Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-03-18
"reminiscences of Honolulu.-No 2s.

"reminiscences of Honolulu.-No %.
The Legislative Assembly for 1850 met
at Honolulu on the 10th Of April, the King
opening the sessions in person in set
specch-the first occasion on which this
formalty was observed. In tho course of
the Speech His Majesty said: "a ques-
iion has arisen with the Government Of the
French Republic, originating in acts done
by French officers in August last, to
arrange which in an amicabc manner, |
dispatched my Minister of Finance as
Plonipotentiary to that Government. View
ing that question as essentially personal,
in its origin aud objects, | have never, for
one moment, allowed it to shake my conf
deuce in the justice Of the French Govern
ment, nor to abate that kindness and pro-
lection which, on par with the most
favored nation, are due to French citizens
and their interests within my Jurisdiction"
In regard to instructions to the Special
Commissioner, the King said He was
specially instructed to represent, respect
fully, to the Government of France, that
their Agent had pursued course here the
very reverse of what had expected from
the letter of NJ. Guizot; that he was
endeavoring to create dissensions, both
between the members of my ndministra.
tion and the Agents of other foreign
nations; and that it was advisable to recall
him, in order to avoid disturbance of the
friendly relations happily subsisting with
France" Another subject is thus refer
red to: "The prosperity of the Islands
aud their altered position relatively to
'nl,
increased cultivation of the soil, which will
not be possible without the aid of foreign
capital and labor. 1t will be for you to
consider what can be done to encourage
these elements of wealth, and whether the
law preventing aliens from acquiring lands
in fee simple is advantageous or dsadvan.
tageous to the Kingdom" The concluding
paragraphs were as follows: "It is my
wish that my subjects be not taxed beyond
tho necessary wants of my Government.
1t will be your duty to reise aud reform
the whole system of taxation. Any sur
plus revenue there may be, should, invari-
ably, be applied to the founding of schools,
hospitals, or to those public works which
are most wanted for the purposes Of gem
eral utility.
"No nation can prosper where the inter-
ests of religion and education are disre.
garded. What progress we have hitherto
mado is mainly attributable to those two
great cvilizing influences. You cannot
therefore neglect them, without failing in
your duty to your God, to yourselves, TO
the whole Hawaiian people, and to me-"
To this Royal Address, there was, there
and tLen, four impromptu replies, from
two Representatives, Mr.. Lok0maikai. Of
Molokai, aud Mr.. Ukekc, of Oahu, and
from two Nobles-John Ii hnd Gov. James
Kanehoa Young. A Committee, consist
ing of NJ. Kekuanaoa, G.. IA. kapeau, and
Kiha, was appointed to make form al
reply, and the Assembly adjourned. The
subsequent sessions were held at Mauna-
kilika, near tho old Fort. Kekuanaoa
presided, S. p Kaama was Secretary, and
the Rev. Mr.. Armstrong attended as Inter-
prefer and Translator. The principal busi-
ness of the session was the consideration
and adoption of the Penal Code which had
been prepared by Judge Lee in accordance
with resolution of the Legislature
some two years before. The delay IN
completing this work was owing to the
fact that Lee was at the same time Pres-
dent of the Board of Commissioners to
Quiet Land Titles, and the duty of presid-
ing over tho labors Of that Board, which,
daring his connection with it, had heard
over $4,000 claims and counter claims, in
conjunction with his judicial duties in the
Superior Court, rendered it impossible for
him sooner to complete this important
work. II was the intention for him also
to have prepared Civil Code, but this he
never found time to do. A joint resolu-
ton was passed by the Legislature of 1856,
appointing Special Committee to prepare
Civil Code, consisting of Prince Kameha-
meha, w. l.. Lee, and q. NJ, Robertson.
Judge Lee died in 1857 ; Prince Kameha-
meha never pretended to do any work on
the Commission aud the version as sub
mittsd 10 the Legislature of 1868, was the
result principally of the labors of Judge
Robertson, aud Of Judge Allen, who had
been appointed to succeed Lee, as Chief
Justice.
A good deal of important Legislation was
accomplished in the session OF 1850, for
which the country was mainly indebted to
the industry aud wisdom Of Lee. Among
the more prominent Acts passed were "An
Act to provide for the better support and
greater efficiency of the public schools, I"
which organized the Department Of Public
Instruction, and enabled the Rev. Mr.. Arm
strong, as its, Minister, to accomplish vast
amount Of useful work an Act exemp,ine
from duties, for the encouragement Of
agriculture, all seeds, roots aud plants
agricultural Implements, machinery ane
animals Of improved breeds; an Act abol'
ishing the disabilities Of aliens to acquir,
aud convey lands in fee simple; an Ac