Polynesian. [volume], April 24, 1858, Page 405, Image 5

About Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864

Image provided by: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI

                
THE POLYNESIAN, APRIL 24, 1858.
405
THE POLYNESIAN.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1858.
rjf Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose dictionary was
13 well thought of in its day, had, ua every body
h knows, a masculine mind that could grapple with
3 any topic very readily. Bein consulted on the
eu.ject he one day dictated the following note upon
the registration of deeds :
All laws are made for the convenience of the com
munis ; what is legally done should be legally record
ed that the state cf things may be known, and w hen
ever evidence U requisite evidence m iy be had. For
this reason the obligation to frame and establish a legal
renter is er-forc d by a legal penalty, which penalty is
the want of that perfection and plenitude of rights
which a register would give. Hence it follows (he
went oa to say) that this is not an objection merely le
gal ; for the reason on which the law ktauds being
equitable, makes aa equitable objection.'
Whilst we sat in court the other day listening to
arguments as learned as they were long upon Viiri-
DtL oiis points connected with the registration of deeds,
we almost shuddered when we thought what a
I chaas-come-aain there would be if the Registrar's
4 Jj oSce and books were destroyed by Cre. After such
jf a disaster the robbery in the Custom House would
ji be remera!ered as grown up men remember with a
It! -i .! . ii i .i
31
t
0
smile the sense of ruination that overcame them
when in their juvenile days they dropt a sixpence
in the gutter. Heaven knows that robbery was
bad enough, but should such a calamity as we al-
i lude to befall, it would be heard of with dismay
in nearly every parlor in the kingdom. Next to
the desire of acquiring property, which, not to
mince matters, is very essentially in this commu
nity our being's end and aim," comes the aspi
ration for security. The guerdon of labor can
never bo complete, and na country can flourish,
where nothing exists to promise a permanency of
possession. But we need not repeat the ABC of
"jj an alphabet which every one has got by heart.
When the number ot recorded sales, mortgages,
leases, and contracts of all kinds is remembered,
there is no room left for surprise that so many
persons feel a lively interest in the books in the
Registrar' office. Some instruments are lost or
burnt and then the record acquires additional
value. But suppose the records of those instru
ments should be lost or burnt and all other records
along with them, at one fell swoop ! Aye, there's
the rub! Such a thing may be improbable, but so
far as the extent of human ingenuity will admit,
it ought to be rendered impossible The safe now
used may be in fact what it is in name ; if so, all
1 well and good. But a gentleman who has had a
verv great deal to do with the registration ot deeds
has told us times and again that until a detached
and thoroughly fire-proof building was constructed
!! for their repository he should never consider those
books, of more than sibellino value, to be guarded
H with the caution they warrant. They are jewels
h that deserve a casket of their own.
I Amongst thoso about to meet to consider what
is fr the good of the nation thero arc many intcl-
i lignt men, and if one of them descending from his
eagle flight and bird's-eye view of the weighter
1 matters ot the law, wouiu wp
topic and call attention to it, the result might be
"the prevention of a disaster which may one day,
besides causing inconvenience to many, prove the
ft ruin of not a few.
T" - .
Some ten of the gentlemen elected to repre
sent constituencies in the approaching session of
the Legislature have addressed to his Majesty a
communication C-uched in very respectful terms.
J in which they beg to be informed as to when it may
M !)2 the Kin-r'e intention to convoke tne iwo ii.iuscs.
The reason of this request will be apparent, thry
lay, when they state that some of them had cine
from remote districts, leaving the pursuits by which
thej support themselves and families, and that
others had arranged their business so as to devote
the months of April and May to the duties of the
Legislature. To this the King very promptly and
politely replied through his Private Secretary, ex
pressing his regret, in terms, that they did not
wait till the session was convened, and also that
snhWted them to any in-
(1 convenience. In answer to their question he in
formed them that, although the Government was
not at that moment quite prepared to enter upon
the business of the session, the convention would,
nevertheless, not be deferred beyond the time de
liberately prescribed by the three Estate. ;
i
Than this nothing can be more harmonious. On
both sides we have the kindest feelings and the
softest words. So far as the signers of the letter
are concerned we cannot but indulge a hope that
as seven out of the ten arc residents of this place and
appear now, at the latter end of one of the two
months consecrated to the session, to be pursuing
their avocations in precisely their usual way,
the inconveniences alluded to seriously affect only
the remaining three. Thews latter, in the way in
which they have come here, remind one more than
anything else of those feudal retainers who in the
times of old were obliged to meet at such place of
rendezvous as their lord might indicate with their
weapons in their hands and a certain number of
day s provisions at their backs. If this supply
was consumed before any fighting took place all
they bad to do was to return to the places from
whence they cauie, for such were the terms of their
service. Only they did not come together till they
were called.
This correspondence suggests some other mat
ters for consideration, as for instance, the proprie
ty of cdecting, as a general thing, only members
who are independent in more than one sense of the
word, and who having property of their own to
protect, would be tho most likely to respect the
vested rights of others. But this merely as a mat
ter of policy, for we have no property qualifications
cither in regard to him who gives or him who re
ceives a vote. But space would fail us were we to
go into such speculations as this and others of a
similar kind, we will only add, therefore, our hope
that the announcement this day made of the day
for the meeting of the legislature, will give satis
faction by allowing some people, with an easy
mind, to go back tojthcir own places and particular
business till that day arrives, and by clearly in
fotming all when their public duties will begin to
encroach upon their private time.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE POLYNESIA.
Londox, 4th February, 1858.
Sir : I certainly cannot plead a want of events as
an excuse for not writing of late. Europe and the
world in general have rather presented an embarras Je
nouveUcs. Ah ! it was not so when you and I were
young, dear Trans-Pacifij. How quietly things used
to jog ou then. Hut jolly d all it used to be. No news,
markets flat, no railways, no electric telegraphs, Trac
tarianism not begun and steam navigation in its infancy.
In our comparatively short lives the population of thwe
Islands (how different from yours !) has increased from
ten millions to twenty-four millions ; and two millions
and a half of human and inhuman beings are crowded
together in this overgrown confluence cf towns, London.
And now, wars are commenced and finished with a
rapidity quite modern. The great blow relating to In
dia having been struck, and a series of brilliant and
heroic acts having shown that this country was" equal
to her best days Delhi having been taken, and Luck
now relieved, we began to look for excitement nearer
home. Internally, we had the monetary crisis or panic
to enliven us, and with our mouth full of this we Etill
wanted something to fill up the monotony of the scene,
so we amused ourselves by talking about a new Reform
Bill, about the abolition of the Hudson's B-iy.Company,
ditto ditto the East India Company, and enlivening the
winter with a roval marriage. On the continent we
find the tranquility of France and of Europe threatened
by an at temple 1 assassination of Louis Napoleon ; and
across the Atlantic we find a question open, which we
had every right to expect would by this time have been
quite settled and at rest, viz : the Central American
business. The American panic was older than our own.
and quite a good. The first and original cause of these
panics is over-trading. It has little to do with the
amount of currency in circulation, although it may be
admitted that when we are driving an enormous trade
it would be more convenient to have a greater quantity
of the circulating medium, just as it 'would be if you
were vigorously to set to work to make and repair the
roads of Hawaii and were to employ ten times the
usual quantity of laborers, it would be of soma mo
ment to have, for the time, an increased number of
wheelbarrows and of spades and picks to carry on the
work you are about, although it might be strictly true
that you could get on with the work without the addi
tional utensils, only less conveniently. Now we are
convalesccnt-and like convalescents, obliged .to keep
very quiet. Your ishndi have never gone through a
monetary crisis, and so you no more, know what it is
than a gentleman does a confinement. In both, the
excitement keeps you up and enables you to bear it.
tv hod an incidental advantage in calling peo-
Hiv - -
a. science, we
pie's attention 10 pouueu j
thought and talked more of banking, currency, com-
. . . .rAA nhiects than ever was
mercial legislation, -
talked before. The two great divisions cf opinion were j
cn the subject of the Bank Act of 1811, commonly
called Sir Robert Peel's Act. The abolitionists pointed
it out as restrictive and not in accordance with free
trade ; the supporters pointed to it wih honest pride
as the Egis of English commerce. At List, on the
12th of November, the Act was broken by the Govern
ment sending a letter to the Directors of the Bank of
England authorizing an extension of the paper issue.
No sooner was this done than some how or other confi
dence began to return, the price of money, which had
been at 10 per cent, as a minimum, fell immediately,
and although the extent of the over issue was only two
millions sterling, and in a fortnight was in process of
being reduced again to ordinary limits, the ' breach'
was in this case more honored than the observance,"
at least it had a summary pnd almost unlooked for re
sult. Well, sir, what do you suppose happened ? Each
party was discontented. The abolitionists would have
liked to sec the Act abolished, not infringed ; and the
supporters said, What is the value of a legislative act
that has already in thirteen years been twice broken
through ? And the latter party even went so far as to
say that they would rather have upheld the Bank Act
in its strictness, and have let bankers and merchants
and tradesmen all go indiscriminately in one universal
smash. But I am tiring you with panics, and therefore
will merely ask when your own government is going to
establish a Bank of Honolulu, and consolidate all the
scattered debts owing by the State into one stock at six
per cent interest per annum. It would give simplicity
and facility, and after a time, by raising a standard of
interest of money, would tend to reduce interest to more
moderate proportions.
The diabolical attempt on the life of the Emperor of
the French, and on the Empress, for she was at his
side, though it has called forth much sympathy and
good feeling, has given rise to unpleasant thoughts and
words. in the heads and tongues of some of our French
friends. They say that Eugland harbors those con
spirators, and that if wc arc what we profess to be,
friends, we ought to turn them out. Now this is vain
talk. England is a free country, and as long as people
behave themselves here as quiet subjects we cannot dis
turb them, though we grieve to see our hospitality
taken advantage of by political scamps. The Emperor
remembers that he lived in England, and that from
England he made the premature descent on Boulogne.
The French police ought to remember that when they
purge their own land by sending the . scum of Italians
and other bad citizens out of it to our shores, they are
heightening the evil by their own act. The system of
passports and police espionage in France have not it
seems availed to prevent the introduction of assassins.
On the 2oth of January the Princess Royal was mar
ried to the Prince of Trusia's eldest son, heir presump
tive after his father to the throne ; so that, if she lives,
she will one day be Queen of Prussia. It is a good
and satisfactory match in most respects ; but the poor
girl is but seventeen, and the parting between the royal
parents and their child was a sad one, and the grief of
crowned heads was sympathized in, I may almost say,
by bare feet. Could the Queen have seen the unaffect
ed tears that her subjects shed when they read the
touching scenes of the family parting, it would have
been more gratifying to her than the presents of gold
and gems that poured in on the bride. May she be
happy. She went away from London the day before
yesterday in the Royal steam yacht in the midst of
gloom and snow ; and yesterday, at 11 A. M., reached
Antwerp in safety, on her way to Berlin. The going of
this young thing, happy in her marriage, but necessa
rily so separated from the home of her childhood and
the affections of her family and former friends, puts
into our mouths the charming stanzas of T. Hood, en
titled Fair Ines."
" I saw thee, lovel j Ines, ,
Descend along the shore,
With bands of noble gentlemen,
And banners wav'd before ;
And gentle youths and maidens gay
And snowy plumes they wore ;
It would have been a beauteous dream,
If it had been no more !
Alas, alas, fair Ines, v
She went away with song.
With Mask waiting on her steps,
And shoutings of the throng ;
But some were sad, and felt no mirth,
But only Music's wrong,
In sounds that sang Farewell, Farewell,
To her you've lov'd so long. ,
Farewell, farewell, fair Ines,
That vessel never bore .
So fair a lady on its deck.
Nor dane'd so light before,
Alas for pleasure on the sea.
And sorrow on the shore !
The smile that blest one lover's heart
Tlas broken many more n
Yours, dear Editor, FLEET-STREET.
COREKSPOSDESCE.
HosoLrLC, April 19th, 1858.
Captain L. J. Moore, II. B. M. S. 8. Vixen :
Sir Having .been tendered a Complimentary Benefit, at the
Royal Hawaiian Theatre, by a number of my friends, in the ab
sence of a regular Dramatic Company In Honolulu I am com
pelled to request your permission for the Amateur Company of
your Ship to perform on the occasion of my benefit, they baring
expressed their willingness, provided it met with your approba
tion. Should the slight knowledge you necessarily must have of
uie warrant you in granting me this important favor, I can only
say, Sir, that you will confer a lasting obligation on me, and I
shall endeavor to prove myself grateful, if not worthy. Hoping
you will pardon this intrusion on your time and good nature,
and grant me an early reply, ,
I have the honor to be.
Your Obedient Servant, J. T. ROWS.
H. M. 8, "Yixes," 1
Honolulu, A pril 21st.
&r In answer to your application for the Amateur Company
belonging to this vessel for a Complimentary Benefit on your be
half, I think that it is due tc you for your assistance to the Com
pany at our private Theatricals.
I Bliall be very glad to let them take a part for yonr Benefit, if
it will nut interfere with our speedy departure from this place, at
the vessel is about to sail the early part of next week.
I wish you every success and a full attendance on that occa
sion. 1 remain yours, obediently.
LEWIS J. MOORE.
To Mr. J. F. Rowk, Honolulu.
Departure mC II. B. M. S. Vixen.
Dispatches having been received by the list mail for
the Vixen, to proceed to Valparaiso with all convenient
speed, she will leave this port on Thursday next. The
new Admiral on the Pacifia station, Baines, in the
Ganges, having arrived at Valparaiso from England, it
is possible that the smaller vessels composing the squad
ron are ordered there also, to pass muster and pay
homage to their chief. It leaves this port without
man-of-war, however, either English, French or Ameri
can, and the dull season will promise to be doubly dull.
The Vixen has been in our port six months, and has
come to be looked upon not only as one of the tuteUry
saints of Honolulu, but a jovial, good-natured, mirth
provoking saint to boot, that has done more to enliven
the place and produce peace on earth and good will to
men, than any other naval apparition that we remem
ber. We would say something civil on the occasion of the
Vixen's departure, but our heart is too full, and we beg
them to ' take the will for the deed."
Erratn.
In Mr. Wyllie's questions published last week oc
curred two typographical errors which changed the
sense of the questions. We therefore reprint them aa
corrected.
25. How the moral and physical health of the natives is affect
ed by excessive unpaid labor, exacted of them.
118. Believing it to be altogether impossible to preserve the na
tive race in existence so long as the native females continue to
be unchaste, what means can you suggest in aid of parental au
thority or otherwise, to prevent them, and especially those that
are young, from resorting to the seaports, where their immediate
contamination is a matter of certainty?
French Trbatt with the Sandwich Islands. For some time
past the French Government has been negotiating for a new trea
ty with the Sandwich Islands, with a view to having the duties
on several articles of French merchandise modified. For in
stance, the duties on French wines are proposed to be reduced
from five to three dollars per gallon. Our Government should
watch these negotiations, and see that no foreign power secures
advantages in the Sandwich Islands tlia we do not possess. If
the United States co-operate with European governments in open
ing trade with China and Japan for the mutual benefit of all, it
certainly stands us in hand to prevent any power from interropt
ingour commerce wish so near a neighbor as the Hawaiian King
dom. S. F. 1'rietH Current.
i
How the French treaty does trouble our neighbor
across the pond ! Do they not know that any privi
lege which the French, or anyof,4thte most favored
nation' may have obtained, will by their own treaty
be also granted to them? And do they for a moment
suppose that the U.S. Commissioner is not better posted
on these subjects than any "on dits" of San Francisco?
Public licrtHre.
Last evening Dr. Guillou delivered a lecture, at the
Fort-street church, by request of the Honolulu Lyceum.
The subject was, What are th measures best adapted
for the efficient distribution of medical relief among the
inhabitants, native and foreign, of these islands, and
how are- such measures to be originated and carried
into effect?''
As we shall have the pleasure to publish the lecture
in our next number of the Polynesian, we will not now
either do him the injustice or ourselves the disingenu-
ousness of a hasty critique or a rash judgment, delivered
in the first flush of the favorable impression which the
lecture produced. The subject chosen is of too absorb
ing an interest and touches every home in the country
too nearly, and was withal so ably, so thoroughly and
practically treated by the lecturer, for us only to notice
it on the spur of the moment, with the stereotyped
flippancy of common newspaper critics. With the IU-
era scripta before us, we hope to do justice to the lec
turer and make an application or two of some of- his
remarks that cither his time, his inclination or hia
courtesy did not permit him treat more minutely.
Her Majeaty'a Health.
We are happy to be able to announce that her Majesty
continues to enj y good healfh and spirits, although
the happy event which is looked forward to with so
much interest and with so many loyal wishes, b not
expected to be delayed beyond next week.