Washington sentinel., 1855-02-10

it is objected that too much power is thus vest
ed in the representative, we rejoin that this OBJ.
lection is overcome by the system Of term
tenure. And such was the manifest design OF
this system, fixing term Of years for the re-
preventative, at the expiration Of which he
must return to the body of his constituents to
receive their plaudit or to suffer their disappro-
baton. And this view suggests another, i'm
portant in its connection with this subject. If
the Senator is nothing more than the automa-
ton of the Legislature of his State, why pre-
scribe term of six years for his office? He
may be removed at any time, by instructions,
which he is unable to obey, and in conse
quence of which he must resign. If then the
power to remove is thus practically vested in
the Legislature, at any time, and under any cir.
cumstances, why is not the power to retain,
without the formality of an election? Why
fix period in the Constitution at which the
legislature may change the Senatorial represen
tative when under the system which we are
combating, they possess that power at any
time?
AT another period in our political history,
when this question Of instruction was one of
practical interest to the whole country an at
tempt made by distinguished Virginian,
whose memory still lives, revered by his des.
cendents, and honored by his country, TO Justify
the right of instruction on popular and plau-
sible ground. He contended that, according
to the received theory of our government, the
Senate was Congress of sovereign States, the
senators were ambassadors of those sovereigns,
and thus liable to their instructions, and COM
PEELED to obey them. The view was plausible,
and was received with approbation but it falls
before the test of scrutiny. We yield to none
in devotion to the principles Of States Rights.
Our record is clear in this respect, as even our
opponents will testify. But we see great
difference between Congress Of nations and
Senate Of confederated States. It is true
that both bodies hold their power from the
soveregns whom they respectively represent
But in the first case, the power is granted d.
rectly by instructions for the time In the last
case, the power is granted indirectly through
the federal Constitution. The first is tempo
rary. The second is perpetual. The first
dies with the specific object which summoned
it. The second Hres as long as the form of
government which it represents. But if these
points of difference fail to strike the mind of
others with the full force with which they have
impressed our own minds, there remains one
prominent difference which must be conclusive
II, in Congress Of nations, any one sovereign
member refuses to comply with the propositions
of the rest, she is not bound by their conclu-
sions. II, in the Senate of the United States,
the two senators from any one State are in
minority, then the sovereign whom they repre-
sent is, by her own constitutional stipulation,
doa,'d to acquiesce in the decision of the rest.
There is, therefore, a material difference be-
tween mere temporary Congress of nations
convened for specific object, and constit,t.
tional Senate of States organized to aid in car
rying out the objects Of a confederation de.
signed to be perpetual.
We have dwelt more at length upon this
view, because Of the Importance which still
attaches to it in the minds Of many. We do
not fear that we are assuming, on this subject,
an attitude of hostility to the true principles of
Democracy. True Democracy consists not in
a blind obedience 10 the will Of majority, but
in common protection of the rights of ALL
1t is the government of the people, not of ma
jority Of the people-and that form of govern.
ment which tends most to emancipate a
minority from the thraldom Of "King Num-
bers, approaches nearest to pure Democracy.
We have no doubt that the view of this subject
which We have attempted to present, is conss-
tent with the true idea Of free government
that it would secure TO the majority the fair ex.
ercise Of their Legitimate power in the choice
of their representatives, and ensure to the
minority, as far as possible, the protection of
their rights and the promotion Of their interests,
by an untrammeled man.