Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02

The nation deputies him not but of his constituents who
alone know him, alone have trusted him, and alone
displace him. And fit be his province and his Duty in
general express the will of his constituents, The
best Of his knowledge without being particularly inform
ed thereof it seems impossible 10 contend that he is
not bound to do WHEN he is so specially informed
and instructed" And this he is bound TO 10, TO DC
the organ Of his constituents the second resolution:
" on all points. either corstifniions rr polite. Then,
II obed,rnrc to the instructions, by which IS meant Me
&te"g T me rotc in conformity I" them VIII, IN hsf s-
tniali"n violate the Constitution, or be an act ct mo-
raj turPIiudr The only alternatives left Ia tie cpresen-
tavr, 1.-THE Senator Congress- are II rcsrn his trust
or ito DC the 0rgnn If his 1rIL aione. To be tlr
organ oil his own WILL the r port it, in that ac
DC DEsroT; ana to d" drsp"c act, in this ngc OF
lghcned freedom, To commit Ian &C, of moral turin.
tude." Them the only honorable alternative is resgna.
ton.
There is one expression in the Report which se,,s IN
conflict with its general tenor and sentiment. Ihu ex
press.on is in these words SIT admitted ,cithoul Diff
culiy that IF State instruct its Senator gipe r0c
plainly unconstitutional or 10 raise the standard Of REBEL
lion, The Senator is not bound to OBEY such instruction.
Now admit tho Senator not bound 10 obey TO gire
the r0tc in cont0y7ity to- such instructions but
theless if the Senator shall think tho instruction plain.
y unconstitutional and yet has been actually given by
the Legislature Of his Slate i'll such ease nc refuse
10 give the vote or TO his trst such refusal would
he directly to become :hc organ OF his own WILL as
though the instruction c0DteSsedly conSttutIonat
and under any circumstances to be the organ OF his
own will (when il is his duty, the Report asserts, to
be The organ of the expressed will of his constituents is
to become dcspot; which is not admissible, under any
circumstances. But the Report does not assert that il
such the Senator is not bound either 10 the
vote 10 resign; it only that he is NOT bound 10
OBEY 10 give the vote in conformity TO instrDc
ton plainly unconstitutional Therefore, the exprcssion
in question only To conflict with the uniform tenor
Of the Report.
will bring other passage of the Report under
view. 1t reads 80
Ths right of instruction. rishuy exercised wi,h evil in
sion that cthcr Stns Government tho GcEsra Govern
ncn become corrupt and ambitious uur yrsan,cu power
&" il may Of right and ought TO be reSsted" > = -.
Now, if the word it, in the last clause Of this rected
sentence relates to the usurpaou Of tyran meal pow
er, in the sentiment that may Of right and
ought be resisted and care not whether that usurp
alton of deSpotic power by the Senator of State or
by the Senate of the United Stntcs by any o.he unc
lonary, or by any other department of the peoples go
vcrnment, ought TO be resoIutcly resisted But if The
word in that clause Of the sentence, relates the
right Of instruction, deny that Of right ought
to he resisted under any circumstances and in rreray
able support Of the position, have, have slp,wr,
the general tenor of the sentiment and the terms of the
powerful arguments, displayed the Report of 1872 With
direct reference TO the right Of the Legislature instruct
the Senators in Congress.
Hence conclude, undtr and by Tie aslsoriiy of III.
Rrpor Of lcl2 that the Senators Of this State in the
Congress of the U. States, will be bound whether Mcy
SHALL think the instruction violates the Constitution or
not, 10 give the vote in conformity the instruction. if
it shall be- given by the present Legislature to cxpunae
the obnoxious Resolution of the Srnatc from its Journal
OR, 10 resign the trust conde to- rem-the Legislature
being the rghtiul judge whether such instruction is
stltutoua or not. A DEMOCRAT