The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-03-11

tween tic ffpfcsenldtlNe anu us Conotitu
ent Whilst il is acknowledged that TO the
people belongs the sovereign power in a
republic, and that they are the only lesiti
mate source Of all political authority
whilst our government is acknowledged
Ia be an elective democracy or republic,
where this power is not transferred Or
parted with in Zee simple, rs right to be
exercised by the individuals to whom II
may be bestowed as he choose 10 use II,
bat delegated by the many TO the compa
rative few, into narrow compass, for
the purpose of practicable legislation, aud
delegated to them under the character On
ly of represtntntires-for what else does the
theory Of representative government con
template than that the many are under the
necessity of delegatin5 to the few, rs their
agents, the power which it would be inpos
sible for the many or the people TO exercise
g.! in person Whilst all this is acknowledged,
il has ~, ertheless happened that some have
denied the constituents right 10 instruct
those that are acting, not by any abstract x
independent authority of their own, but by
an authority that belongs tn the constitu
ent in hi@ acknowledged sovereign capaci
ty A falser doctrine or one more al war
with common sense could not exist. The
repre- sentative is the vital principle of free
governments L. So essential d perverslOn
OF it would be a political maady which
might Justly be compared to the physical
one of an anursn of the heart: The UNI
soundness of both would threaten equ..i
peril 10 the system Of which tlley are the
pillars. Ours can no longer BE- considered
| tut, a inf in a
of that man who denies the right Of in
st,uction. He must call il by some other
name else he will be involved in an
nextricabe dilemma. Representative
means something or it means nothing.
lfit means nothing why its use ? II
means something what else does 1t mean
than one that IS occupying and filing the
place Of another, performing the functions
of that other as he himself would perform
than were he personally present? Assn
mingft for basis that our republic is an
elective representat'e government, l am rs
irresistatIy led to the conviction that he
who denies the right of instruction is net "a
republican, as l would be ready TO de
nounce as an infdel he who has no faith in
sacred writ | am, then, the advn
cate for obedience to instruction. When
this principle ceases to be recognized,
our political liberty Is dead, and the
sovereignty Of the people will he q
high sounding attribute beref, OF its mean
ing. FEET the doctrine of obedience 10 ia
ST. ucibn be exploded aud the majesty Of
the people whom political writers are wont
to style the masters in a republic, is trans
ferred To those vested with authority, who
thus indeed instead Of being public ser
wants, are become political masters. But
| am no more disposed to be Ia
titudinarian in recognizing the right Of in
struciion, than am prepared TO acknow
ledge thbse principles in the investigation
of constitutional interpretations. With all
the reverence that ought TO he conceived
for the invaluable privilege that belongs TO
the constituent of instructing his reprssen
tative--with all the attachment that pro
fsss for repubicanism and representative
government, hope never would become
so mach ola parasite in my notions of po
litical duty as to pursue obedience to the
principle that am advocating at the sacri
ice and expense of my own Judgment, or
by suppressing tho conscientious convc
tons of my understanding My Judgment
chage the duties OF my conscience il due TO
a higher tribunal than you are. And should
hetray you for the purpose of agreeing with
you'll should commit treason for the pnr
pose Of retaining dear bought popularity, if
under any circumstances, | could ever be
prepared to support any measure at war
with the deliberate decisions Of my judg
ment. If in exercising tho duties Of u pub
| lie servant il becomes the misfortune OF the
representatives Ia differ in the conscientious
convictions OF his understanding from the
! opinions and expressed will of those whom
he il serving, there IS yet 90 inextricabfe
dilemma between the parties. All Of US
will agree that when this happens every
honest and upright politician will not doubt
that then 1t devnlyes on him To vacate his
Office into the hands of those by whom it
was delegated, who continuing to exercise
the rights of sell government, can select
from amongst themselves another and per
haps an ADLER representative. So PLAIN a
proposition as this and so substantially
based upon the doctrines Of republicanism
and true morality, needs no reasoning to
| establish its orthodoxy amongst a free and
| enlightened cOmmunitys and for trans
cendng the bounds of my intention in
treating Of the important subject to which
il refers, offer for an apology that | could
not otherwise we'll make true and entire
exposition ofmy principles in relation to- il.
As 10 another subject which has for a
year or two excited much interest amongst
| us, and which has been asitated throughout
tile state with no little diversity Of opinion,
1t deyolves on me perhaps not to omit say
ing something. 1t will readily he supposed
that allude to the question of Con,en
ton. The limits Of this address. already
spun out doubtless TO a tiresome length to
those who are willing to encounter the !,
trouble of reading it, prohibits me from en-
saging in any thing like vindicstion Of