Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-06-09
MISCELLANEOUS.

1NSTkUCTlONS TO REPRESENTATIVES,
The Essex Gazette published at Haverhill
has the following sensible remarks on the
instruction to the Representatives Of New
buryport, which were voted in town meet.
ing, on the subject of the Railroad. Bost
d. .4du.
Were there no men in Newburypor,
with whom the citizens could trust their
interests without special instructions
Were there none acquainted with the mer-
its Of the Railroad question!-none posses
sed OF sufficient capacity to learn !-ol
judgment to discriminate ?-of honesty to
act as they might think right The New
buryport representatives, under present cir
cumstances, we think must feel themselves
degraded. Instead of going into the Lee
gislature unpledged, and at liberty to act
agreeably to the dictates Of their unbiased
judgments, they carry with them the inn
piled declaration, that their constituents
repose no confidence in their honesty and
capacity to act on the Railroad question.
beyond the limits prescribed in their in
structions. They are, in effect, told in ad.
vance, that they are not worthy to be trust
ed with important subjects of Legislation.
How must such representatives appear in
the Legislative Hall, when the railroad
question comes to be debated Whatev.
er may then be their sense of duty-how-
ever they may be convinced that the es-
tablishment of the railroad would subserve
the'lnterests ofthe Commonwealth-great-
ly enriching one portion Of it, and not i'm.
poyerishlng the other-yet they are shack
led and pinioned so that they cannot act,
or ifso. only as automatons !! The most
important and undeniable facts, and the
most powerful and convincing arguments
which the ingenuity of man can in.
vent, will all be lost on them-they must
oppose them and why? Because their
constituents so instructed them.
The people who instruct their represen-
tatives in matters which themselves do not
fully understand, do greatly mistake their
own interests. Care should be used, to
select for representatives, men Of good ed
ucation, sound mind, strict integrity. and
liberal views. This done, the people
should repose in them a generous, unre-
strained confidence. The Representa-
tive, at the time of his election, is suppos-
to know as much, at least, on any given
subject of legislation, as those who elect
him; and when he shall have investigated
all the facts, and listened to all the argu.
ments for and against, (which his constit-
uents cannot be supposed to have done
he must necessarily be much better ac-
quainted than they can be, with the mer.
its OF the question, and could of course.
vote on it more uuderstandingly than any
of them and hence, we conclude. that
instruction or adUice from the people to
their representatives, under such circum-
stances, is unnecessary and absurd. AS
much 80 as for an unlettered man to ad.
wise or attempt TO dictate to a learned pro-
lessor in matters Of literature and science.
SARATOGA, MAY 26. The SPRINGS.
Among the Improvements which have ta-
ken place in this village since last year, is
the lining Of most Of the side walks with
naples and elms from our forests. These
are generally of good size, and will, in
a short time, render the walks delightfully."-
cool and refreshing, and give TO the village
an elegant rural appearance. Most Of the
publick houses are now open for the sea-
SON; and we are happy 10 notice the arri-
val Of several strangers within the last six
Or eight days.
Three persons have been tried at Utica.
as having been concerned in the abduc ton
Of Morgan. Their names are Eli Bruce,
formerly Sheriff Of the county of Niagara,
John Whitney, and James ellis. In the
case Of the last mentioned, the jury being
unable to agree, they. were discharged.
The two frat were convicted. Bruce was
sentenced to imprisonment for two years
and four months, and Whitney for fifteen
months. Bruce was tried first, and after his
conviction, was produced as witness a.
gainst the other two.