The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-29
For the lldinbom.
ON SUFFRAGE AND REPRESENTATION.

Representation, both in civil & political affairs,
IMPLIES the delegation of power to others by one
or more men, that they may do for them, what
the delegators if prefent, might rightfuy do for
themfclves but this function is cxerciled with
very different degrees Of accuracy and UNDER
Handing in tbeie two claiies of human action.
When a man appoints an executor, a guardi-
an, an agent by letters Of attorney, or employs
council in a fuit at law, he commonly ufes
much foretight and circumfpeeion in afcertan-
ing the talents, the diligence and the integrity of
the Representative. Yet the very man perhaps,
who has exhibited a judicious choice in inttances
Of this kind, which only partially affea his inter-
efts when he is delegating political power, almoh
boundlefs over his own fortune and happinefs,
over thoie of his countrymen, and over their
joint poferity, fhall difplay fupine ndfer-
ence, or act under the guidance of errors, preju-
dices and paflions, that would difgrace favage.
1t is not very difficult to affgn the cauies of this
difference. Men are fimulated to much atten-
ton in conducting their private affairs, not only
becaufe they relate to their immediate wants
and defires, but becaufe they are within the
compafs of their rfandDgs.--Ienoranee of
their political concerns is the lot of great pro-
portion of mankind, who muft therefore very
o6fcurely difcem, the ineftima5le relations
which thefe concerns bear to individual well
fare and happinefs, and consequently it is
with great difficulty, that their attention to them
can be routed by motives that are, at the fame
time, atipe and i~nda Bic.
Thofe who by their information and influence
might difpel this fatal ignorance (and that they
might do the good, is manifeR from the evil
they actually efe6t1 are the foreInoit to promote
and increaie it. When the people are about to
give their fufrages, theic men divide into fqads,
each with favorite candidate at its head,
and commence the art ofelectionecring. They
aiiail the people by hattery, coaxing, bribery,
intimidation & minatements ofpublic meafures
The weapons prepared againf the adverfe
candidate are a mercilefs fcrutiny and exaggcra-
ted report of his mott minute s. private fobles,
inhnuations derogatory of his understanding,
principles and views, & in addition TO thefe, di-
rect faliehoods. On the favorite are lavilhed
extravaeant, and therefore unmerited, praifes of
his talents aud deferts, and groundlefs executes
or mPudent publications of the exceptionablc
parts of his conduct. What few rays of truth s.
found judgment might penetrate this matt of err
ror and deception, are too frequently merged in
the noifome fumes of gluttony s. intoxication
1t cannot be too often nor too earneftly incul-
Gated, that to give any rational meaning to the
terms, or utility to the functions of election and
approximation, it is eflentially necehiary, that
the electors thonld have competent know
ledge of the powers they impart, of the duties
connected with the exercife of thofe powers of
the ftnefS of the objects of their choice to per-
form thofe duties, aud that their fufrages fhould
be given, unbiafied by any bafc or finifter mo.
tive. The fubfantial benefits of election and
approximation are annihilated, in exact proper
ton to to the votes that are given under the in
fiuence of ignorance, fear, hatred, knavery, or
ntoxication--the voices of iuch people are of
no more avail to rational and ufeful electoral
decihon, than the neighing of Darius's horfe.
The doctrine of representative government
has given rife to two queftons that merit atten-
ton. The frft refpeets the right of the electors
10 control by inffrHctons the will of their imme-
date representative; the fecond refpeets the
Description of perions in the community, to
whom the right of fiffrage fEould be extended.
The diYiiIon of "a country into counties or diff
tricts for the purpofe of holding elections, feems
alone to have been done for accommodating the
people when they afemble to vote and for aft
fording them an opportunity of chooGng per-
Ions, OF whole qualifications, from vicinity and
acquaintance, they can beft Judge. No right of
general control is conveyed to the electors of
each difttitt over the representative they may
cheo!s-ths "s!e.!s representative Lcdy repre-
tents the whole nation, and as each individual
member, may, in turn, form the majority which
decides or national auctions, it feems wrong
that the will of the whole, fhould be fubeeted
to the control of fnsll part Of the community :;
and this would certainly happen if zach member
was boune 10 obey the inftructions of his parti-
cuar condiments when the quefion concerns
their local intereRs in very fpecial manner, it
ieerns perfectly proper that the representation
fhould ffri6tly conform to their inftruetions.
But the duty ofcompance is much more obi
gatory on the representative body in relation to
the people at large, than on an individual repre-
tentative in relation to his particular conffitu-
ents--It confounds all juR notions of the fonrce
OF political power, oft fovereignty of the peo-
pie, TO ALERT, that majority of the foyereign
will fhaIl not control the will of the reprefenta-
tive agents. This doctrine leaves to the people
no trace of fovereignty, except the privilege of
choohng at ftated periods, thofe v no fhall exer-
cife an elective defpotiim. On the contrary,
not only ihould the representative body conform
TO the will of a foyereigu majority, but they are
bound to lilten with Difference to the wines
even OF Respectable portion Of the community,
whether that portion amounts 70 a majority or
not and if great facrifce of the common in
tereit be not manfeft coniequence, they ought
TO conform to their wilbes; for TO reiill the ex-
prefied will of numerous portion of the COM
munity is always an evil, as it increafes difcon-
tent and faction whereas the repeal or omiifi
on Of fifty legislative acts would generally be
matter oflitte moment, and not INDEPENDENTLY of
much advantage.
The fecond qucflion TO which adverted, re.
lated to the extenGon Of the right of fuffrage.
In different countries, in which one or more
Branches of the government are elective, the re-