Holly Springs gazette., 1846-01-31
For the Holly Springs Gazette
CARRoLLToN. January l4th, 1916

taking up he old humbng of the right to
instruct Senators, and their obligation 10 o.
bev instructions. call it d humbug, be-
cause il rs evident 10 any one who has been
onlv a partial observer of political men
and their course, that this subject Is only
broached and preached for effect; KIND
os an ad captendum doctrine with witch TO
catch the unreflecting; not urged for the
good of the country, but for Bunkomb De
All parties, both Whig and Democrat,
Conservative and Abolitonists. practice II
only when it is convenient and suits thel.
own wishes. We have ever had but few
Senators who would no, vote as they pleas
ed, let their constituency say what they
would. Ifthey receive Instructions which
do no, correspond with their own views, 1t
is always easy 10 find some objection to The
manner IN which they were gotten up, or
communicated, and thus find ready apollo
gy for refusing to bow to the so called, VIII
of the people.
But see in a late no. of the "UnioE" an
article on this subject in which II is treated
as party question. the Wings opposing
and the Democrats faVouring the right OF
instruction. This is IN perfect keeping
with the course of the "organ grinder his
s'voice is still for war"
ANYTHING which he supposes will be
popular he takes hold ofas party measure,
thinking thereby to make capital. Old IA
ther Richie is long way behind the ex-
element if he thinks the Wings, as par
iy, are opposed to the right of instruction.
But like his course on the Oregon question,
he tries to raise feeling of opposition be-
tween the Two parties on this also.
The old fellow must be getting peevish
and fretful in the decline of life. and thinks
he ought 10 be engaged in a quarrel with
somebody about something, be don't much
care who or whai; or perhaps he thinks
the Wings ought 20 take the other side of
the question, 1t is always prna facle
that opposition to. him is right, and therefore.
from the past course of the Whig party,
the presumption is that they will oppose
him. Though this never, as yet, has been
a par,y question, like old father R., think
the Wings ought to Sc. their faces against
it.
To say the best of it, the doctrine, as ad-
vocated, is mere chimera and wholly i'm
practice Bile. Say they, this is a government
by the people, the will of the people is law.
and whenever that will is ascerlained il
must be cbeyed. Well, suppose we grant
all this and what have they gained in the
argument How is that will TO be ascer>
tanned 2 The Constitution contemplates
but one way for the people TO express their
will, to w.t. through The ballot box. But
it is totally impracticabie every time you
wish to instruct your Senators, to resort 10
such mode as This TO arrive at what the
people wist- Yet there is no other p!ausi-
ble way IF deducing he public will.
TO assemble en- masse aud resolve how
q Senator shall act and vote is attended
with so much inconvenience and cost iha! il
never can be doue. Then instruction IN
this way is visionary and never to be effec-
ted.
And if you confer the right of instructing
upon tie legislature OF the States, they are
but congregation OF agents, who can't re-
feet Their principles. will without having
first learned VIVA; that will IS. and il involv-
es tie same difficulty OF Inconvenience and
expense to inform The legislature what will
to echo, which has been already mentions
ed as attending the direct instruction Of the
Senators by the people.
But if it is argued that the legislature is
composed of men chosen Immediately from
among the people, and therefore they must
be taken as expressing the will of the peo-
Pile. The same argument will apply to the
lower House of Congress. and the Sena-
tors will be as much bound to obey the will
of the people,as indicated by the latter body
as the former. Nov, | would like 10 en-
quire if this would not neutraIize the Sen-
atein its principal function, to wit. that OF
legislation
For when the lower branch of the ma
tional assembly has performed any legisla>
i've act, being directly from among the peo-
pie. it must be taken that they express the
will of the people. and the Senator being
bound to obey that will, has no choice but
to CONCUR with the lower Fl House.
1t never was contemplated III The forma-
ton of our government, TO require Senators
to obey instructions. else why require that
they should have the characteristics speci-
fed to qualify them for the siaiion2 If
they are to be mere automatons, any one
who would be obedient, no matter how stu
pid, would be just as acceptable as the most
talented.
These are some the reasons which in
duce me TO think that old father r. ought to
make his will. for doubtless his dissolution
draweth nigh. Yours, Sc.
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