Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1850-07-01
EXTRACT

! Stale, on the Right Of Instruction.
Gentemen:-I received last evening the
foregoing instructions from the Legislature
of the State have the honor in part to rep
ireSent in the Senate of the U. S., and |
hasten te inform you of the course shall
feel it my duty to pursue.
1 have always been an advocate of the
right Of instruction, and holding that right
as belonging to immediate constituency of
the Representative; also hold that it is the
duty of the Representative to obey: that is,
the State Legislature possesses the right
to instruct the Senator from their State in
Congress, as TO- any particular measure,
and the people possesses the right to in
struct their immediate Representative.
You have instructed me to vote against a
particular measure. To vote against it
will involve no fraction Of the Constitu-
tion, nor am I required by a compliance
with your instructions, to inf1ict direct
and vital injury upon my country. You,
by your instructions, have taken upon youS-
selves the responsibility of the vote / am
required to give, and I am relieved from it.
The people will look to you as the princi-
pie and to me merely as the agent, In
performing an act expressly required by
those to whom recognize the power to in
struct. therefore shall obey in good
faith, your instructions, as expressed inI
your resolution, and shall vote against the
bill in all its stages, precisely in the same
way, should do, were opposed to 1t my
self, and not follow the example of those
Senators, of the opposition, who have felt
at liberty to disobey instructions of their
State Legislature.
If my political principles would allow me
to 90 so, perhaps case cannot be imagin-
ist, in justific cation of q course different from
the one adopted. You were elected as
members of tile Legislature 10 August last.
Before that time, nothing had been said
publicly, among the people ofthe State, in
regard the collection, safe keeping and dis
buTsement Of the public revenue, conse-
queptly, it is plain, on that score, because
because the question was not then before
the people.
The Presidents message at the special
session in September, first disclosed the
views of the administration upon the sub
iect. This document could net have been
seen by many Of your constituents, before
you left home for the seat Of government,
where you convened on the first Monday inl
October. Therefore, most Of you could
not have had an opportunity Of ascertain
ing the sentiments Of your constituents be-
fore you met in October. l am also con-
strained to believe, that such was the fact
as to your means of knowing the views Of
your constituents on this measure, from the
obvious consideration that had you really
known that their opinions were against it,
your respect for those opinions must have
led YOU to immediate and prompt action on
the subject. How otherwise can you Justl.
fy your conduct, in delaying to act, until
the 18th day of January, 1888?
Neither have heard Of any memorials
or emonstrances, indicating the public SEN
timent, that have been sent to you requlr-
ing yoii 70 interpose between mo and my
vote on this subject. You met on the lst
Monday in October last, and have contin-
ned in session ever since. cannot there
fore. but think it improbable, If not imPos-
sible, that the people have imPelled you to
this measure; because, but few OF you, SINCE
the commencement of your session, have
visited your constituents; and have not
understood that any of you, before your
: electi or since, have been instructed bs
them.
have noticed in the newspapers one Po-
litical meeting having been held in Nash
Vile, to instruct the Davidson members on
other subjects, but this measure on which
YOU instruct me, was not named.
Further. If it were for the public int;
rest, for you to act in this matter, why diu
d YOU not act more promptly upon the fresi'
3 dents Message, which appeared in Sspsem-
B. ber last, and the bill introduced by the FL
{ nance Committee, at the Special session:
II For threo months and half after you met
J. and knew what measures were recommend
d ed by the Executive branch Of the Gov
J. ernment, you remained silent, permitting
d vour Senators to exercise their own ludg
$, men,s: and not until few days past did
e lhear that you were earnestly engaged, II
70 one branch Of the Legislature, in passlnI
3, vour instructions. 1t cannot be- suppose'
n, that you were waiting to know what mes