The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-17
Obedience to Instructions Standing Mute

The doctrine of instructions is one of the
serves admirably to preach abont before the
people. There is no end to the professions of
faith in it. Yet. like many other doctrines
that are preached, it is, in nine cases out Of
| ten, practically repudiated. A legislator is in
structed by his constituents to vote for or
against particular measure. The obvious in
tent Of such an instruction is, that he shall not
only vote yea or nay, as the case may be, but
that he shall use his best exertions to induce
others to vote in like manner. If he happens to
be Of the same way of thinking with his consti-
tuents, of course there is no dilficulty-the
instructions are fully carried out. If, how
ever, he takes different view of the subject,
and is at the same time pledged to the Demo
cratic creed, he satisfies his tender conscience
by voting one way and talking another; he
votes according to the wishes of his constitu-
ents, and does his utmost to induce his brother
Legislators to vote against them. And this is
called obedience to the will of the people,"
''respect for the voice of the majority" ''car-
rying ont instructions TO the letter." and it is
but there has been SO much Of this kind of ODE
dience that people of all parties are beginning
to see that the ''doctrine of instructions" is
humbug.
The sooner this desirable conclusion shall be
everywhere arrived at the better it will be for
the country. This employing men to work
with their hands tied-sending members of
Congress to listen TO long arguments-and, of
course, to exercise their judgments without the
power Of voting according to their convictions,
has done mischief enough already. We are
sorry to see that in some parts of the country
the practice is getting to be more in favor than
ever Hitherto tie State Legislatures have
been satisfied with instructing members of Con-
gress ho,c to vote but the Legislature of Flor
ida, as we learn from the remarks of Mr.. W
LEE, in the debate of Wednesday, are about to
instruct the members from that State that on
one subject they are not to vote at all
The question before the Senate being mo
ton to lay on the table petition asking the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave law, Mr.. YULEE
refused to vote, and gave the following as his
reasons
''Mr. YuLEE. / do not think it Of much import
ancc whether vote or not But will state my
reasons. Tho Legislature of Florida, now in ses'
sion, have before them resolutions which, am in.
formed, likely to pass that body, instructing
the Senator'S from that State not to vote upon any
question touching the Fugitive Slave law. In def.
crcnce to that Legislature although those rcsolu
tons have not reached as instructions, prefer
to take that course; and will add that it is con-
sisent with my own opinion as TO what it ia proper
to do"
This is altogether new case, we believe,
| and is therefore worthy of being noted. A
noteworthy circumstance, also, is the extreme
fidelity displayed by Mr.. YuLEE, whose defer
cnce for instructions is so great that he feels
bound 10 follow them before they are given,
although in 50 doing he disoboys the rules of
the Senate and disregards the Constitutions
Voting IS an essential part of the business of
Legislation. In theory, Senators are sent to
Congress to legislate. In practice, however. il
seems, different rule is to be established. In
the present instance it is applied to the Fugi-
tive Slave law, but it may, with as much pro-
priety, be applied to any other subject. If it
be extensively adopted it will lead TO strange
state of things. One state may "taboo" the
tariff, another the public lands, third the APP
preparation bills, and bye and bye the legisla-
ton Of the country may be brought to dead
stand-still
Probably this is the very object which Mr..