Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-04-24
REPORT,

| Of the Secretary at Var and of the .Naru.
read to the Haraiian Legislature .4prif Ia
1852.
The organic laws of the Kingdom provide
as follows
"For the purpose of more complete organ
"iZation in all cases of extra-territorial re-
"course to arms, offensive or defensive, the
minister of Foreign Relations shall dis
"charge the duties of Secretary at War,
"and Of the Navy, under direction Of His
"Majesty in Privy Council"
| need not remind you that the policy of
the King, at all times, has been one of
peace and friendship with all the nations OF
the earth. The scanty population and re-
sources of the Islands, would render any
other policy absurd and impracticable, even
were His Majesty disposed to adopt it, which
He is not. But the degree of sovereignty
possessed by the King, is not to be measured
by the amount of physical forces which he
can raise; He governs his people without
any dependence whatever on any foreign
power His authority and laws extend over
his whole Islands, and therefore, under the
law of nations, He is a Sovereign really as
Independent; us any one whose empire is
greater. Ii is precisely so with his duty in
the enjoyment that undisputed sovereignty
That duty necessarily embraces the end or
object of civil society, which is to procure
for all the inhabitants whatever they stand in
need OF, for the necessities, the conveniences
and the accommodation fife, and in general
whatever constitutes happiness with the
peaceful possession of property, a method of
obtaining justice with security, and finally a
mutual defense against all external violence
As fully sorereign within his own domnions,
he is bound to resist the intrusion Of any for
eign state in his domestic concerns, but he
is equally bound to protect, efficiently, the
lives and properties of all his subjects and of
the citizens of all foreign states who live un-
der his jurisdiction Were the King to be
left without the power to secure that protec-
tion his right to the enjoyment If sovereign
ty would be endangered, the obedience of
his subjects could not be required, and the
strongest possible argument would be afford
ed to foreign nations to interfere in his gov
erhment on behalf Of their subjects whose
lives and properties might otherwise be sac
rificed. 1t therefore becomes the sacred
duty ofihe Kings Advisers, and no less Of
the Legislature, not to leave His Majesty in
danger the existence Of the political society
of which he is the head Vatfel says, ssone
"of the ends of political society is to defend
''itself with its combined strength against all
external insult or violence. If the society
sis not in a condition to repulse an aggres-
''sor, il is very imperfect, it is unequal to
''the principal object of its destination, and
"cannot long subsist The nation ought TO
''pui itself in state so as to be able TO re-
I"pel and humble an unjust enemy this Is
'san important duty which the care ofits own
''perfection and even ofits preservation, I'M
'.poses both on the state and its conductor.
cit is IFS strength alone that can enable a
''nation 10 repulse all aggressors, TO secure its
Efrights and render itself every where re-
spectacle. II is called upon by every pos
.'sible motive to neglect no circumstances
''that can tend to place it in this happy stu
cation"
Under sense of loyalty TO the King, sa-
cred as the allegiance which we all owe to
him, as our lawful Sovereign, it became my
duty to lay before His majesty, in Privy
Council, the warnings that had received Of
the organization in San Francisco, of a band
Of adventurers, with the intention ofinvading
this Kingdom. Where the danger was re-
presented as imminent, it did not appear wise
to trust entirely to the protection of the Com
missioner Of the u. States and Of their Ma
val forces in the harbor, or to neglect the
sound and friendly advice given by Captain
Gardner. Accordingly, on the 10th Of No
vember last, the King being absent, !
gave notice that would move before his
Council for the organization of Force OF
1900 men for the Island Of Hawaii; +; 100
men for Maui 1900 men for Oahu $40
for Kauai $50 men for Molokai; 30 men
for Niihau and 50 mounted Lancers, IN Hon
oIulu, for the guard Of His Majesty's person.
Of the whole 800, my proposal was that
only 100 men should be kept permanently
embodied and paid. You will find the details
of the plan which I submitted, in the copy
marked No. /, which Iappend. The motion