servitude. The resolution of the Senate is, therefore, sympathetically welcomed; for it expresses the purpose of a powerful government to adhere to a world-renowned policy of extirpating the last vestige of human slavery.

The peculiar situation and necessities of the Hawaiian islands invest this subject with especial interest. Upon the introduction of the sugar culture, an unexpected demand arose for cheap labor. The want could not be supplied without looking abroad.

Attention was naturally directed to the over-peopled Oriental countries, and a strong pressure was brought to bear upon the government to permit such an indiscriminate traffic in “coolie labor” as would have deserved the epithets of “inhuman and immoral.” The feeling was so strong that the authorities were exposed to the charge of oppression, and unwarrantable interference with private enterprise. But the ground was taken and firmly adhered to, that the introduction of labor from abroad was not a matter of “enterprise” or “traffic” at all, but a high prerogative of government, which should no more be farmed out than the superintendence of the police, or the administration of justice. A board of immigration was organized, which has ever since superintended the introduction of laborers and their contracts with employers, and has guarded their rights by stringent regulations. In fact, it has exercised over these friendless people a superintending care not unlike that of the Freedmen’s Bureau of the United States. Strict laws secure appeals to local magistrates, in case of injustice, and although laborers can be compelled to execute contracts specifically, there is no greater abridgment of individual right than in the case of sailors and freedmen in your own country.

It may not be amiss to call attention to the position of the government, in several cases where attempts have been made to impose upon it.

On the 23d of April, 1867, the British ship Eastfield appeared off this port with a large number of Chinese coolies on board, under a contract to a firm in Honolulu, which had some months before become insolvent. Such a contract was, of course, a gross violation of the rules of the government, and had the firm been pecuniarily responsible, they would have been required to return the laborers at once to China, regardless of expense. But the insolvency of the firm required some action on the score of humanity. The government therefore took charge of the laborers, subjected them to their regulations, and made contracts on their behalf, to the great loss of those concerned in the shipment, whose case demanded little sympathy. The government were sustained throughout by the cordial co-operation of the representative of the British government, Mr. Wode-house. Notice was also immediately transmitted to the Hawaiian consul at Hong Kong, which will doubtless prevent such impositions hereafter.

A copy of the dispatch from the foreign office of this government to Mr. Whittall is herewith inclosed, and may prove interesting in this connection.

A practice was once general, which was thought to be justified by the peculiar necessities of this nation, of issuing from the offices of Hawaiian consuls in other countries temporary or provisional registers to vessels purchased on behalf of Hawaiian owners, by authority of which they might sail upon the ocean until they reached an Hawaiian port, and there obtained an Hawaiian register. This practice led to abuses, of which this government received the first information in a letter from his Majesty’s consul at Hong Kong, of which a copy is inclosed for reference.

By reference it will be seen that these vessels, bearing the national flag of this kingdom, made their appearance at Macao, with the undoubted purpose of embarking in a most disgraceful traffic, and prostituting the Hawaiian flag to the basest purposes. The consul immediately and firmly interfered, refusing all papers to these vessels, and forbade them to leave port. The position of the consul was still more firmly explained in a second dispatch, a copy of which is also inclosed.

This government promptly replied to the consul approving his course, as will appear from extracts inclosed.

In view of such abuses the issuing of provisional registers has been discontinued in all cases but those of vessels directly bound to Hawaiian ports. It is not known what became of the suspected ships, but they abandoned all claim to the Hawaiian flag.

This government also took the greatest pains, by public notices in Honolulu and Hong Kong, to make its purpose distinctly known.

The legislative assembly at its recent session, by somewhat stringent legislation, imposed upon the minister of the interior the duty of preparing a form of contracts for labor. One form has been prepared, which is to be amended still more in favor of the laborer, and which, it is thought, will secure them every right.

The legislative assembly also appropriated a large sum of money to aid immigration, one great object sought to be accomplished being the introduction of a large proportion of Polynesian females. The present excess of males is productive of disastrous consequences, and undoubtedly tends, with other causes, to the diminution of the Hawaiian race. It is the purpose of this government to introduce laborers of kindred stock from the less frequented islands of the Pacific, in equal proportion of male and female, and to require every planter who employs any males to provide for a corresponding number of females, and at once to establish houses for these poor people, where the marriage relation shall secure the purity of domestic life.

In this connection I think it well to call attention to the recent introduction of a lot of laborers from Yokohama, which has attracted attention in the American newspapers, and has apparently excited the United States diplomatic representative in Japan. These laborers are not “coolies” in any sense in which that term can be offensively used. They came here voluntarily. They made contracts voluntarily after landing, by which, in consideration of liberal compensation, they agree to work for three years, at the end of which term they are to be taken back to their own country, at the expense of their employers. The board of immigration have superintended all these transactions, and have carefully protected the Japanese against imposition, and I feel that I may confidently give the assurance that every right of personal liberty has been most scrupulously guarded.

Your own government must admit that the general economy of the world and the philanthropic spirit of the times will be promoted by a systematic diversion of the excessive population of Oriental countries to these islands. The Hawaiian group, with its great natural resources and unrivaled climate, can sustain a largely increased population. Their favorable position in the Pacific affords facilities for a varied and extensive commerce, while their proximity to the United States renders it certain that any advancement of their prosperity will directly contribute to the material growth of the great American republic.

This full exposition of national purpose is due to the humane policy of your government and the spirit of the resolution which you inclose. His Majesty’s government congratulate themselves that their efforts are likely to be sustained by the powerful influence of the United States. The co-operation of her Britannic Majesty’s commissioner has been afforded upon one important occasion, and there can be little doubt that the police of the seas will be most effectually maintained by the two strongest maritime nations of the world.

I renew to you the assurances of the high respect and consideration with which I remain your very obedient servant,