Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-08
gradford geporter.
Towanda, Thursday, November 8, 1866.
REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT.


ing article, which we copy from the Piitsburg Ga
zete are of peculiar Importance in view of the ap-
preaching election of U. S. Senator, and will meet
the hearty concurrence of every Republican j
1t is fundamental principle of popular
government that the Representative shall
obey the will of his constituents Of course,
there are limitations to this rule. There
are things which no man or aggregation of
men have right to do. What, therefore,
Constituency would incur guilt in per-
forming directly, they are not at liberty to
require at the hands of Representative,
nor is Representative at liberty to COM
ply with such a requirement from his con-
stituents, no matter how complete unanim-
ity may exist among them. Neither PLATE
nor the Hebrew Sanhedrim stand excused
in history for the crucifxion of Christ be-
cause the populace demanded the execution.
time was in the history of this country
when men holding Representative positions
were freely allowed to follow normal meth
DDS for ascertaining the popular will. 1t
was not less their interest than their duty
to scan all manifestations of prevalent
opinion to determine whether given pop
ular conception was founded on fact or fic-
ton was likely to be temporary or abid-
ing if compliance with it would be hurtful
or beneficial and upon all the aspects pre-
sented to frame their judgment.and act up
on it. If they misjudged the popular mind,
or, Judging it correctly, felt bound to resist
it, they prepared to take the consequences
when their term expired and an appeal to
the people at the ballot-boxes became in
evitable.
Since then various expedients have been
devised to enable cliques of politicians to
control the action of Representative men
on all public questions. The scheme is to
so strip them of their essential character
as to make them automatons in the hands
of leaders of faction. In this scheme the
Representative incurs all the responsible
ty, and the heads of faction, standing be-
hind him, have all the power. This Is the
meaning of much of the machinery with
which all parties have become encountered.
Let us give definite illustration of what
we mean State and County Conventions
were devised as convenient instrumental
ties for calling nominating and other Con-
ventions and prosecuting the other legiti-
mate labors Of canvass. So far these in
strumentalities are we'll But what would
be said if certain intriguers should seri-
ously propose to convene the Republican
State Central Committee, in special session,
to determine what individual the Senators
and Representatives chosen under the Con-
stitution and Laws, shall make United
States Senator next January? Surely, it
would be felt that this was intruding an
| irresponsible and extra-legal body into the
province of one ordained by the Constitu-
ton and selected under the due operation
of the laws. The impertinence would be
promptly rebuked as an insidious attempt
to overthrow representative government
and introduce the domination Of cabals.
In some of the counties of this Common
wealth preparations are making for the in
auguration of such scheme. At least the
germs of it are conspicuous. County Com
mittees are claiming authority to dictate
for whom Senator'S and Represen tatives
in their places, in the two Houses, shal
f vote to fill the seat soon to be vacated by
Mr.. CowAN; or, if they do not make thu
claim in their own behalf, it is made fo
them, by politicians who think they would
J be able to control the action in the matter
In other instances, it is proposed to g.
behind the County Committees, and inst
tute popular elections, under what is know
: as the Crawford County system. to decid
how Senators and Representatives shal
: vote when they get into their seats in tn
Capitol at Harrisburg. Of course, the cor
t coctors of this scheme have definite idea
of their own to serve, and hope to manipu
A late these informal elections SO as to carr
their points.
g Our deep conviction is that it is wise
and better to have less party machiner
. rather than more. Especially do we pre-
test against all plans for taking respons
. bilities out of the hands of the agents lt
gally appointed. 1t borders upon insanit
I to have public business virtually perform
h ed by agents unknown to the laws.
y selecting Senators and Representatives th
people ought to take men who know an
o are known; who have at least sense enoug
to be enlightened as to their duties b
A such methods as the laws provide !: an
t who will act conscientiously and INTEL
gently, no matter what demagogues ma
devise or command. If member of tn
Legislature cannot tell whom he had bes
: vote for as United States Senator withou
the help of certain appliances now propof
ed, he made great mistake. in consentinl
to take the office, and his constituents
greater one in lifting him out of the CON
mon ranks.
The members of the Legislature hav
, this duty laid on them next winter. 1t i
laid on them and not on managers of com