The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-15
RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION.

The Senate of Michigan by vote of % to 5,
and the House by large majority, recently
passed resolutions, instructing the Senators of
that State la Congress to vote for aad use
| their best exertions to procure the passage of
an act of Congress, that shall prohibit the in
PRODUCTION or existence of Slavery in ary of the
Territories of the United States and especially
in Kansas and Nebraska, and to introduce
without delay bin for the latter purpose :"
also to use their best exertions to procure the
immediate repeal of the act of 1850, known as
| the Fugitive Slave Law"
The Legislature is fresh from the People,
and elected expressly on the issues embraced
in these resolutions. The canvass was a pro-
tracted one the course of the two Senators, in
voting for repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, was submitted to the People for their
judgment. General Cass appeared in his own
behalf, and endeavored to justify himself to his
constituents. There was no evasion no unfair
ness, in the canvass. The question was distinct
ly put to the People-do you approve, or do
you condemn the course and policy of your
Senators on the Nebraska Question, aud on the
Slavery Question, generally? Their answer
was recorded in the rejection of nearly all the
Cass and Stuart candidates, and in the cleo
ton of an overwhelming majority, in both
branches of the Legislature, sternly opposed to
the entire action of these Senators in relation
to Slavery.
The resolutions, then, passed by the Legisla-
ture, are fair expression of the views and will
of the People of Michigan. Copies of them
were sent to the Senator'S instructed they were
presented by Mr.. Stuart and, they ssere dis
obeyed.
Mr.. Stuart would simply remark, that when
ever the occasion should arise which should
make it necessary for him to act or W upon
the subjects alluded to in these resolutions, he
should endeavor to regulate his conduct and
his action by his sense of duty to the State
| whose representative he was and duty to the
Constitution of the United States which he had
sworn to support"
As the resolutions imposed upon him the
duty to introduce without delay bill for the
prohibition of Slavery in Kansas and Nebras-
ka, and as he declined to do so, on the pretext
that he would decide how to act, when an oc.
casion should arise, he plainly disobeyed the
instructions Of the Legislature, and disregarded
its will-not paying it the respect of assigning
a reason for his conduct
Mr.. Cass referred to the passage Of resolu-
tons, some years ago, by the Legislature of his
State, instructing him to vote for the Wilmot
Proviso. That Legislature was Democratic.
He took the earliest occasion to avoS his pur-
pose, should the proceedings of the Senate call
upon him to vote upon that question: to resign
his place. He would recognise the fight Of in
struction, but not sacrifice his own convictions.
Since then, the Democratic Party by COM
bination against it, had been throwE into the
minority, and the Legislature, being in the
hands OF its opponents, instructs him to do what
his convictions forbid. He would peremptorily
decline to obey these instructions, and at the
same time, retain his place.
To Justify this decision, he propounded this
question;
" Has political party, whenever it ascends
to power, by whatever combinations, the right
to pass resolutions which its opponents in legis
lative trusts are bound to obey, or, i: prevented
from obeying by their conscience and consist.
ency, to resign their position?"
de took the negative of the question.
The consequences" he remarked, "of such
rule OF action are too obvious to need detailed
examination, and too serious to b incurred
without pressing necessity. Into tbs body it
would introduce changes, radically affecting its
organization, and incompatible with the objects
OF It's institution as the representative branch Of
fboc Al IA =
characteristic ofpermanence, its members going
out, year BY year, as political fluctuations might
transfer power from one party TO another for