Mr. McCook to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith a copy of a communication addressed by me to the Hawaiian minister of foreign affairs on the 29th ultimo. At the same time I inclosed him a copy of the resolution of the Congress of the United States which accompanied your circular of January 17, 1867, relative to the coolie trade.
I deemed this action called for on my part from the fact that during my absence a cargo of Japanese coolies arrived at this port on the British ship Scioto, and were distributed among the planters, and other parties on the islands, under a system of contracts holding them to labor for the term of three years. I know nothing of the circumstances under which these people left Japan, but suppose you are fully advised in the premises, through Mr. Van Valkenburgh.
I have been informed that it is in contemplation to send an expedition to the South Sea Islands under the auspices of the Hawaiian government, or the Hawaiian Board of Immigration, for the purpose of procuring laborers (coolies) from there. Should this really have been the design, I hope the communication I have already addressed to his Majesty’s government may lead them to abandon their purpose. If any such attempt is persisted in, I will deem it my duty to protest most emphatically against it, unless otherwise directed by you.
As these South Sea Islanders are without an organized government, and unable to protect themselves, any attempt to take them by force or fraud from their own country, and reduce them to a state of temporary [Page 343] servitude here, would, it seems to me, justify such active interference on the part of the government of the United States as might be necessary to prevent the inauguration of a traffic more odious than the coolie trade of China.
I have the honor to be your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.