Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-08-25

point 81 sinterestedness and illumination which MIR
Owens theory OF the Social Compact pre-supposes, the
uocuiues oil the REVIEW may DO acted upon. But,
ui that time arrives will act for rather
than for others The power and wealth Of a nation,
are Estimated according to the number and wealth Of
the individuals composing itSo, the public interest is
ascertanej by ascerainng what the interest of the
majority Of the people.
Its argued. that, i; the number or dispersed sua.
uon OF ademocra'ic community make for
The people 10 attend personally, they must appoint re-
personalities TO act cr thcm-and that the duties and
rights oi There representatives, will be the same those
oil ths pcope in their Individual capaces-Ths il true
enough-Bu, the next lux in the argument OF the Is.
viewer is detective. lie inirs that, because in pure
democracy, no individual or number Of individuals can
instruct any single member, in representative de-
,nocracy the whole number of repre- scntatves stand
g IN the shoes OF The whole people. equally be-
yond the reach OF instruction. This is faacy pal
pablo. that /, is remarkable the experienced Reviewer
shnild have hazarded its detection.
lie comedies the ldct that the pure democracy gives
place. IN the case supposed, 10 representative The
very term representative at once conveys the idea that
40 assembly IL vcaous; that IL IL bu, the reflection
image =. others; possessing rights duties, but
a' are deputies or delegated by the Constituents. II
member oil pure democracy cannot he instructed, II is
because he does not possess this vcarious characters il
aching in hs own proper person, upon subjects in which
he has ne much interest any elseand is spon-
sibe 20 But, when the democracy becomes re-
n esen'ave, each member stands in the shoes OF
tam number OF the community; is bound to act for the
general good precisely in the way in which his cons
uen's would act were they personally present. They
send him there to speak thcr viii, aud not his
And, however repugn9nt the idea may he the lofty
minds OF some hr ascertain what that viii s
and does no, represent IL, he berays his trust COM
nit- "a downright irand'ani "has no business there"
-for, by not doing majority of those who him
would do he m'srepresen's, instead Of representing
hem:And, ns'ea AL OF being the m,ge, the organ the
servant or representative ot his constituents he their
master dictator This doctrine applied every mem
Der OF Congress- places that body beyond the conrou
sweeping po,rers they claim, they constitute down
right and as perfect despo'isn "a ever existed on
earth.
IL is true. that each member is calla upon 10 act for
the whole commnnty--and, IL uninstrncied ought i'm
The hnguaga Of Mr.. Bnrke, 20 exercise his unba
opinion his mature iu,ig uient, his enlightened con.
science" IL mai,v Of the people in each Congress.
sonal district in the Union. were 10 instruct their
member 10 vote for particular measure this wonLi im
effect, be the same thing their assembling in pure
democracy and legiSihng ior thcms Ives. Congress,
would have nothing TO do bur TO form and effect to
the public will Anil yet in such case, il is contend
ed, that these instructions would have 10 obligatory
force? Because, according to DIR. Cvopsr and the Re.
viewer they have no right to deci. upon mperfec'
information partial deliheraion and bv appoint
ing representatives, 'they have given mp the right,
decide This doctrine is atterin. 10 the seli-impor.
lance OF Congressman, az IL Is degrading an en-
ightened AMI free people Monstrons az il il, il is
gaining ground in this country as remarked before.
and claims the reforming energies Of those whom il
tents 10 drbase
Under almost every circumstance. representative
"a preferable 10 democracy. II is cheaper more
uniform and expeditions in the discharge Of business
and with the right Of instruction preserved. in its full
extent, j. eqrally safe. This right in fact, when ge.
nerally exercised, reduces il To the spirit of pure
mocracy, without it, FORMS = safe guarantee against
the abuse OF power and the sheet anchor of our free
institutions. IL il the long lever by which bad men and
oious measures may be overturned We prefer il TO
the mode OF humble petitions and addresses, s,ter
ing To men in power. Every consideration of public
d'ency and OF national Independence AMI honor
IONS ITS maintenance by the people. l( the constitution
has been silent either this right the mode
exercising II, this Ia argument against it, But that
instrument expressly disc the idea that the United
,h,,to
interest that OF The WHOLE" The federal govern.
ment 50 often an so improperly called the general
national government, is only the cement Of Union
among the several sovereign AMI independent States
forming the confederacy That government, is not
complete government, because its powers not
general co-extensive with the various objects Of
governmental action. They limited spccifed,
and enumerated. The states have retained all other
powers to themselves The federal government is
ated IN do such things only affect the interests OF
more than State and which the states dispersed
they are. with such citing interests cannot do with
the same promptitude and uniformity. To other ex
tent than this, IA II complete government Created
by, and acting for separate communities, all OF which
sovereign and dependent il cannot he viewed like
other governments as acting for consolidated and
homogeneous people. Ii the will the decision OF The
several states on all the subjects cone the Federal
Government could he promptly expressed and emboii.
ed; il equal accuracy justice uniformity and dispatch
could he attained by them, in managing the multitude
OF details which these dec-ons would involve, there
would he no necessity for such Federal Government
will not dwell upon the inducements which led to its
formation, the considerations which make the
Union the sheet anchor of our safety But beg that
the intelligent reader will bear them in mind. The va
lue OF that Union is most happily illustrated by an EN-.
blem in our flag The band which holds together the
culver OF arrows, gives to each, AMI 10 all united add
| tisnal strength.
! The Federal Consution recognizes the States ir
their true character. Ingenious arguments have beer
widely circulated, by distinguished men among u.s. go
ing 10 show that that instrument is not the
The States OF the neope OF the several States
sdered as separate Communities; but, of the people o
the whole Union, considered as "oVE nation with
ONE interest," that Of the whole" The discussion oil
'his point, is foreign from the subject Dr. Cooper will
not deny, however that he concurs with me, in consi.
derng that instrument having been formed by u,
States, properly speaking by the people of the
States acting members Of separate and distinct no.
litical Communities This has always been the repub.
lican view Of this subject Ainil the other view 10 bs
correct, and you, at once, give foundation to the
extensive claims 10 power set up by Congress and the
mine in great degree the right Of those who elect
member 10 Congress, TO instruct him. Mr. Burke de-
nicd this right, because he considered that Parliament
not Congress Of Aba asadors, agents from diff
fercnt communities interests; but wac, the
trary, dclberave Assembly OF one Nation. CONSOLE
of our Constitution, which makes the Reviewer
tend that &C Members OF Congress, mt PennsyIva-
MIA Members, Massachusetts, or Georgia Member
they members OF Congress" " What right" he
asks, can any section OF the country have dictate
TO member OF the Congress OF the whole Union? To
paraysc his faculties; 10 destroy his utility? Sc SC
And, that 4" when member is called upon to vote he
is called upon to give his vote, not the Of 9th
people, whose slave he is and who put yes upon
his ps, without his consent" II the people can toe-
rate these bold denunciaons Of their rights, these
ing deliances Of their ,cH and half informed iuJa-
mens; aud smile compaceniy upon the arrogant crea-
lures of their breath who thus claim superiority, AMI
insult them; LET them do They will only confirm