The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-07-30
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY. JULY 80.

49,
patrolled with armed forces, and martial law e.
tablished- What is now being done is nothing
more OF less than an attempt to set aside the
highest law of the land, under the specious
plea, on the part of the ministry, that the SUI.
piene power is ssemble in Convention, and
has the power so to act, even though it be in
contravention Of established law. What is be-
ing done, is done only by the arbitrary will OF
the ministry, who seek to compel the people to
yield to their demands, against the convictions OF
the latter. as expressed through their Delegates.
Thank God, We have not here among the people
men Of hardened wills and poisoned patriotism
waiting for such a moment to arrive, that they
might rouse the pOpulace to rise and defend their
rights. Thank God, we are u people peaceably
disposed, who love our King, our country and
our homes, and would rather suffer injustice or
yield to the demands of the ministry, than 20
retaIiate or create disturbance.
Ii was this same opposition to the COnstitu-
ton and TO the acts Of the ministry, that plung-
ed France in Ieyo ut ON in lS4S, and drove Louis
Philippe from his throne, to die an exile IN Il
foreign land. 1t was opposition to the liberal
Constitution granted to Sc~hleswig- Holstein, that
opened the war between Germany and Denmark.
1t was opposition TO the Constitution of the
United States, thaE inspired the leaders of the
rebelliOn,-men who had been ministers of state
TO rise in rebellion against their government,
and which has bathed in blood for more than
three years the fairest land on earth. We have
here no fiery spirits to encourage open resistance
TO the ministry, but the wrong that is being done
to the Constitution and the peace of the country,
Is none the less apparent, than in each of the
cases mentioned. And the precedent that they
are initiating triH as surely 6ring a reaction at
some future day. TO disturb the peace of Hawaii,
as evening follows the morning. The ministry
think they are right, the people think that they
are wrong.
As the Convention is a FACT, we must deal
with it as such, report its progress, and COM
ment on its proceedings. 1t was a very unwise
advice that decided the KING to preside over a
popular assemblage like this-unwise for the
Crown, for its dignity and sacredness require
that 1t should not here, as it does not in other
countries, stoop to the arena of parliamentary
debate and wranglings and unwise in its in1u-
ence on the free expression of opinion by the
Delegates. The Sovereign is in every country
supposed to be the embodiment of all that is
wise and good, and as such receives the homage
of his people. Whatever tends to detract from
hioI 10 III III d SOHhSullOus tiC hINI
must hear much that refined dignity should ex-
clude from his presence, but which is inseparable
from free popular discussions. The temptation
to utter censure from the Chair, if INDUCED in,
naturally provokes retort, and the influence on
both ruler and ruled is d emoralizing and iniu-
rious.
On Saturday last, two motions for adjourn
ment came up, one for six weeks, and the other
F. 49,, r,o,,b. I,Gl G., ~ 49, -c ..b.,:.
ting the draft of the new Constitution to the
people. On Monday it was decided not to adj
juurn till the whole Constitution had been read
over two times and debated. After which the
Convention is to adjourn for six weeks, return
and debate again the Constitution. So that it
begins to look as if a six months task was being
entered on. Compared with this, how simple
was the mode adopted in making the Constitu-
ton of 1852. Three Commissioner were ap-
pointed-one to represent each Estate, these met
and framed u Constitution, published it to the
people. and when the Legislature met four
later, it was discussed, amended and
passed. Had tho anne procedure been fol-
lowed in this instance, probably no opposition
would have been made and this is undoubtedly
the mode to which his late Majesty referred in
his speech to Parliament, in April 1859, when
bC laL llit "dS diO'iSl " il
the Constitution, which might meet
public appreciation.
The second reading of the articles of the Con-
began on Friday of last week. but the
debate on them opened only on Tuesday of this
week. The first, deela ing the freedom and
equality of all men, was rejected. 1t will be
borne in mind that by a rule of the Convention,
if the vote on any question or article is not
unanimous, i. O., if eitlier the Delegates, the
Mobiles. or the King (this, is the order of voting
defned) vote against any question, it is lost. If
the MOBILES are pleased to teave out the declara-
of the equality Of dlt men before God, and
under the Constitution, tfey may live to see the
day when they will roper the action now taken
by them.
The second article, beir,s identically the same
in the Constitution of Li5s as in the revision,
passed with very little deiate.
Article three, guaranteeing the liberty of
speech and of the press, which it was proposed
to amend, was discussed on Wednesday with con-
siderable spirit. The debate was opened by Mr..
y~arigny, who expressed the views of the Govern
nent in the following speech
May IT PLEASE Your MAJESTY Il hope \ few
Fords of explanation will not be amiss. and if they
in any way in giving TO our discussions the
and tone they never ought 10 lose, my OBJ
ect will be attained. COMMISSIONS by His Majesty
@ address the other TWO Estates Of the Realm, l
must request you. Mobiles and Delegates, to divest
minds from all preconceived notions of personal
ceilings on our part. This question. as all others,
must stand upon its own merits. and ought 10 be dis
from a point Of view tar above all petty feel