Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-04
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION.
Majority for Cook, 591
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
POPULAR INSTRUCTION.

The address of Publius in the last
number of the Spectator, on the subject
of insructing our representatives, con-
tains some sentiments, to which, as one
of their constituents, | cannot subscribe.
He insinuates, that there is something in
the attempt to call the people together
for the purpose of expressing their OPT
Mon, more than appears to public view.
Whether the gentleman is endued with
the second light to discover that which is
beyond the ken of others, have not been
able to discover, merely (perhaps) be-
cause he has not divulged this occult in
tention of the "wily politicians" who
wish to dupe the citizens g into the sup
port of a lettering popularity" Until
he does this, he will please to excuse my
blindness if see nothing more than de-
sire that the most unequivocal, and, if
need be, reiterated expression of the
public sentiment should be echoed
But it was my intention to speak of the
right, and the trolley of in8trncting our
Representatives in congress, or state le
gislature.
According to my " notions,' a repre-
sentative is nothing more than an agent,
who is appointed for the purpose oftrans-
acting some particular business for
his principal, which it is not SO conven-
lent for the latter to do in person. have
ever been accustomed to hear the prin-
cipal instruct his agent, in the business
which he undertakes. 1t frequently hap
pens, however, that there are contingen-
cies which cannot be anticipated, and in
these cases the agent has q discretionary
power to act according to the best Of his
ability. But when any thing OF very
important character is foreseen, in the
adjustment Of which the principal feels
peculiar interest, | presume he would
not be willing to concede his right Of di-
recting the course to be pursued, nor
would an agent be likely to contend for
the liberty Of acting in direct contradict
ton to the will of him by whom he is
employed.
fmy premises are allowed me, need
scarcely proceed further to establish
the claim of the people to the right of
instructing their agents in the measures
which they wish adopted.
But if Publius, or any other person,
should be disposed to controyert the as
sertion, that representative, lat least in
the present casc,) and an agent are sy-
nonimous, will endeavor TO give some
reasons for believing them to be so.
In the first place, then, the people are
by right, (the gift of their Creator) their
own political governors. Each man in
the community has privilege, which
may be called inherent, to direct in the
public councils. In order to obvlatc the
confusion which this universal legisla-
ton would occasion, our OWL excellent
form of representative democracy was
devised. BY it the citizen does not give
up title of his right to the direction OF
affairs; but for convenience sends, or.
rather number by mutual compact
unite in sending, an agent or representa-
tive to express their united will, and in.
conjunction with other agents, appointed
in a similar manner, to make such regu-
lations as may be for the general benefit.
Again, the very word representative
implies, that he to whom it is applied has
not, in legal phrase, original Jurisdic-
tion," in the affairs of government. He
is merely a " substitute in power, bearing
the character of another," or others
Now | conceive that the substitute is
constituted to do what the principal would
have done. Surely he ought not to act
Numerically opposite to the will OF bis
employer. But how does he 6 bear the
character" of his constituents (another
word showing this to be delegated) if he
does not do as they would have him-or
as they would, were they to act in person.
If have effected what l wished, the
right of the constituents to instruct their
representatives is shewn with sufficient
clearness; and if not, | cannot dwell
longer on this part of my subject, but
proceed to inquire into the policy.
This I conceive to be the more difii-
cult part, ifthe inquiry be to the question
in the abstract; for there are so many
circumstances which would have bear
ing ON it, from every direction, that much
foresight and much time would be ne
cessary to come at the issue.
But as this is intended as reply to
the address of Publius, am fortunately
confined to one measure, on which that
query arose.
Publius, in order to deter the people
of this state from pursuing this measure,
endeavors to awaken the fears OF some
hidden design of offending the dignity