Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-16

Extract from Speech Of VIZ BURKE on the obligation
Of representative 10 otey the instructions Of has con-
Siitusnts
Ger ,inly, gentlemen, il ought TO be the
happiness and glory OF representative TO live
in The strictes' uuion, The closest correspon
dsrte, and the mos. anresetved commune alton
with his cons iluents. Their wishe, ough, 20
haze great weight with him their opinions
high respect; 'h-ir business, unrenit,ed a,irn-
lion. II is his duty TO sacrifice his repose, his
pleasures, his >stisflctons 10 theirs; and, above
all, ever, and IN I'll cases, TO prefer their inte
rest to his own. Blu his unbiased opinion, his
mature Judgment, his enlightened conscience
he ught not TO sacrifice % you, 10 anv man, TO
any Set OF men living. These he does po' de
rive from your pleasure; no, nor from The law
aud the constitution. They are trust from
Providence, for The abuse of which he is deeply
an .wersbe. Your representative owes YOU no
his indus ~ only, but his judgment; and he
betsavs ins'esd Of serving you, If he sacrifices
IL IL your option.
"My wor by colleague Says his will ough' to
be subservient to yours. If tina be al, h,
thing is innocent. If government were mat
tr of vii u'oa a"y sidt, yours withouI ques>
toh, ough TO be superior. Blu, gov, rnnp-n'
aid, Egisla inn are matters ri reason and judy
IA at, f4pd no, OF inclination; and wha' sorr of
rrssonis ha' in which The determination pre-
cedes tue discussion In which OF. So Of mrn
deliberate d ano her decide-and where those
who i"rm he conclusion are, perhaps, three
hundred miles Gistan' from those who hear / C
Argument!
10 liver opinion is n, right Of all
men; tha' "f consti urn is weiph'y and re-
sprorabe opino', whic" representative oush
al~ avs TO rejoi-e 10 hea AID whic,. he Dug I
always, m 81 seriouly 10 Esd 4. Blu au
thorrfdirrs instruction mandates issued wal
tn member IS bound biIndly To obey, 20 vote
and to- argue Tor, though contrary 20 the clear
est eonvic lions OF his judgment and conscience
these are things utterly u known to the laws
OF thus land. and whi, h aris frum funda,
m nisl mistake OF the whole order and tenure
Of our Constitution.
Parliament is no, Congress Of ambassa-
doris frem differenr and hostIl Sratrs,- whose
in errs's each must maintain as an agent aud
advocate against her agents and ad, coates,
bu, Parliament IS a dtlbera'e assembly OF one
n1'i1n with one interest, that OF the whole
where not lncal pu poses, NOT loo al prriudice.
o"gnt'o guiae, bot The general good, resulting
from the general reason, of TIE Whole. You
eh 'ose a member indeed but when you haze
ohosen him, he Is not a m-mher Of Bristol bu,
he IL member of Parliament, If the local
e"hsA"S" suOuio nave an interest, or s. Ould
form en- hasly opinion, evidently opposite 10
the real good Of the rest Of he community
the number co. that ?lace ough' % be as fsr as
any Other from any endeAvor to give II effrc.
Il did not obey Your instructions: No l
. Conform 10 the i"s ru.tions Of truth aud ma.
ture, aud maintained your interest against your
OPT ions, with Consistency that b. { am" me. A
represen,a'i'e,wo~hy of you ought TO be
person OF stability am 10 look iptped, a,
your opinions; hut TO such np,nio N, as you aud
! must look TO ne years hence was no, 10
look at the q sh OF ,ha, day. I know tina, YOU
chose me, IN my plsce, along with o hers to he
pillar 10 he STATE, and rot q weather cock
on the top OF he edi6cs. exalted for nv ievity
and sersa'a'itv, and OF course bu to indicate
Vie shiftings # every popular gaze"