Year: 1870

estIquon as he was not verSed III the law, but he
Lad an opinion, and was convinced that the law
was not unconstitutional. The law, it stands
the Statute, he believed to be necessary, Just,
and right, and believing he did, if he had
doubt to the constitutiOnality, he would give
the law the benefit Of the doubt. The law was
passed before the Constitution of 1852, and the
same parties who made the Constitution made the


law, and the Constitution of 1864 is very similar.
This law was revised by two Judges of the
Supreme Court, and considered by two Legisla-
lures and he believed those gentlemen understood
the Constitution and laws as well as any of us,
and were as anxious for the rights and liberties
Of the people as any of us. 1t was made by
Uawaiians for Hawaans. We have nothing to
do with America, France, or any other country.


If there any amendments offered he would
vote for them if they improve the law, but lie
could not see that any amendments are necessary.
That mean and selfish men have taken advantage
of it, he had no doubt. If we to abolish
laws that were taken advantage of by individuals,
we would soon be without any laws. The plant
ing interest has been attended to, and has become
an important feature in the Kingdom, upon
which we almost entirely depend. Look at the
exports; take out sugar, and see how much would
be left. 1t pays for most all the foreign products
brought into this Country and the customs at the
Custom House, where large portion Of our
revenue is derived. 1t pays for internal improve
ments, and we ought to protect such an important
interest, as we have no mines in this country,
ana our wealth. We must QTilw from the soil
Every country protects it's important interests
we cannot protect our products by high duties,
but We can protect our planters. In other
countries there Il diversity Of employments
which men can go into, but here the sugar interest,"
is about all in which much of our own and the
capital of foreigners has been invested to the
advantage of all classes. lie was of opinion that
the labOrers on plantations were better of every
way, than an equal proportion who are not
employed on plantations, and as for natives not
knowing what they were about to labor at, that
was nonsense; they fully understand contracts
and the work on plantations. Sometime they
make contracts, yet advances and thereby to
avoid them. Should not the employer be pro-
tected? Ii he had not protection the employee
could snap his fingers at his employer, and leave
him wien his time was most valuable. The
people Of this country were not obliged to con-
tract with the planters. They are at liberty to
follow Just such vocation they think best.
would rather Il man work lor himself, if it
We're better for him. Lawyers, bankers, mer-
chants, &C., may be very useful in their way, but
thDse who brought productive wealth from the
soil were the main stay of any country. Coffee,
rice, wool, &c, answered to certain extent but
sugar was the principal production and gave
employment to q great number OF our people. In
his opinion this was not the place to settle the
6egt3f be left to those whose duty it was to con-
slider such questions, and it was pity that the
of such a question should be



the quotation that - Justice must be done though
the Heavens may fall.' We intend to do Justice.
The manner in which this question has been
discussed, inside and out of the House, could not
but have an influence Of suspicion ON his mind.
People pretended to be friendly and honest to-
wards the Reciprocity Treaty and planters, but
have done all i'll their power TO kill it, with the


idea that the islands would soon go under some
other rule, should the Reciprocity Treaty fail.
He was in favor of indefinitely postponing the
bill, but would vote for any amendment that
would improve the law.


Mr.. Lyons-It is matter of regret that, in
question of so much Importance, personal feeling
should have much influence. 1t may be ex-
pccted, however, since so great personal interests
are involved. L regret that epithets should be
applied in advance to those who may vote against
this bill, as has been done in the RhOkOa. But
now that personal insinuations have been made
from the other side against the authorSand support
ers of this bill, l shall answer them This cry of
'' annexationst " is played out, for the United
States would mt take us as gift. But never In
past time has the author OF this bill tampered
with the officials Of another country, as some
others have done who are now so loud-nouthed in
denouncing the bill intended to upset and
transfer the Government. 1t is said L have no
interest in the country, nor acquaintance with It's
affairs. | born and brought up among
Eiawaians, and commenced active life with meas
uring the kuieandS and lands of the people, when
those now opposed to me were riding around on
horseback with the chiefs. There L learned to
sympathze with the people, and ever shall do
SO; and l wish them to be a free people-nOt a
people always saying, as the member from
IIllO hears from his constituents, - Ara no az
Oe.' (Just as you please.)


1t was the South Sea Island labor question that
first induced me to consider this law. 1t is false


. that those public meetings were started up
Oh eiolt:sus-- - a political dodge. The question
was forced ulon ls, and we had to debate it.
We certainly have thc lop0T"lar side, and the
sccU -ltICl CJntra1Icts itself Why should we
not join with other civilized people IL c0nael4 ing
tac cOohe trade? " lat N cans TINS seioErula
from London, that the deportation Of Sc1tl Ssa
Islanders rs 60 De stopped p IN New England,
years ago. it was customary 10 sell the services Oi
immigrants vino had pledged their labor to nay
for their passage. Nov such O thing is unLeard
oil. When slavery was abolished Ia the North
western Territory it was at first COMMON for
negroes to bind themselves to labor for a term o.
years The matter was brought to the Courts,
decided unconstitutional, and was stopped forever.
The attempt has been made to introduce the ap-
prentice system in the Gulf States, as it is IN
the West Indies. The United States will not
allow it. they allow none but free men to live
there. Now the Southern States are in the same
that we are here. Scarcity of
labor-a warm climate lazy negroes, > as they
say,-all just as it is here,-and yet they are
career Of industrial prosperity Right
alongside of them the West Indies, with our
system OF labor are going to decay, and begging
TO come under the wing of the United States,
only to be refused. Is not all this an example
for US?


Now look at the fruits of our system. The
member from Niihau has told you how power is
in the hands of the district judges. This matter
of women binding themselves to serve masters,
only to be held as concubines, is consequence of
this law. If these contracts are so useful, you
cannot deny to women the privilege of making
contract That Hilo mail carrier, bound
laborer, carrying mails at So and so month,
instead of per Iceek, while his master gets the
balance of the appropriation, is fair example.
You NAV say it is not true-I take it on the
authority of the member from Hilo. 1t is per-
fectIy possible any way. But have not been
fairly indignant about this matter until that con-
tract from Koolau was produced befores'le House
the other day. a man engaged to work for two
months-two months mind you, two years and a
half ago. During the second month, owing
nothing in the way of advance wages, he quit
labor for what he considered good reasons.
Three months afterward he is retnanded to so


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