American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1846-07-29

The TARIFF. Intense anxiety existed IN
this city on Monday evening, to hear the result
of the vote in the Senate on the Tariff bill; and
finance committee with instructions, afforded a
faint hope that it might be finally defeated
But we do not indulge any such expectation,
since reading the speeches made by Senators
on Monday last Mr.. Benton satisfactorily
proved, that, as the bill now stands, it will Of
fer premium upon fraud, and that Congress
will, in passing it, violate the constitution, or
at least exercise a doubtful and dangerous pow
er; and vet he avowed his intention to vote for
the bill, with call its imperfections on It's head"
That, for the purpose of destroying the Tariff
of l942, he will consent to enact law which
will reward Villany and transcend the Legitimate
authority which can be conferred by Congress
We cannot comprehend this kind Of morality
and must leave the honorable Senator TO recon
cile it to his conscience.
Senator Jarnagin will also vote for the bill
not because be approves Of it, for he expressly
condemns lt-but because the politicians in the
legislature of Tennessee have instructed him to
vote for revenue Tariff bill. State legsla-
lures may, by instructions, relieve Senators
(those we mean who hold TO the doctrine ofin-
structions,) from the responsibility of thought
and of action, by debating the course TO be pur-
sued-but how are they 10 be relieved from the
responsibility of their oaths' We deny the
right of State legislatures to instruct Senators;
WIN are the representatives Of the States, and
not of the individual members of the legsla-
turs. If the doctrine of instruction be correct,
it can be, and ought TO be, exercised in all cases
What are Judges and the various other officers
agents or representatives of the people, per-
forming duties which cannot be discharged by
the people en- maSse? If, then, the right OF in
struction can embrace one, it should embrace
every class of these agcnts-and so we should
have the decisions of our judges and juries dc
tated to them. No one will contend for so
nonstrous doctrine; and yet it is correct the
right to instruct Senators exist in the State
legislature. The Senate of the United States
sits in judicial as we'll as legislative capacity.
Suppose judge or other public officer to be on
trial before that body, and Senators we're to be
instructed by their legislatures as to the vote
which they should give-would such instruc-
ton be obeyed' No, it would be spurned; and
yet they would be as much bound to obey the
legislative mandate in this as in any other case.
They are placed IN the Senate chamber to leg
islate for the interests of the whole country, ac-
cording to the dictates of their own judgments
and in obedience to the obligation which they
take-and they abandon their plain path o
duty when they wilfulIy vote for what they
Conscientou ly believe will prove injurious tt
the nation, in compliance with the dictation o
irresponsible members of State legislature
1t is time that this fallacous doctrine of instruc
ton should be exploded. If it can be right
fully exercised at all, it must be by the people
themselves, and not by deputies chosen fo
other purposes. We had much rather ren
ouish q station than be compelled ''to work il
harness." even though dlvested of all RESPONSE
bilty for consequences.