Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-24

] Inc late COi- benton, one OF the most ulll-
gent working members who evc sat in Con-
/ gress, is reported to have said that he never
paired off but once in his life, and that was
with a woman, and when he got married.
But Col Benton was rare example of
patient labor with robust health. 1t is too
| much to expect of any member that occasions
may not arise, from time to time-when, not
| being able from sickness, or other pressing
| causes. to be present himself on an important
vote, it would be right for him to seek
| '4par," and proper for another member to
pair with him. But this privilege is subject
to many important limitations, to make it
consistent with the honest discharge of duty,
and "a due regard for the public interests.
But the practice of pairing off has lately
grown up in Congress 10 be personal indul-
gence of members, who may be disinclined to
attend to business, or have some occupations
elsewhere which are more profitable or more
pleasant. II is getting to be an abuse which
needs to be exposed, and, if possible, correct
ed.
There are, we have said, occasions when
pairing off may be justifabe, even meritorious
great public question may arise on which
ii is highly important that the decision should
express the full and deliberate sense of the
Legislature, and that the voice of every part
of the country should be distinctly expressed.
If representative cannot be present without
great personal suffering it is only just that
his influence for his constituents-we may say
too his influence for his party. for on many
occasions the disputes between parties are
disputes about principles that are vital for
the country. For thought so on both sides
should be preserved by restoration of the
true proportion by the abstinence of vote
from the other side; and it is an honorable
trait to concede so much to fairness. But such
occasions are rare. and the emergencies which
Justify them should be clear as well as pres
sing-should refer to particular question on
which the argument is over and the issue made
up. Accidents misfortunes Detailing a
representative ought not to be permitted to
give an unjust advantage against his constitu-
ents or against the general good, but this
can only be claimed for occasions of moment
on some definite proposition, and when the
absentlng member cannot possibly attend
without serious hurt. But member who
from consideration to another thus withholds
his vote from his own friends, or measures
which he approves, has no right to suspend
his action and his judgment in the manner on
general questions of an indeterminate char
acter, that are very vaguely classed as party
questions. They are not his to renounce in
this manner. He is not an automaton to say
yea and nay by will, or a pipe in a party
machine to give voice or not as the organist
lets on the wind or shuts it Off Party mea-
sures not, all or always, measures upon
which members are not expected to think or
act except in line or drill. At least, it is not
one of the functions of Congressman to
acknowledge and concede that he may go
away and leave his invariable yea TO be set
off by some equally invariable and indiscrim-
mating nay on the other side He is expec-
ted to go through the motions at least, of
something like reflection and elaboration,
even though it may be anticipated in most
cases, from his general way of voting, how he
would act If present. 1t is rather an uniavor-
able sign of the blind character. which this
spirit of partisanship gives to the action of
Congress, that this practice of pairing OFF,
on party questions, has got to be common. A
member goes junketing; or on his own private
affairs assuming that he has done his duty, if
he has only obtained the assent of a party OPP
ponent not to vote against his party during
his absence, as though there are no obligations
to the public, but those of those of keeping
up party balance. The perplcxity which
this sometimes occasions, is seen in the hest
tation with which some member casts his
vote, during the absence of his duplicate in
timating his uncertainty whether il is, or is
not, a party question; and the fact which
sometimes appears, that third party has
been appointed as a referee or umpire, rto
decide in the pairing" contract; in other
words, to regulate motions that belong to in
dividual conscience and duty.
Sometimes two members of opposite par
ties agree to go off together, apparently think
ing that the political balance not being afftc-
ted, nothing worth caring for is left. Between
this and the British systems of proxies, by
which peer, who does not choose to be in
his place, can give his party chief a written
authority to cast the vote for him, there is
little difference of principle. The whole
pairing" practice is growing into serious
abuse, and We hope to see it discontinued, or
rigidly confined to the cases OF urgency we
some of whom have doubtless fallen into il. |
finding it to be convenience in use. without |
its real character ana bearings |
W o. PioaVAae