The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-10-16
Our Senators s-Insiructions

, 'c' "seh oi lis biiier personal and polltica
n pteJnd'ces against Mr.. Badger, and commen
n MS hdeliiy and unwaverihg zeal in vndico
:. 'on OF Southern honor and rights, so strong
displayed upon every Senatorial battle
a ground during the present session. When
. ior instance, thai gentleman boldly opposo
. himself TO Tie lde of Northern aggression
ana announces his future determination Il
close the ear ofrelef 10 Northern appeals. IN
VI better feeling shall be manifested, the
snrer,fy OF his motives is questioned anc
when he calmly warns the fanatics of the in
evllab'e result of their usurpa,ions of now
er, his cons'ste.cy is rdiculed. Herein the
standard gives Indub,able evidence, that
lis allegiance 10 the South is matter of mi.
nor consideration, when il comes in conflict
win that baser and more slavish allegiance
winch binds II TO the wheels of the Jupper.
naul Of Pdr'yi
lie edici has gone forth, BY the leaders,
ihal an attempt is to be made, mex, winter.
10 instruct our Senators to resign their res
Pecti'e seats 10 The Senate. This is slppery
ground for North Carolina Loco Focoism TO
venture upon. At the period of the Expuo.
gns Resolutions, tha, party, generally, clam
ed TO be the exclusive chsmDious Of The doc
,r'ne o' Instructions, and in Virginia, Mr.
Le'gh was driven from The Senate bv their
abuse OF II. and in this State, Judge Manpum
was sacrificed by the same means and the
same ialse pretences. But when the tide of
party turned, and those active s'ickler. for
Instruction were placed in a condition to sio.
nalZ7 their devotion 10 principle, by prac.
Using IN person, what Heretofore they we're
so Jealous IN enforcing from others, they
pertinhclou>lv sustained Messrs. Brown and
Strange for their evident reluctance to RESIGN
thelr seats, after the most decisive indcalions
OF popular opinion, or cast about for pretex,s
ano excuses 10 Justify an evasion of the pop.
u'ar VIII. Loco Focoism should remember
this.
The " Standard, evidently by wav of civ.
ing the cue, holds out The following language
10 its last issue:
MI. Badger was elected TO the Senate Of
The 'nlied States by the people of this SAFE.
through their Legislature and he was com.
nlssioned and sent TO that BODY TO reflect the
"i-hes aud carry out the will of his con.,i,u.
eh's. The oftice of Senator does nel belong
10 him, but to the people Of The State. he {
IS 'he agent, and 'hey are the principals
Much is necessarily left to his discretion, and .
he Is undoubtedly entitled to his "own con. ,
science and his town understanding :" but I
"hen the people command him, his i'm. c
piIed right 10 act according 10 his own dis {
cfet'on ceases, and he must obey the com. a
mand or Sare his " conscience end rindi b
cate hts understanding by resgnins his
seat. Otherwise the man, and not The State
would be represented in the Senate and the
"ho'e design OF representation in republi. Il
an government, SO far as he is concerned, IA
would be frustrated and defeated Is no, d
bis so T. a
Mr.. Badger" ii Is readily granted, "was d
commissioned and sent TO The Senate, to re. -
let The wishes and carry ont The will of his Vt
constituents" The view which We take of ="
he doctrine of lnslructions-for, We freely d, .,
dmt, we do not altogether concur with Mr.. ~
). IN his views of this matter-is, that as &c
ehalors, we act not in our own, but in ~
elegated capacIty-ihat we are nothing "
'ore than the mirror TO reflect the will of "a
,e People who delegated US, and when their "a %
CELEBRATE wishes are fully and fairly a.cer. !"
llned, II is our duty to conform to them. This ~ !,
the doctrine of Instructions as held, gen. e'
rally, by all parties. Uf course, the Rep. u, IN
sentative may and should look behind the !
ere enrolled instructions of the Legislature, y
see what may be the will and The senti y
ents OF that fountain.source Of his authority NV
the People. In times of great local ex YES
tement, the Legislature may be composed NJ
men elected with no reference 10 their ha
ews of National policy In such a case, 70
Ill i, be pretended that The Legislature is a 'e'
'mpetenl tribunal to pass judgment for the
'opfe, upon the conduct of Senators, sent to
present the interests of the State as part D
the National Union So, it dues not un. 80
fquenIy occur, that, in cases Of accidental Io
10 temporary party triumph, the occasion dn
seIzed upon 10 advance some tavoIile par. al
dogma or pull down some unpopular party !,
'ponent. Will it be argued here, that the 90
representative should no, look behind the n,
arped judgment of the Legislature 10 see hs
neither It is justified or sustained by public Of
ntment Such doctrine would be entire. .eI
subverslve of that Legislative iudepen. Is
nee, which should exist to sufficient ex. do
ut, at all events, TO secure the Representa-. CO.
We against the intrigue of politicians and "
e ~Ies OF unprncipled party prejudice h,
ich doctrine, in the nineteenth century, he
ed only be enunciated, to be repudiated and
ndemned.
Granted, then. that our Senators are the
gents and the People of the State the Prn sta
pals That brings us 10 the consideration dy
the accidental majority in the ensuing Lts. rec
|ature should dare attempt to instruct cur un
,nalors to resign their trusts, on account OF he
elr recent support of the great measures of sal
acihcaton, will that accidental majority be sci
presenting the will of their constituents +? al
ID should not fhe'r constituents, en- masse, pa
slrucl them to resign their places and give for
om tn more faithful oarvapts nd ,por,h,a. -