Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-29

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termucd When The proper time arrives, sal! be pre-
pared to act promptly and decidedly.
! herewith transmit you extract from my letter
to the Democratic members of our Legislature. dated
the 22d day Of December 1884, containing that part oft
which relates tn the inject Of instructions.
Sincerely hoping that the sentiments which have ex
pressed may meet your appreciation, and declaring. most
Hnlcgucdly, thatf shall place high value upon it,
I remain, very respectfully,
Your obediCnt servant,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Extinct of letter addressed by Mr. Buchanan to ia
cob Kern, Esq., and others, democratic ncmhcrs of
the Lcgs!slsTeoI Pennsy lvana, on tho I'D December
1884.
Although you have asked for any pledge pro-
mise relating to my cnafSc in The Senate yet
sibr that many of yt,u desire should express my OPT
MON publicly regard to the right Of Legislative nstruc
ton
shall do so with the utmost frankness. On this Qucs-
ton have not aud never have had any serious difficult
ties The right results from the very nature Of our in
slilu,ons. The will Of the people, when fully and fair
y .e#prcsscd ought to lie ubrycd by all their political
agents. This Is the very nature and essence of repre-.
sentative democracy.
Without entering into an argument upon the general
question: which would be altogether misplaced pom the
present occasion, may not be improper to observe that
the principle applies with redoblcd force to Senators in
Congress. They represent the sovereign States who
the parties to the constitutional compact which call
cd the Federal Union into existence. In the Senate
these States are represented US distinct communities
gard to their population. La that body they all equals
they before the adoption OF the Federal Cunstl
tuition. Here, cnPhatcay, If any where, the voice of
the States ough! lobe heard, and ought 10 Ge obryrd-
Shall il thea bc said that Senator possesses the cos,
tuUnal rgiitto violate the express instructions Of tho
sovereign Stale which he represents aud wicd the pow
and the vote which have been Conferred upon him for
the benefit Of his constituents in manner which they
have soemny DECLARED TO be ruinous TO their interests
or dau gurous 10 their lbe7;es The bare statement, of
the proposition carries conviction to my mind All or
nearly all The Stale Legislatures have long been in the
practice Of nStructng their Senators, and this affords
The strongest evidence of the Of the princ
PIC anon which this Custom rests.
1t has been objech:d, that the right of instruction
might destroy the tenure Of the Senatorial ocr, and
render it subject to all the political fluctuations in the
several STATES. But tie Senator is only bound obey
lie is not called upon 10 resi- gn. And although there
may he circumstances in which a Of honor might
feel solf aipc to retire from the public service
rather tran give the vote OF his State against his
cnnrcs:os yer these cases must, from hrir nature be
OF rare. occurrence.
Be9sos, This objection implies entire want Of
idc in the State Legislatures suppnses that .icy
become the instruments of fnc,ion for the purpose
OF harrassing Senators and compelling them to resign.
In fact ii results in the principle that the people III.
capie e!,uanaging their own cOncerns and there
fore, a:?der the necessity OF comforting irresponsible
political power upon Of their own number Ia save
them from themselves. From the nature Of our nsl-
lulious rcposc such degree of confidence in
the State Legislatures To presume that they will
abuse the puwc- with whch they have been entrusted
If il slond'crcr clearly appear in any case, that the
immediate representatives. of the people have obey
ed their will ia voting instructions, This might present
an exception TO the general rule Such occurrence,
however, though possible, is highly improbable 1t is |
not to be presumed that State Legislatures will exercise
this important power unless upon grave ind solemn &C.
cnsios, alter paln!e delibcraon and thorough know
ledge Of the public will.
iiiuyc THIS expressed my opinion freely upon this i'm
poranbs question: though avn we'll it differs from
that Of ui tho abicst and best Of country
THE CURRENCY
:Thisis.s subject which concerns the public so much
that every individual be he of what political party he
may ,nust wish TO have correct information OF what is
dane, intcnded to be DONE attempted in Congress-
towards r"decmlug the promises which The friends Of
the Administration have made in favor of gold, and
Lganst small paper currency. Acting under this I'M
PRESTON, culect into article all that our Con-
gressona proceedings Afford and will from time to
time lSs progress OF such get in embryo
nj inG amendment Of Mr. Benton to the Pension
DIN MS US been agreed TO by the House Of Repre-.
e : anu ~ be considered as law. It's rrovi-
SONS are That bunk note shall be offered
wv ioss drnn;na,oSnnt or the Post Office depart.
Ter The pass;nc of the act zen uo''ars from ana al
offered after tie Sd day OF March u T "s sa DC 50
toe than twenty dollars; Sd, That no -. ~ 49, ..
h1ited denomination shall lie offered ur Wv. o"Pio
able and paid demand in gold and silver ar pnl
where issued and equivalent to specie at the place
offered and convertible into gold silver upon the
at HE will of the holder aud without loss or delay 10
hm This ndncnt is general and permanent law,
and passed the Two houses with great unanIny, the
gentlemen of the Opposition voting for 1t with no other
l,ccun than that oil showing preference for il as it
originally STOOD namely, the prohibition for Offering
notes under twenty dollars, to take effect ut once, in
stead of being divided into two stages.
,. The report and bill of MIR. GIlIe of New York,
Chairman of the Select Committee OF the House Of Re
prcsc ua,ivcs on uc gold conagelhS report contains
GREAT many valuable facts and suggestions, both OIL nur
cnnare aud naper currency. IT slaes that on the rSl
of January 1855, there seven hundred and four
hunks including branches, in the United STATES, with an
AGGREGATE chartered capital Of SH 0000UU, and we'll
sunposes that tho hunks chartered since will swell the
caui,u 10 800 millions. These banks near is can he
asccraincd have the privilege OF issuing IoO OF
dollars in va per II states, that these banks have cnor-
mously Increased their paper issues within two years
pasl-frr Of them have added above fifteen millions to
their circulation The report then cnlorces the ncccss
ty Of diminishing the paper clrculation especially shall
notes, and increasing the gold circulation, and recon-
rnds the coinage OF ono two, three, and four dollar
pieces
3 Mr. Benton's hill foe better supplying the Mint
with bullion and metals for coinng-Thc main object is
to obtain adequate supplies of gold for tho gold coinage
The means proposed arc, |. To make the public
revenues sutservicnt 10 that object. . To induce ind
viduas and banks TO send in better supplies by rcpcanG
the otonc half per cent. the Coinage With respect
10 the revenues the plan only giving effect to law of
1888 which, though still IN force has become inupcra
tive by change vi circumstances That directed oil
the foreign coins, except Spanish med dollars which
were received in payment Of revenues 10 be carried to
The Mint and recoined anew before they pu, into
cculaon; and nothing but gold and silver then
receivable this law we'll calculated 10 supply the
Mint abundauy; but the calculation soon failed the
Bank of the United States chartered, and its notes
made receivable and the Bank not required TO fur
nst bullion to the Mint The consequence has been
that the Mint forty years. has coined but Sl7 1886