The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03
HE RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION-BROD-
ERICK, BRIGHT, AND FITCH.

that the constituencies retain the right 10 III
struct their Representatives and that the Rep
!: preventative is bound to obey or resign. But of
. late years, during the decline and fall of that
Aohce formidable organization, we have had
numerous examples of the wide differences
w,aich ever exist between the perfection of
: cteeds and professions, and the deficiency of
!. performance.
| So fragrant have been the instances, in re-
/ cent years, of departure in practice from this
; agcient article of faith, that we had supposed
lit to be obsolete. 1t seems, however, that we
!. were mistaken. The official organ of Mr.. Blu
| chanan brings to our notice recent instance
of, the Elimination of the political anathema by
the Legislature of California against the devo-
ted head of its recusant Senator, Mr. Broderick
TIE Union is in ecstacies of delight with this
Democratic" procedure, and although it
hesitates to say the word, the inference is I'M
mistakable, that the editors, as the organ of
the President and Cabinet, expect Mr. Broder-
icf, in the name of common decency, to resign.
The resolutions of the Legislature, as we find
them copied into the Union, are as follows:
II ! Whereas the ninth session of the Legisla-
SUE of the State of California passed resolu-
.tiOas instructing our Senators in Congress to
support the policy of the National Administra-
ion in regard to the admission of Kansas under
he Lecompton Constitution and whereas the
eHen. David c. Broderick-a United States
Senator from this State-not only disregarded
saGl instructions, but indirectly charged that
ShS members of the said ninth session of the
Legislature had misrepresented the wishes of
heir constituents and whereas the people of
.his State at the last election, triumphantly
SStained the action Of the members of said
aiTth session Of the Legislature: therefore, for
he purpose of giving to the said Hon. David C.
Frederick full understanding of the position
&c occupies to his constituency, be it
%7Pesotced by the Senate, 1.-THE Assembly con-
T,urring,) That the Legislature of State con-
.rtitnte the immediate constituency of United
states Senator.
{: Resolred, That constituency has a right
IT 9ll times, and it is their duty, when deemed
necessary, to instruct their representatives upon
III matters of public policy pertaining to the
.pties Of such representatives and that to such
representatives, when instructed there is left no
.,ther honorable alternative save obedience or
designation.
:. : ReSoIred, That Senator Broderick has
5efher yielded obedience TO the instructions of
fe ninth session of the Legislature of this State
5of has he, as yet resigned the seat he holds
SoEtrary to the wishes Of his constituency.
- sReSOired, That the language used in the
TSfch of said Senator on the 22d of March,
sfSiS, in the United States Senate, towards the
Chsef Executive of this Confederacy, was not
cnl3 undignihed and disrespectful, but alike in
suEng TO the nation and humilating to the
.,eC1ole of this State
: 'sReSOlred, That his Excellency the Governor
rf State he rauuactaJ 10 foru,o ri n ooyo,- oc
the above resolutions to the Hon. d. c.. Brod
erick.'
Weclaim no right to interpose in family quar-
E,l but we may be allowed to make the friendly
suggestion, that the resignation of Mr.. Broder
lex, in obedience to these instructions, would be
an example of fatal tendency in its effects upon
the ascendency of the Democracy in the Senate,
while it would at the same time administer a se--
we're rebuke to two leading members of the Cabi-
net. 1t cannot be forgotten that General Cass
held to his seat in the Senate long after he had
been repudiated as the representative Of Michi-
gan; and in open defiance of the instructions of
the State Legislature. 1t is equally we'll re-
membered that Mr.. Toucey, the Secretary of
tae Navy, chung to his Senatorial position after
the State had become Republicanized, and
grossly misrepresented his constituency on
measures of the greatest Importance But these
are events which belong to the past ; and al
though the resignation of Mr.. Broderick, in
compliance with the resolutions of the Califor-
MIA Legislature, might by contrast reflect dis
credit upon these members of the Cabinet, it
could have no practical effect upon them and
we merely allude TO the subject by way of a
gentle hint that it is unbecoming in people who
reside in glass houses to throw stones. The
prospective effect of the example which is
sought to be created at the expense of Mr.
Broderick might be attended by consequences
more serious. We say nothing of Messrs. Stu
art, Wright, and Allen, whose political career
will end with the present session of Congress
bat there are others whose lease of political
existence is longer, and who would be con-
strained, in the name of common decency, to
follow the fatal example of Mr.. Broderick
What would become of Mr. Thomson of New
Jersey, Mr.. Pearee of Maryland, who, though
elected a Wing, is now faithful follower of the
Administration, and of Mr.. Pugh of Ohio
| Not one of these gentlemen truly represent
their constituents, and not one of them could be
reelected. New Jersey has given a decided
majority to the Anti Leeompton peoples par
ty," composed of Republicans and Americans.
Maryland is " American" by several thousand
majority, and Ohio is Republican by still
larger majority, to say nothing of separate
opposition organization, composed of Americans
and Wings. Here, then, are discrepancies be-
tween Democratic representatives and their
constituents, which it is not wise on the part of
the Administration to bring too prominently
before the public
| But the most fragrant instance of dis
| regard of the will of their constituency, by
men claiming to be Senator'S, which the his
tory of this country furnishes, is yet to be men
toned. We allude to the case of Messrs. Bright
and Fitch. In that case, the Legislature of
sovereign State solemnly protest that the men
who claim to represent Indiana on the floor of
the Senate of the United States were never
elected and, to give the most unmistakable as.
surance of the sincerity of their protest, they
elvet other men to gil the vacancies which they
have declared to exist in their Senatorial rep
reaentation. The Democratic majority of the
Senate turns a deaf ear TO the voice of Indiana,
ana the Washington Union is foremost among
the defenders of this Senatorial insult to SOW
ereign State.
If the States have any one right which the
Federal Government is bound to respect, it is
the right of being represented in the Senate by
men of their own choice, legally chosen. 1t is