The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-06-11
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, JUNE IL.

SINCE the appearance of the Kings Proclama.
ton we have devoted much space TO correspond
ence on the subject of the coming Convention
called by His Majesty, to confer on any changes
that may seem desirable in the Constitution, as
well as commented editorially at considerable
length on the same subject. We have done so
because the subject is in our view of vital import-
ance to the highest prosperity of the Kingdom,
which we consider TO be identified with the pro-
gress of the past few years, running back to the
time Of kamehameha /. Our Constitution doubt
less has its faults, but it is Notwithstanding an
excellent one.
In connection with the oaths published in the
communication of =. Magma Charta - in our
present number, to which We would call the care
full attention of our readers, we insert the form
OF the Oath of Allegiance as prescribed by our
laws. 1t is as follows
The undersigned - declares. INA M, o,,s ,t-,L
ylH SUPPORT the Consultation and Edus of the Ham1iign
AshaHs'' AMI bear true allegiance 10 Fs Majesty The 4 mo"
1t will be seen that the essential qualification of
every man., King and subject, naturalized and
native born. is tdthfuiuess 10 the Constitution and
Idtrs, and neither King nor subject has anv dis
cretion whether they will or will not adhere n
TINS fundamental law in erery particular. Obedi-
ence Is imperative, and we must warn ministers
not 10 depart from the Constitution in a single
item.
They cannot hope to do it with impunity. We
do not assume that they intend it. but they have
taken one wrong step, in our opinion, in advising
the Proclamation at all, because. as has often
been said, the Constitution itself provides the
way OF It's own amendment, and no emergency
now existing calls for a departure from it. That
way Is safe. this is not: but if the Ministry call
q Convention not provided for in the instrument
itself, they should have stated clearlv and min.
ufely wherein they desired changes. However
trltiing the proposed changes might be. the 81
lence which brooded over the i~nitiatorv stem WAS
ominous. 1t alarmed intelligent people who had
Liberties and rights worth preserving. 1t has
stirred up men and communities to earnest effort
to send good men to the Convention if to be had.
and Protestant alike have felt there
might be peril they feared there was peril in
this unusual and ambiguous movement, and they
have cause TO. To prove it, we extract the fol-
from the letter of =. Magma Charta
bi IL s., ; rT Ef that kangahi in his public addresses has stated
. .ub. .f GH ~ 4. : : pound . ~ This Constitution, having never
the sanction Of his MAJESTY, and I feel justified in pro
lolncing the doctrine, il designed to he imputed to the King.
caIumuy upon tie good sense and wisdom of our Sovereign
I - nr 90 'aiteIoas friend at hand 20 disavow on its behalf the
h.svouS unless contradicted.
And yet this very kauwahi, who was expelled
rom the Hawaiian bar, and by a decision of Judge
ZEE disqualified from sitting in the House of Rem
in its session of 1856, has not been
hecked by :" some good, judicious friend" of the
government, but has been aided by the Governor
f Maui, and. as will be seen in this Issue. re-
'arded Tor his services by the appointment of
AK Assessor for Lahaina.
Men who knew not how to spare time or money,
ave spent both without hope of return, to meet
threatening peril. Every man feels the un-
ertainty. but every subject bearing true allegi-
nee TO the King and Constitution. is bound to
eslst any measure OF change in the Constitution
OF sanctioned by it. Many have made sacrifices,
We before said. who were unable to do so.
he Ministry are responsible for this state of
llngs' and they Ough; to be too well read in his
'ry not to know where. if persisted in, they will
nd. We hope they will not persist in them. 7
nd the best possible thing they could do would +
2 to recall this Proclamation. and let any wished t
IT changes go through the Constitutional course. t