The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-05-28
(For the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.)
The Convention IA Proper Measure.
T.. C.. H.

The Convention IA Proper Measure.
MIR. EDITOR In q grave question like that of a
convention, which is now before this nation. any
criticism of mine upon yourself or the style of your
correspondents, may be thought irrelevant by your
readers; yet allow q word to me, who have been
hitherto u reader merely. You endorse in your edi-
torial of last issue, the communication of 1" Another
of the People," thereby giving your sanction and the
use of your property to an unknown correspondent
to utter sneering remarks about a known correspond
ent, whose articles thus far have appeared to me.
and also to others. productive of good in throwing
light upon the questions at issue-as showing the in
tentions and wishes of the government regarding
the new Constitution, and whose matter and style are
very far from being offensive" The effect OF your
rule in this respect, in admitting every article offered
for insertion, must be to discourage an open contrlbu-
tor, willing to give desired information. Is it not a
better editorial rule to insist that writer's who cannot
adhere to the argumentative, but fall into the denun-
ciatory personal style, shall append their names as
the price of insertion /? for. in my humble opinion,
such style should be confined to the voice and not
have the power of tpye. Such a rule adopted by
you, would not be unjust to your contributors, and
would make an end of much of the heart.burnings
in our community of mixed nationalities.
" The people demand this" or the people have uttered their
voice" says 4" Another of the People, and really, from his posi-
tiyepess. we may almost conclude that by clairvoyance he has
gained some knowledge in advance of his fellow townsmen.
But pray who are the people of Hawaii nei Can they be other
than the native born and naturalized subjects of the Realm
Shall the voice of other than those be needed by the Ministry,
or have a voice in the proposed convention! Has the Hawaiian
people, or, to speak more correctly, the Hawaiian Commons,
spoken as yet in this matter? Will :" Another of the People,
affirm that the resolutions published in your issue of May 9. is
the d" voice of the people'-resolutions suddenly produced in
passion, passed uproarously, and as suddenly ignored the same
nightl or are the words o writings of our foreign element dur
- -- Co. orlo+;on pva r0pOSitiOu pmanatlnp from the
government, which we conceive to have been suddenly thrust
up) us, but which after all seem to have been well considered
bv them. and put forth unreservedly, very unlike "midnight con-
spirators," are these that voice ? Let US rather believe that
we may more fairly look tor that voice, and give heed TO II,
when the convention shall have assembled.
The foreign element of this Realm, is apt to mistake their own
utterances for the voice of The Hawaiian Commons; yet truly
property-holders here may with propriety express their views
on changes in the fundamental laws, oppose or deprecate such
changes, and their opinions should be regarded by the " powers
that be- but the whole body of them combined, including
:. Another of the People. " can hardly claim to be the Hawaiian
Commons. to make demands of the Sovereign or to threaten
a Ministry.
The article of % Another of the Peoplen is confined to suspi-
cion regarding what the government intend in this matter-a
confused idea that somebody will get hurt-hfs opinion on the
powers of the convention-his pledge of the Commons to it,
provided the Privy Council had said aye, as If that assent would
strengthen the legality of the convention rand an absurd asser-
ton that Royal Patents are void because the King, as yet, has
not signed our present Constitution. 1t needs no legal educa-
ton to discern that the erecufiUe functions of the Sovereign are
complete when he has mounted the throne; it is only his LegiS-
Iatire functions that are incomplete. As our Judiciary have
already decided that the occupant of the throne is there right
fully. We need not borrow trouble about our real estate titles. 1t
is not usual for Sovereigns to take the oath the moment their
Predecessors may have expired, and yet in the interim, long or
short. the transactions of government progress without Interrupt
ton.
And this leads me, Mr.. Editor, to the only point which L
meant to have discussed, but which by my unskilfulness, has
been nearly smothered in introduction-the gist of the whole
controversy. so fairly put by " Makaainana," has the King a
right to call a contention ? has that contention a right to
set up a neIc Constitution
Touching the point whether or not the affirmative to this
question is both " IauCfui and justjfabIe,' we may well leave
to the legal gentlemen in the government, who have averred
that it is both "GGpfui and justifabie,' 1 propose to discuss
if it be a polite measure! Are the Hawaiian Commons in
peril through this effort of the government for a new Consttu-
ton, As a matter of history we have once changed our Con-
stitution, not only without hurt, but with advantage to the peo-
ple. The change, too, from the Blue-Book Constitution, to our
present one, came precisely as the present one comes, from the
authority, and 1 might add, the good will Of the reigning soVe-
reign.
Usually in monarchies, these conventions arise from the agt-
tstion and uneasiness of the Mobiles or Commons. In Europe
the liberal Constitutions of 1s4s arose from the motion of the
governed. When monarchs desire to destroy liberal Constitu'
lions or retrograde to absoluteism, they do not resort to conven
tons. History teaches Us that monarchs are not fond of call
ing constitutional conventions, and Notwithstanding " Makaai
mana" fears that every new Sovereign OF this Realm may avail
himself of the right, if a precedent be now formed, We may
safely trust that a saIutary fear will restrain the kingly propen
siy OF getting together the estates Of the Realm in elementary
capacity.
The very idea of this convention is an advance in this mon
archy, since at the first the dominant chief was absolute and
the rights, the people have acquired came from the grace ant
Good Will OF the King. By the present proclamation the Com
mons are acknowledged not only as an element, but a credtiU'
element, in the farther deyelopement of constitutional govern
ment; their wisdom is invoked and their acquiescence sought ii
remodeling the fundamental law. This getting of the three
estates together is a new principle now sought to be inaugu
rated, and we IN sure that the King, unless confident of hi
right intentions and the reasona5leness of his wishes, would b
10th to commit himself to a current that may bear Him whthe
He would not 70. nor are the chances that He can "pdck" tn
convention. even if His will to do so could be proved, so immi
nent that the Common. need fear to meet Hin face to face il
smicable discussion.