Democratic banner., 1849-07-23
The Right OF InssructiOn-.The Missouri
Resolutions.


resolutions, commonly called Jackson's, as
aiming at disunion, and endesvors to throw
odium upon them by creating the impress
sion that they were dictated by Calhoun, or
were copied from those introduced in Con-
gress by that statesman, and denounced BY
Benton. This is certainly n of the most
inconsistent efforts in the history Of politi-
cians, to annul a grave and formal legisla-
tive act. to say nothing of the insult cast
upon the Legislature of Missouri. The
Legislature choose to instruct our Senators,
and Mr.. Benton says he has already de-
nounced similar resolutions to those in
structing him, therefore they had no right to
pass resolutions conflicting with his knosOn
VieWs. Should the Legislature dictate to
the Senator, or the Senator to the Legisla-
turs? If the later, then indeed is the right
of instruction a mere sound without any
meaning.
Col. Benton assumes that a knowledge Of
his views, should have awed the Legislature
from %instructing him contrary to his views.
Where there is no room to believe that in
struction will conflict with the views of
Senator, there is no directnecessity for in
structing him at all. But where a Senator
like Benton has, contrary to the known will
of the State, voted for q measure like the
Proviso, it becomes necessary then to put q
bit in his mouth, lest he does further vic.
lence to the will of that State.
In his "appeal' to the people from the
resolutions, Col. Benton says they are the
''offspring"o of the Southern Address. Sup
pose they are, are they the less binding on
that account Bullet itbe remembered thai
these n resolutions were introduced in
the Legislature at Jefferson City before The
Calhoun address, as he calls ii, uos eper
published ~ the Vest. The Southern Ad-
dress was first published in the Washington
Union on the 2sth day Of January last, and
Jackson's resolutions passed the Senate Of
Missouri on the 26th day of the same month.
So much for the truth and honesty of Ben
toms appeal.
Again, in his Jefferson City speech, Col.
Benton says the resolutions introduced in
the Senate in AT by Calhoun, and denounc.
ed BY him, are the prototype of the Acco.
mac & Missouri resolutions-that the reso-
~lutions passed by Southern States are mere
copies of Calhoun's. Well, suppose he /.
right again, which he cannot be if he was
right in his appeal, does that fact invalidate
the authority Of the Legislature? Are the
doctrines of the resolutions the less true or
account of their author? Has a Senator
the right to object to the instructions of
Legislative body, because those instruction.
were not written by a f~avorite politician -;
If so, then indeed is a Senator above and
beyond the control of his masters. He ha.
it completely in his power to object to, and
set at defiance, any instructions by merely
objecting to their author.
1t matters not who wrote the resolutions
they were adopted by the Legislature of the
State, after a full and dispassionate discus.
sion, and the doctrine of our party, and Of
Benton, bind our Senators to obey them OF
resign. 1t is a usurpation of power at wal
with every principle of Republicsnism, fol
a Senator to rebel against the instruction:
Of q Legislature and still hold on to his seal
in Congress. tits an unparalleled insult te
the intelligence of a State for a Senator tc
invade her dominions to reverse her politi.
cal will, and at the same time violating hel
expressed will by holding on to his seat IL
Congress. If Senator Benton is honest il
his views, why don't he resign his seat, ant
then canvass the State as every freeman
would have a right to do? till then, hi
course is inconsistent, insulting, and tyran.
Inical.
But to the charge in his Jefferson City
speech, that the Accomac and Missouri
resolutions are mere copies of Calhoun
resolutions: The Accomsc resolutions were