American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-05-04
mir. Lamar aid His Censors.

structiohs of the Legislature on the
question: of the Bland Silver Bill.
Some of these CONNECTS have been
properly tempered-oihers, we re-
greet to say. have been harsh.
acrimonious and utterly Inconsistent
with the sentiments of esteem and
admiration in which many of his
mov censors were with. but short
time ago, to express themselves
whenever there was occasion tc refer
to him.
We may be disposed ourselves to
differ with the distinguished Sena-
tor ] bat he has certainly been jus,i-
fed, so far as precedent may justify
him, in declining to be dictated to
by the Legislature of his Safe with
reference to his action on an all
absorbing issue. No less eminent
an instance is offered than MIR. Cali
houn, who gave no quarter Whatever
to the doctrine of Instructions, while
Henry Clay declared that If the
Legislature of his State undertook
to instruct him in his duties as a
Senator, he would instruct it in its
duties at home. Tom Benton, more
than, once. refused to obey the in,
tructions bf his State; and Mr..
Thurman has more recently furnish
ed prect dent of the same charac
ter.
Thus, the Sea Shore Gazette, "a new
Journal, edited with more than or
binary ability by Gen. Jos. r. Davis)
is at fault to some exteiit in regard
ing Mr.. Lamar's action as without
notable precedent. That excellent
journal does not, however, deal with
Mr.. Lamar in that most reprehensi-
ble and unwarrantcd spirit of acer-
bity which has characterized a
portion of the press of this State i'm
referring to Mr.. Lamar's refusal to
be governed by the dictation OF the
State Legislature rs to his action
upon question so subtle, so intri
cate, and one which demands such
profound research and careful III
vestlgation as the late money ques.
ton.
Mr.. Lamar's speech afforded evil
dence that he had given the guess
ton the most careful study and
consideration in all it's bearings
Whether his conclusion was right
Or wrong, it was not arrived at
without the most patient investiga
ton. AS to his motives, no one
can impeach them Justly. He ar
rived al his conclusion, and sup
ported it with apparently we'll
grounded reason-, presented clearly,
logically, powerfully.
While agreeing with those who
are of opinion that Mr.. Lamar's
course on the Silver Bill was erro>
neous, let US be candid enough to
admit that his opportunities for
studying ont and thoroughly under
standing this most difficult of all
questions to comprehend, are far
superior to ours, or to those of the
Legislature that presumed to in
struct him. He was as the general
at the real scene Of action. lie
knew the grounds before MIN better
than the fire-side heroes in the
rear. And, if the simiie be war
ranted, the chief commander of an
army at the front will hardly be
0bedient to the dictation of bis
country-men in the rear whose
battles he fights. The great speech
6f Mt. Lamar, be his position erro
neous or not, is a monument of
lofty. high-souIed eloquencs and
craftsmanship and the pure, eleva
ted and patriotic tore that ler>
vades it should silence harsh com
ments, and give to bis constituents,
even though in this instance they
may differ from him, renewed cons
fideuce in his patriotism and entire
trustworthiness. In this very effort
he has himself afforded an eminent
instance that Mississippi is not yet
bereft OF that honored class of
whom he so eloquentIy
depicted as having formerly shed
Iustre upon her name in the council
OF the nation.
THE NEXT HOUSE there
is this mnch about it.: the Demo.
Gratis need not delude themselves
with the idea that they are to have
an easy time in retaining their hold
of the House of representatives.
They have before them one of the
hottest encounters to which they
have ever been called in all the
history of their party, and victory
can only be secured by effort with
ont ceasing. The Republicans
realize very well that it is now or
never with them. 1t they do not
gain the next House the Democrats |
will control both branches of Cons
gress, and will have the power to |
determine the result of the next |
election.
With Democratic President in !
stalled i'm 1887, and that party i'm |