Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-21
for the Gazette.



A writer z. in The Gaze te Of Thursday,
has m.de some very strange remarks rela-
tive to the righ, Of constituents TO instruct
theirrepresepta,ives. He says, "they who
assert the right to instruct, actually pervert
the term representative from its original
Specification and import" What must we
define the word representative to be Is
il not something bearing strong ,Imiiilude
to the original ? is il not intended directly
10 shew tie character and appearance Of
that which i represents ?-in what light
then mrst we consider representative oil
the people The people OF the United
States are the acknowledged sorereigns OF
power; their united voice is considered as
the basis of law, and any deviation from
their viii is usurpa,ion. When number
OF citizens eiec; person TO represent 'hem'
lLSy expect tina he will act agreeab'y 10
the shes and Ieiteraie the sentiments
they express. otherwise lie is certainly iot
a reprrsentalIve. but actuated alone by Inc
e.fer,escence of his own imagination. DO
We not see, tnat Representatives generally
a.end to every thing that, in their Judg-
mert. is conducive 10 the welfare OF their
constituents, even though il be not express
ed by those whom they represent T! Ito"
much more then ought theirunited voices 10
be heard on an important subject by those
whom they have entrusted with the power
of expressing those sentiments
The government of the United States, in
its present delegated form, is an abbrevi-
atei democracy and should those few
who are nominated to express the real
wishes of the people act directly contrary
Surely not: il would be perveriing the
soundest principle Of republicanism--it
would be aiming desth-blow at the vital
interests of those who alone have the sole
right TO direct the government; and this
mole-bill OF usurpation, though small. and
scarcely percep,ible in the origin, in the
lapse Of time would grow to mountain OF
insurmoun,able magnitude. | do not pre-
tend 10 say that the people should be
consulted on every occasion this would
be impossible. The representative should
actagreeabIy to thedictates fhis judgment,
anu then il his decision is disspprov2d 10y
his constituents, let bin change his con-
duct and act in unison with their wishes.
With regard to increasing the compensa-
ton Of the members of Congress, though
| believe it YVES 10 more than a sutticiency,
| am proud TO see that such bold stride to
sei(-aggrandizement met with the indigna-
ton and resentment OF the people.-lt at
once shews that they are jealous of their
liberty, ani will guard it with an eagle eye
tia, they discountenance every measure
that tends TO subvert their authOrity--and
that they will obliterate the footsteps OF
corruption before they have made an inde-
liblc impression. That the people have re-
pented of their disapprobation Of the COM
pensation bill, deny that they have
elected some of the members who were adj
voc,tes OF tbs bill, IS true but not through
a conviction that these members acted cor
rectiy, in this instance. The people be-
lieved them to be honest men, Jealous for
their country's welfare-they imputed this
error in legislation, to be an error OF the
head and not of the heart''-they scourged
them. and were willing that they again
should represent them.
II is the very soul and essence OF repub-
licanism, that every action of the govern
men, is investigated by the people-its de-
forrnity pointed out, or its virtue applauded
and the voice Of the people heard with
attention. But when this ceases to be the
case, liberty will be known but by name ;
corruption, usurpatlon, and tyranny, with
all their gnaslly train, will stalk with gil
gantic strides DER the desolate domains OF
tn republic; and tben the proud, self
imror;an, despisers OF instruction, will shed
,he bitter tears ofrepentance, berett OF even
hope for tue restoration Of liberty
AMERICANS.
United States bank notes are quoted al
Richmond, Va. at one per cent below New
York notes.
We understand, that Robert Gibson, ar,
,-,,.l iu.;n., hn li,rn the circnit cnuri O