with Mr. Marcy's approval, to wit, the annuities to be paid the royal family and the stipulation that the islands were to constitute a State of the Union.
While the negotiations were in progress for a modification of the treaty draft on these matters, Kamehameha III. died, and, his successor being unfavorable to the measure, the negotiations came to an end. But the latter recognized the commercial dependence of the islands upon the United States, and a treaty of reciprocity in trade was signed in 1855, though it failed of approval by the American Senate.
During the American Civil War the government of the United States was too much absorbed with that great struggle to give attention to its relations with Hawaii. Soon after the restoration of peace, however, Secretary Seward authorized the American minister to open negotiations for a reciprocity treaty, but he stated that there was a strong annexation feeling in the country, and if he found that "the policy of annexation should conflict with the policy of reciprocity, annexation is in every case to be preferred." The treaty of reciprocity was signed in 1867, and President Johnson, in urging its ratification upon the Senate, said the treaty would prove a measure of protection against foreign aggression "until the people of the islands shall, of themselves, at no distant day, voluntarily apply for admission into the Union." Two influences were, however, sufficiently strong to prevent the ratification of the treaty,—the sugar growers of the Southern States, and the friends of annexation, who felt that reciprocity would postpone that project.
