Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-06-20

The BllL 0I MS coNsillucHlS'
If he determine 10 follow The latter, he
will be forced 10 inquire, is it the general
,cish. or does bare majority differ from
him ? To say nothing Of Inc practical
difficulty in finding out The clearye.press-
ed wish of majority. when, ,ascer,ained,
the Represensalive, having justnolion oil
his enlarged duties, will uul consider him
self bound always to pursue it, He will
feel ,tia, the ssiv Of the minorityis likewise
10 be respected. He will regard himself
as strong y hound, morally andspolilicalIy,
10 protect their rights, as 10. protect lhe
rights of The majority. The nblisaion 10
do both is equally binding; for as the mi
norily. by being defeated a, he baliot-bor,
do not lose their rights which belong 10
them as members Of The same. government
or society, they are equally, entitled with
the maturity 10 have those rights looked to
by those who administer the government.
Indeed, the right Of the minority TO have
thar interests respected, creates an obhga-
ton on the part of the Representative 10
respect those Interests; for the Represen-
lalive is he agent as well Of The minority
as of The majority. Though put in ofice
by plurality or minority. he's, evidently
The Representative Of the whole. This no
true Republican will deny. Hes;is. then,
bound to look to the interests oEthe whole.
1t is his duty, consequently, oilave regard
TO the wishes anil opinions of The minority.
Indeed. as already stated. the primary
object Of government, is to frutect The mi.
nority or The weaker portion.
How, therefore can the Representative
rid himself of this imperative duty. with
OFT violating the first principles Of good
government
But the doctrine of inslructioDfs in itself
unreasonable. "lf government" says the
eminent Statesman. " to whom we have
alluded. "were matter Of will upon any
side. the will of constituents, without
question ought to he SUPERIOR BuI gov-
ernment and legislation are matters OF rea-
son and Judgment, and not Of inclination I;
and, what sort Of reason is that, in which
Que set of men deliberate, and another de-
eide; and where those who form the CON
clusiu.. are perhaps three hundred miles
distant from lhnsc who hear the argune t,n'
Again: underlh he doctrine Of instruction.
the Representative would be forced to fol-
low the will of the majority, although he
sincerely believed the minority 20 be right.
He would be bound 10 pursue the will OF
The ma jorily, although. in so doing. he
might feel and know. that he was doing a
pnsilive injury not only TO the minority,
bnt to the community at larse-to the
majority themselves. How preposterous
The man who would allow himself 10 be
betrayed into such gross dereliction of duty,
would be recrean, 10 the high trust reposed
in him aud 10 The powers given him by his
Creator. He would be an unsafe agent
10 be- entrusted with the high and sacred
duty of searching out and reducing TO
practice The great principles of justice and
honor, which lie a, the bottom Of every
well ordered government. No. man OF
spirit or caiibre would ever be willing to
enter upon such an agency
To relieve the Representative from this
awkward predicament; 10 keep from fore.
lug him 10 the immoral act Of going against
the solemn convictions of his judgment and
conscience TO open field Ior,he exercise
of his virtue, his learning, and his patriot.
ism; in a word. To enable him 10 execute
with dignity aud ability The high trust re.
posed in him--he should be left 10 think
and acl for himself on questions of public
policy, directed by his constituency, only
in the excepted cases Of deserlon Of prin.
ciple and;oI dutiluI department, in no oIher
manner than by moral appeal 10 his un-
ders,andng.
The argument relied on, in supper, Of
The affirmative of the doctrine, viz: That
constituents are not sufficiently secured
without the right Of instruction, is without
force; for they are well enough guarded
for all practical purposes in three iinpor-
tant particulars First, in knowing the
princip piles of'he Representative before he
is elected. Secondly, by the general hon.
esty, intelligence and patriotism Of the
Representative. Thirdly, BY the control
they hold over his actions in having the
power 10 dismiss him from Office after a
short term of service.
Consider moreover, that The interests Of
OF the Representative are nearly always
identified with those Of his constituents,
and ample guaranty is uforded for The best
efforts OF the Representative in behalf Of
his constituents and his country.
OSE OF THE PEOPLE.