Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-22

rcst somewhere 10 determine for the required sco, =
the Senator what is the popular will Of his State 49,,
how he is TO act 10 represent t-tor otherwise az n
people cannat mecI to press that will the Senator r
substitute his own will md pleasure for theirs. Hem,
arises the doctrine Of arpe To that brn
of the National Legislature which places the power
,ermine and give effect 10 the popular will ~ the w.
cose in the hands of the State Legislatures. There ~
ouesonaby il should be placed TO give any pracl!csI G
feet 10 The doctrine, because 1t Is much safe! iarr thu
,.,h fire sinp! Senator is not elected By the pou!,, yt
But how are the members oil the Legislature 10 rap,c
IN. mower thus entrusted to them, and hus derived n
from the fact of their eecng the Senator, bu, their a
representing the people, and from The Necessity Of The
case: By merely resolving that such and such ale Ia
opinions of jorHy OF The memCefs u The Legislature
Mo certanly-fUr the inference is by no means Becss
sary that even in their behalf the same The o.,
MONS of 1najorv of the people Of tile Stale since H.,
may know the contrary, or have ad no means Of ac
tanning those opinions. Is any thing They resovo
expected or intended 10 change the opinions Of the S.
naur either TO the course OF action he ought 10 Dur
sue, or as 10 what is in fact the popular will OF his STAT
Certainly not He may with proPricty O1ry and slD
make an issue with the Legislature before the people n
the State. lie may resign, in case tie instruction r.
such as he cannot obey, aud with equal proprey 90 ID.
same thing II is not then expected to change lie on
MON of the Senator but 10 control his ac.ion-c r,t
him act, if he act at ALL against his opinions And how
ought this 10 be done: Not surely by the mere -.
pressons of opnons against his opinions but BIZ Coz.
and-by taking from him his discretion and exerci.u,
it for hm-by relieving him from oil the IesPonsIb,'
of the act he is required 10 do, and hearing for E
and by making him, pro tanto the passive, and t..
active or discretionary agent of the State; in short,
Instructions This is equally due to the Senator, and 70
themselves. They ought not 10 place him IN an equ,
vocal position before the people, he obcys and mistakes
popular will. lie ought in that event 10 be enabled %
say, 81 was instructed, and | obeyed-and You nus
look TO your immediate representatives. Could he ,.
turn that answer if it appeared upon The lace OF The
solutions that they not intcndtd as instructions.
IF by implication otherwise, they were mol mandatory
but still left him TO the exercise OF his own dlsceop
could he meet the popular censure, and Justify himssi
by conforming 10 the opinions Of majority OF the L.
gis!aturc who refused to take upon themselves the "a
sponsibty Of exercising the sovereignty OF the peOp
and commanding obedenccs l think not. He wGua
be told "You were left free 10 act in the matter cor
formity with your own opinions, and yen must n,
charge upon the members of the Legislature, who e1
pressy declined 10 instruct you, and did not eren pre-.
lend to express the opinions oil majority OF the people
the consequences Of your own aclion:
Then, if the members Of the Legislature know and
mean to assert the opinions OF majority oil the people d
the State why should heynot instrnc and assume upon
themselves the proper responsibility: 1t Is tins Essp1a
sbility of the public agents to The people, that is til:
beautiful feature in Government, and no prac,c.
ought TO be tolerated, which enables those agents q
evade it. The mere expression OF Legislative opinions
with any view influence the aclion Of Senator with
out ins,fuc,inc him, can only be intended 10 avoid re-
sponsibty
Such, MIR. Editor are my hasty views oil ths matter
fear for this doctrine Of instruction, II 1t is street.-The!
meet political exigencies. Now, IL plain and pracs
cal doctrine of ready application. There IS no necrs;.
ty for extending further and do seriously a?peea
that if we go alternating il by modern Refinement:
We shall bring the whole into rIdicue and desue'utr;