The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-06-10
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. JUNE 10.

To-xoRRow, Friday, June IL, has been ap-
pointed by His Majesty the King, agreeably with
the provisions of the constitution, for the open
ing of the session of the Hawaiian Legislature.
The time set is some two months later than has
been customary, which delay has been wholly I'M
necessary, except to allow the ministry more time
to lengthen their already too voluminous reports.
1t was supposed some months since that by delay
ing the session the New Code, which constitutes
the most important business coming up, could be
completed and laid before it. But we learn that
it has been decided to have two sessions, at the
first of which the usual miscellaneous work will
be brought up and acted on, and probably the
Bill of Appropriations passed either in full or in
part. The New Code will be reported to the
legislature and probably referred by the lower
house, as suggested by US a few weeks since,
to q select committee of five or more menu
bers from that body, or from both branches, who
should have full authority TO revise and, if neces-
sary, alter, and modify it. To do this well will
require in the members of the committee a thor
ough knowledge of the defects of our present
laws, and sound Judgment in regard to the work
ing of the proposed changes To consider the
whole subject thoroughly will require the labor
of two to four months, and a select committee
can no doubt do the work better during an inte-
rim of the Legislature, than were that body to
continue in session and attempt the same itself.
When the committees work is completed the
Legislature will probably be called together
again and adopt or reject the Code.
We have before alluded to the importance of
adapting this New Code as nearly as possible to
the present wants of our kingdom. Our laws as
thew now exist are the embodiment of confusion,
and in many respects defective and obsolete.
Rather than have the New Code passed in an in
complete state for want of time, better that its
passage be delayed two years. But we think no
such delay is necessary, if an active and compe-
tent committee take it in hand. The first step,
however, should be to have the draft, as presented
to the legislature, published for general infor-
nation.
Next to the New Code in Importance is the
French Treaty, which will be laid before the Leg
~islature. This body properly has no voice in the
ratification of treaties, the t~reaty-making power
being reposed by the constitution in the King and
Privy Council. In this case, however, the treaty,
the ratification of which by the Emperor of the
French is reported to have been received by a late
packet, is said to conflict with the power of the
legislature tnat is, the hinS dnu IIiy Oouh-
ell have granted in the treaty more than they
have the power to do. The treaty is therefore
still of no effect, even though fully ratified by the
usual powers, until it has been laid before the
body whose prerogatives have been encroached
on, and by them considered or rejected.
This State document which has already under
gone SO many metanorphoses, at each of them
very little it's main features, still re-
mains a dead secret. 1t is too much to suppose
that its provisions are as liberal as that of the
treaty of England or America, yet we have been
that it has been Invested of a portion of
its odious stipulations, and that as now framed it
will meet with approval. That this government
has been unjustly dealt with from the beginning
of the troubles which resulted in a suspension of
relations between the two governments,
is clear to all who view the subject impartially.
And though it would be premature to express
any opinion of the present treaty, founded on
mere rumor, we have no doubt that if France
has shown herself ready to treat this kingdom
with the respect due to her as an independent ma
fion, our representatives will cheerfully con-
cede, for the sake of peace, all that can be done
with any show of self-respect.