The Daily spy., 1850-08-23
Extracts from a Speech of Gen. Dix.

Of Uiea0.
All political power in the United Suites EN-
anafes in fact, as well as in theory, from tht
people.
In the organization and incipient stages O
Ihe original governments,in the United States
The people acted collectively. The first set
tiers of New England managed their affairs
in person. When new enigrants arrived and
new settlements were formed, the political as
sociations took a new shape. Distinct com
munities united, and not being able, without
inconvenience, to meet together for the trans
action OF their common concerns, representa-.
tves were appointed 10 do for their constitu-
ents what The latter could not conveniently do
for themselves. This is the origin of popular
representation in the United States. It is
founded upon convenience first, and necessity
next. 1t the people could transact their own
business themselves, they would not appoint
representatives or agents TO act for them.
Agents or representatives, are appointed to
do for their constituents what the latter would
DO Ii they We're present in person. If il were
not so, there could be no responsible gov
eminent it would be Government of Re.
plesentatives, and not government. If the
will OF the constituent body is unexrressed,
The representative acts as he believes they
would act It they could be consulted. If he
is in doubt on this point, he must act accord
ing TO his best Judgment There is a wide
range for the exercise of this discretion but
ii is 10 be exercised in good faith and his re-
sponslbility to, those who appointed him
to act for them, is to be kept constantly in
view. aa
1t follows as necessary consequence, from
the premises that direction from the Con-
stitutional body in the form of positive in
struction should command implicit obedience.
If it be not so, there is an end to Representa-
tive Government. 1t would subvert and AM
nul the whole scheme of popular representa-
ton. The very theory of Representative
Government would become a delnsion.-
During the term of service for which the rep
resentative is chosen, the constituent would
have no more control over him than the serfs
of Lithunia have over the Czar of all the
Russias.
What if the constituents give direction
which the Representative cannot obey con-
sstently with his own convictions of right or
duty? The answer is obvious: Let him sur
reri"or 'ir'~------------. ,i--l-,-. e,ave, e.
| trust which he Cannot fu6l-wIiich he cannot
continue TO hold without violating funda-
mental principle in popular government. If
he cannot be representative in fact, let him
cease to be so in name, and give his constitu-
ens an opportunity of substituting for him
some one who can conscientiously execute
their wishes and commands.
II these principles were generally recog-
nized and carried out in practice, no ncon-
venience would result from them. Each rep
resentative would faithfully reflect the views
of the constituency for whom he acted, and
the preponderance Of opinion on disputed
questions would constitute the will of the
majority, which, according to every rule of
right, must govern. If the representative on
the other hand violates the will of his Con-
sttuents, lie is sure 10 be displaced at The ex-
piraton of his term Of service, by successor
who will faithfully represent them; so that
the consequence of his infdelity is either to
postpone the execution of the popular WILL or
TO give effect TO the will of the minority. Mr..
Webs,er's case affords an apt illustration of
the truth of this remark. Fifteen States COM
pisng very large majority of the people Of
the United States, and still larger majority
of the white population, instructed their SEN
ators in Congress to vote for the exclusion of
Slavery from the territories acquired from
Mexico Massachusetts was one of the in
structing States. MIR. Webster, as one of her
Senators, refuses to obey her Instructions, and
votes directly against an amendment to the
compromise bill prohibiting slavery in New
Mexico. BY so doing he had not only viola
ted his instructions, buthe had contributed to
rive effect to the will of the minority. By a
singular obliquity of reasoning, he considers
i, best for the good of the whole that the
win of the majority should be defeated.
The propositions above stated were assum-