The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-06-17

Rep. Brown-That motion is out of
order.
Noble Mccarthy call for the ques-
ton on the amendment.
Noble Baldwin calls for ayes and noes.
Minister Ashford-This amendment is
launched against me in my official capa-
city. l have not minded it, because
know of the malevolence of that little
clique and faction which has directed it.
/ have no fear of vote of want of conf
dence. 1t is no dishonor, unless in
matter of peculation. 1t is sought by
this amendment to focus everything on
my own head, and the reason is that
have had the audacity to advise His
Majesty contrary to the opinion OF my
esteemed colleagues. 1t is sought to
attach censure to me because forsooth /
violated the Constitution. 1 have al
ways thought that constitutions are made
for governments, not governments for
constitutions. But l deny that have
violated the Constitution. l elaine to
have the right to advise His Majesty.
But they claim that l persisted in my
opposition after three gentlemen up
stairs had stated that they thought three
men were sufficient to conduct the bus
mess of the Cabinet. So l did, but |
considered that this was an expression
of opinion merely and not declaratory of
the law itself, and this is the view OF the
Supreme Court itself with regard to such
exparte opinions. AS an illustration
simply l will state that advised as the
law adviser of the Min ster of Finance
not to appoint G. l.. Carter to sit on
o~1 IS L. OF.
tional. Nevertheless, he made the APP
pointment, but if had claimed that his
conduct was revolutionary and unconsti-
tutional, he would have thought was
very radical indeed. Ii the full facts
were in the possession of the member
from the First District he would not
have moved this amendment. Ii the
principle is adopted that the Ministers
are bound by the opinion of the Supreme
Court, constitutional government is at
an end in this country, and we shall
have despotism controlled by the Su-
preme Court. l admit that | opposed
the signature of His Majesty, but claim
that the Supreme Court cannot put
gag in my mouth. l will advise as |
think right. 1t was necessary for me
to take the course | did to prevent the
Ministry from binding the country hand
and foot and delivering it over to the
United States, and l shall continue to
resist placing the sovereign rights OF
Hawaii in the hands of the United States
or of any other country. As 1 remarked
there are times when the Government
must rise superior to the Constitution
and for this position have the authority
of the Iamented Abraham Lincoln. Mr..
President, make two points. 1. That
I did not violate the Constitution in adj
vising as l did. 2. That if did it was
justiiable. l rely principally on the first
point. would have resisted the opinion
of these gentlemen and kept The Ha-
waiian flag afoat here no matter ii there
had been a constitution with a hundred
and eighty articles forbiddiny it. leave
it to any fair-minded man in reach of my
voice to say whether we have not reached
a pretty pass if Minister of the Crown
is to be impeached because he has en-
deavored to keep the Hawaiian flag from
trailing in the dust beneath the American
flag. What opinion will foreigners have
OF country which impeaches man for
striving to preserve its independence?
MIR. President, there is really only one
question involved in this amendment
launched against me, whether l was
justified in endeavoring to save the
country from this Treaty. l leave it to
the House, with the assurance that L
would act as did again, ii the occasion
should offer.
Rep. Robt. Wilcox-I was elected to
come here and try the whole Cabinet,
not merely one OF them. The Ministers
and members of the House have all
taken the oath l say all the Ministers
are guilty, not merely one. Some think
the Minister of Finance is not guilty. l
say he is just as bad as the others. If
not, why does he continue the opium
stealers in the Custom House, men who
committed murder on the 30th of June.
So the Minister of Foreign Affairs has
withheld documents The Supreme
Court is just as bad. 1t is rotten and
the Chief Justice is one OF the conspir-
ators. As to the Attorney-General, who is
he? A stranger who holds Office by vir
tue of revolution. The Minister of the
Interior and the others deserve to be
shot. That is what they really deserve.
should be in favor of proper treaty,
lIOO ollCn q O1C do JllC llllllobCAo PiOpOoCs
The present treaty was procured by King
KalakaHa himself, and those benefited
by it have turned around and taken his
constitution away from him. The Min
listers ought to be court martialed and
shot. That is what ought to be done.
One is as bad as another and l am in
favor of proceeding against them all.
Rep. Nawahi-This is like an Indict-
ment against four persons. The amend
ment directs it against one. One Min
lister has pleaded guilty. The others
not, but they have admitted a great
many things, enough to convince every
body The people are tired of this
squabbling and the only way to get rid
of it is to dismiss. them all. After was
elected l was asked what was going to
do. said | was going to see what they
had done, and if it was all right would
keep them in. never saw anything
like this squabbling before. think it is
and the only way to stop it is
to turn them all out, as they are all
equally bad. l think the Minister of the
Interior wants to stick to his seat.
Enough has happened in this House al
ready to make him resign, but it seems
as though he was glued to his seat.
NJ