The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-12

land were but very faint images of the pre-
sent representative system. The power:
Of these bodies, were comparatively small
and the people had not that free and une
quivocal voice, even in the choice Of theil
me usbers, which has been secured to them
even by the British Constitution.
In the Seven Dutch United Provinces
there was form of contederated Depu; III
on established. The S,ates-General could
form treaties and alliances make peace
aRd war; raise armies and equip fleets
assess quotas. and make requisilions The
States-Genl, were composed Of deputation.
from each of the Provinces but these could
exercise none of their powers, not only
without IN unanimous vote. but without the
sanction of their constituents. 1hey were
bound, in the first instance. by the IN
sfrnctions, or checked. in the last resort by
the peso of the Provinces.
In Great Britain, where the plan of dele
CATION is the freest perhaps in Europe, Ohio
what vast regions lie between it and the
plan of free and regular representation y
the subject has been often and warmly CAM
vassed.-The speech of Edmund Burke to
the Electors of Bristol.is triumphantly quoted
by such as would wish to be thought the
friends Of the people and yet despise their
instructions. &c did not obey your instruc-
NO; l conformed TO the instructions of
truth and nature, and maint aimed your inter-
est against your opiniosn, with a constancy
that became me. A representative wor-
thy OF you, ought to be person Of stability.
am 10 look, indeed, to your opinions but
to such opinions as you and / must have FIVE
years hence. was not to look To the flash
OF The day. Iknew that you chose me, in
my place, along with others, to be pillar
OF the state. and not a weather-cock on the
top of the edihce, exalted for my levity and
versatility, and Of no use, but to indicate
the shiftIngs of every fashionable gale a.
MIR. Burke for gets, that the People will
but rarely instruct and always with some
degree of cau'iou--and, that the represen
tative may often degenerate from a fiiar
of the state, from the high and holy purpo-
ses for which he was appointed, into a mis-
chevous and misguided instrument of the
most sinister designs M. Burke's CON
duct and opinions were not approved by the
electors Of Bristol; and on the morning of
the second day of the election, he formally
declined poll.
But MIR. Burke is not the only champion
which this doctrine has met with in G. Rri :
tain.-Among its warmest friends, is that
most loyal and high-toned manarchist, chief
ljustice Blackstone, who puts it upon this
ground that the man, when elected, is. a
representative of the 1uhoie realm, and not
OF the borough or shire which elects him.
Ehisis the position. which its present par
nzens have, taken, and it is thus stated by
the Commentator on the laws of England.
And every member though chosen by
one PARTICULAR district, when elected and
returned serves for the whole realm. Fol-
the end of mis- coming thiiher is not particu
rat ha rpIx IN duo
his constituents, but the commonwealth; e
advise his majesty Gas appears from. the
writ of summons,) de commun consiTt
"sW,fer negotiis quibusdan n, arduis es urgen
tfbnS. rcsem, statun, ct defenSionen re
gni .Hngtae ct ecciesiae .4ngGcanae con
cernentbus." And therefore he is no;
bound. like deputy in the united provinces
to consult with, or take the advice Of, hi.
constituents upon any particular point. an
less he himself thinks it proper or .pruden
so todo."
Burgh, in his Pohtical Disguisnions, hs'
commenced on these ideas with severity ant
truth, in the two following passages of hi
work:
IT the members Of the House of Com
mons are not obliged to regard the in
structions of their constituents the PEG
! "Dle of England choose Get of desrots e
very seven years, and are as perfect slave,
as the Turks, excepting the few month.
col general Acknowledgements Poli,ica
Dispositions. Vol. ]. p. 1875. Phila. u.s.
The same writer insists with great appa
rent reason on his side. that the denial o
responsibility is novel doctrine in Eng
gland" BIZ.
When we elect persons to represent III
in parliament, (says this judicious writer) we
must not be supposed to depart from thu
smallest right which we have deposited
with them. We make Judgment, not
| gift; we entrust, but tart with nothing. -
And. were it possible that they should st
tempt TO destroy that constitution which w
had appointed them to maintain, they car
no more be held in the rank of represe nta
| tives than factor turned pirate, can CON
| tinue to be called the factor of those mer
chants whose goods he had plundered, ant
whose confidence he had betrayed The
men, whom we thus depute tt parliament
are not the bare likeness or reflection of u:
their constituents; they actually contain our
powers and privileges, and are, as it were
the very persons Of the people they repre-
sent. We are the parliament in them; VIC
speak and act by them. We nave, there
fore, right to know what they are sayins
and doing. And should they contradict oui
sense, or swerve from our interests. we have
right to demonstrate in form, and direc
them. BY which means we become the re
gulators OF our own CoRduct and institutor.
of our own laws, and nothing material car
be done but by orr authority. and con
sent. "-Burgh's Political Dispositions, Vol
1. p. 202.
And very lately, viz, on the 10 Janu