Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-04-30
REPORT

- ~ IL ~ ~ II i "
REPORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, AND OF TIL
NAVY, TO THE HAWAIIAN LEGISLATURE,
| APRIL IS53
According to the 18th article of the new
Constitution, granted by the King on tn,
i4th OF June 1852, each member of society ha
a right to be protected by 1t, IN the enjovmen
Of has life, liberty, and property. That bro
vision of our Constitution is in harmony will
fundamental principle which pervades al
free Governments, and is the very founda
|tion upon which those who rule others. res
their right to govern them. " Protectio trahi
subJectlonem, ct subiectio protectionem, ,
protection carries with Il subjeciion and subiec.
tton protection, was a maxim of Roman law
and, IN all modern Governments. it is q
we'll understood principle But no Govern.
ment can protect life, liberty, and property
by merely writing down the words; it must
have, at It's command, an adequate force,
and that force cannot be maintained without
money. Both the men who compose the
force, and the money that is to pay for it, are
drawn from the members of the society, who
look to the Government for the proper ap-
Plication of the means, which they furnish,
to the protection Of their lives, liberties, and
properties. Hence, in the same article OF
the new Constitution, follow these words:
He leach member of society is obliged, con-
sequently, to contribute his proportional share,
TO the expense Of this protection; to gire his
personal services or an equiralent, ,chen neces-
Isary.
1t was not the ancient usage of the Ha-
waian people, that their Kings should be
without an armed force. On the contrary,
there was feuda organization, enabling
the King to muster in arms, almost the whole
able bodied population, on any occasion of
emergency. The old constitution implied
the existence of an armed force in the pro-
vision, under the head of prerogatves of
the King: He shall hare the direction of
the army, and Of the implements of ,rar of the
Kingdom" The King is recognized as
GeneraHsimo of the whole military forces of
the Kingdom; and, under His Majesty, His
Governors of Islands are recognized as the
comma Lders-in-chief of the military power
in their respective Islands, in article w.,
Chapter w., pat of the second act of
Kamehameha ILL.,, of the 9th April 1916.
By the same article, all male subjects of His
Majesty, between the ages of lS and 40
years, are subjected to military duty in the
respective Islands, where they have their
most usual domici!e, excepting the sick and
the infirm, all christian cIergymen, all
lawful school-masters actually employed, all
Privy CounseIlors, all heads of Department.
al Bureaur, all members of the Houses of
Mobiles and Representatives, when in actual
Ill Ia
Registers of public Deeds. Collectors of
Customs, poundmasters and civil Constables
The 18th and 9th articles Of the new
Constitution imply the existence of mill
tary, and the possibility that the Islands
may be involved in war.
There can be no question, therefore, about
the sufficiency of the authority for keeping
up an armed force both by the Constitution
and the laws. 1t is the usage of. all civilized
countries whether Empires, Kingdoms, Duke
doms, or Republics, to do SO. Even Gods
Vicar on earth keeps up an army Of II, 707
men to protect and defend the lives and pro-
perties of his 2,47l 900 subjects. Thus it
appears that even he does not trust to his
influences with the heavenly powers to pre-
serve his temporal authority, by the inter-
position of a perpetual miracle. Is there any
nation on earth that does Yet there are
not wanting among us few zealots who
imply that we are such a marvellOusly good
and holy people, that God will fight our bat
ties, and extrcate us from all our difficulties
Upon the Almighty we cannot too much rely,
whether in peace or war, but if we are to
enjoy His favour, we must not be guilty of
The presumptuous sin of assuming that it is
due to US, on account of our righteousness
In every object that we aspire to, we must
use the appointed means, and humbly implore
Gods blessing upon them, Notwithstanding
our manifold sins and iniquities. Nehemiah,
in building the House of God. did not ex-
pect that God would come down, and mirac-
ulously protect the workmen; but Instituted
human agency for that end. He who de-
scended from heaven, 18th a message of
peace. good will, and salvation, was him
self, humanity speaking, of the lineage Of a
man OF war-yet man characterized as ac-
cording to Gods own heart; and the forerun-
ner of our Saviour, did not disdain to recog-
nize soldiers, as a class of society, and to
advise them to do riolence to no man, neither
accuse any falsely, and TO be content acith their
rages.
Are we in the face of our duty to tine King,
to prepare the way for rebellion among his
subjects on the ground (Which would not be
an unreasonable one) that the King cannot
protect their lives and properties! Are our
planters to be left, on their estates, at the
mercy of their Chinese laborers; are we to
shut our eyes to the signs of the times, that
threaten foScible annexation, and invite free
hooters to our shores. by leaving the Kings
subjects, without arms and without military
organization!
Not wishing to neglect any'duty lawfully
incumbent upon me, in my official position.
on the lst March, applied TO his Royal
Highness, Lieutenant General Prince Liho-
liho for information on certain points which