Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-24

lel..
-iso, OF remote antiquity, 4 Roman philosopher
Istates"i;tn' and orator remarked, that /" Their.
was no doctrine which had not found tlefen.
der" F" eSie"'
4 IN 1ep.y 10 the argument, which detluccs. a
foftlori, from the presumption. thar the a,,,Bor;
ty Of Instructions is established. n is annl;,al
tion to the Ho'ise of Commons, i'm England. that
1 IL must prevail IN the representative govern
tnents or -Sfnerica; ii may be Justly remarked
that there arc considerations, pleading for ire
1 existence, there, which do not here apply at
least, IN the same force In England, al, here
anaiy, IRE sponsible monarch, with numerous
lPrfrog1siFes, and vast powers, and BODY of
hereditary uobles OF immense wealth exclusive.
" possess all executive, and it mSy be said, all
Judicial. While they share with the pcople eou,J
portions OF The Legislative power, and the parlia.
ment, which these three orders coinpose. s
moreover, omnpotent. Here, tire people are
universally Acknowledged to be sovereign. Not
only taeir risht to !" change, alter, or sboIish''
their constitution ofgoyernu1ent. Is adn,it,ed +,
theory, but has been repeatedly, reduced 10
practicc, with so litt,e danger ts fsa,-
guilty, as TO afford a complete refst,tion ar
the tyrannical dogma, HAT man is Incapable
OF self government" Every department of e.
very government, in the United States, derives
ats existence from the viii of the people and
has impressed on its features, the Character of'
delegated power. Power, and responsibility
! are, every where, united Observation-Disclosures
| IS exercised by assemblies of men, in Virtue OF
semi annual, annual, biennial, or at most. and
| In very few instances, hex-annual elections by,
| the unbiased suitrages of the people.-Thosc
VINO nlaAe tte fa1os become, every where in their
| farn, the subjects of the laws Legislation with
open doors; an uncontrolled press, and a spee-
! dy and intimate communication otintellirence
| TO the like extent, unexamDed in any othar
quarter OF the globe, give wings to KNOWLEDGE.
The same instrument, which enables the con-
sttuted authorities to explain, recommend, or
vindicate their public conduct to their constit,I
ents; subjects that conduct, to the seyerest
scrutiny OF the constituent body The interest
| OF the representative, which usually lies in the
district which elects him; his desire of fame
his affection for the circle of his family. and
trends; his gratitude to the people who elect
hin, Tor their confidence in his integrity, tai
ents, and patriotism; that patriotism itself
| which binds him, with additional force. to bis
| helds, his dwelling, and the ashes his forefa-
theirs; these securities for his fidelity. a,,e All
fortified, by the qualification of residence. 4
qualification required by most ofths American
constitutions, as 1t was, originally by that ofthe
sngiish House OF Commons though in England
] Gfudys dependent Upon custom, in latter times
disused; and, finally, dispensed with by law
| Here, 1T indentihes the Representative with HE
| immediate constituents; while, in ENGLAND. he
may be an alien, to them, in his iassyast h;e |
ZONE, and hrs heart. He may. indeed have no
constituents, whatever, except such, as he ac-
cures by purchase In England, he may think
OIL ms constituents, but once in seven wears In
America, there is some danger of his running
! INTO the contrary extreme, and forgetting in
ais devotion 10 their peculIar interssss ii,e nm,
4 " which lie owes to the community az laree
The authority of instructions, therefore, if ever
usefuiiy exerted, must be less necessary, in A.
merica, than in England.
| Turning its view, to the constitution and
practice OF the government of this state. and of
the United States, this Assembly can discover.
| IN neither, more conclusive evidence on fh;s
| SUBJECT The general character of representa-
tive government, could not, indeed, depend for
lis verIncation, on particular facts This AS
Seinoiy mas been forcibly impressed, however,
with this remarkable circumstance--Tha the
right OF instruction, has been more Frequently
assumed hby the Legislatures of the diiFercnS
states, than exercised ythe people, themselves;
although, the constitutions of three of the old
| and two OF the new states, expressly assert,
| " thSe the people have right, in an orderly and
peaceable manner, to assemble and consult
| " upon the common good give instructions TO
4" their representatives and to request of the
legislative body, by way ofpetition, or remon-
STRANGE a redress OF the wrongs done them"
lt is proper to remark, here, that the constitu-
\ tons otseveral other states of the old conFede-
| ration, and others, who came into existence. at
long subsequent date, have the same clause,
win the preceding, except, that the right, to
give instructions to their representatives" is
| omitted
IhIs assembly is neither required, by the
subject on which IFS attention IS at present be-
| slowed, nor. rs it at all disposed to DENY TO the
| people OF this commonwealth, the right of in
structing its own members The discretion.
| prudence, and good sense of the people of Viz
ginia have furnished, for many years past, no in
stance, within the knowledge Of this Assembly
OF an exercise of that right But it can feel no
hesitation, and it deems itself bound, by every
consideration of attachment, aud fdelity IN IL
constituents, to disclaim, for itself, and to denv
70 the legislatures ofthe other states, rieIit to
instruct the Senators Of the United States. Can
| such right be legtimately inferred from that
| Which is secured by the constitution of the u
nltcd states. TO the state legislatures of eectne
the Senator'S who represent their respective
| states IN Congress Have those legislatures. in
| tue election Ola Senator, any other character
| than that OF an organ, selected by the reonle IN
| perform an Office, which they could not so CON
| vcnently, or SO benefcially execute themselves.
/ The constitution gives to them the power of e.
| lection but. by whom, was the constitution of
Il the United States established It answers for
| Itself. eve the people oTthe United Sfafes. in
=" order TO form more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
/ loHthe common defence, promote the general
welfare and secure the blessings of liberty 20
| = ourselves, and our postcrity, do ordaip and
" establish this constitution for the TTpifcJ
| states of America" The formation of a CON
( stnution OF government, that which laws tie
foundation Of political society, is an act of s9ve-
! ,egn Potger Il is, truly, an act OF the people
J y, sheir highest soOeyeigH capacity," a phrase.
which has been much used, and for vario,,s
purposes, but which, this Assembly, can under.
stand IN but one sense, to mean the people in