The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-07-02

LEGIs11AToRs.-The responsibility rest
ing upon those who are commissioned bv
the people to watch over, and protect their
rights and guard their interest, are weigh.
ty indeed, and impose upon them heavy OBJ.
legations. We do not here speak of the
monarch whose will is the supreme law Of
the land-but of those whom the ,peopIa
clothe with the authority Of maintaining
their constitution, and adopting such meas.
ures as may promote their prosperity. 1t is
a high trust delegated by free and indie.
pendent people, and the representative who
would artfully win their confidence, and bv
fair promises succeed in being promoted
and afterwards violate his pledges, deserves
the infamy that attaches to Judas Iscariot
the base betrayer of his Lord and Master
When properly reflected upon, such con.
duct, evinces degree of moral turpitude
seldom equalled. If an agent who is dep.
utized to collect moneys applies it to his
own purposes, or otherwise acts beyond the
bounds of his authority, he becomes an OBJ.
ject of universal scorn, and is frequently
doomed to the lowest depths of degrade.
tiOn--he is ever afterwards considered I'm.
worthy the confidence of his fellow man.
If this is the just penalty inflicted upon
him for such crime-how heavy should
be the punishment how deep should be the
mark of intamy stamped upon him, who
would trilo with the rights and liberties of
his contrymen who have reposed conf
dence in his honor and integrity.
The effects of evil Legislation are often
more disastrous than the ravages of war
or disease--not one escapes its Obstructive
influences-all are effected to a greater or
less extent. Some are oppressed to bene.
fit others, and their love for their country,
and respect for government ceases because
they are treated unusty--those who are
the recipients of its bounties, although they
are enriched, yet become morally corrupt,
a spirit of wild speculation is created in.
furious to the happiness of society, and an
asistocracy is reared, which ultimately de-
spises the source whence it derived its ex-
Our own State has furnished striking
example of the evil results produced by
and lawless legislation-the
wreck which its mad career created is yet
in our midst and for many years will re.
main as monument of the folly and we
may justly declare, the corruption of those
whose duty it was to legislate for the hap
Piness of the people. We will not here
dweh upon the appalling spectacle which
but few years since Mississippi presented,
owing to the depravity of those entrusted
With the management of her Legislative aE
airs; it is familiar to every one, and many
Who experienced its ruinOus effects can re.
ate dreadful scenes Of wee and misfortune.
the history of the rise and fall of ma.
ions were not replete with impressive and
seful lessons, and did not sufficiently en-
'rce nPon the minds ofthe people the imPOIt'
nee of selecting faithful Legislators, the or.
cal through which Mississippi has passed..
hould alone be amply sufficient, as a warn
lg by which they should profit.
In the choice Of those who are selected
act ina legislative capacity too much
arc and precaution cannot be used, and
Though we cannot fully agree with the
Ithor, who declared "a thousand years
,arce form State, an hour may lay it in
lie dust y yet it is work which requires
-isdOm, patriotism and care-and cannot
e completed in a short period.
But how is rash and dangerous legisla-
on to be guarded againstl What is the
smedy for that evil which has SO often
cen visited upon the people 2 We deem
the most proper mode for them to require
Lodges of candidates for legislative hon.
rs, hold them to strict accountability for
leir acts, and impress it upon them, that
leir actions are subject to their (the peO-
-e's) control. And when a candidate, az
n his election violates his PROMISES. acts