Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-08-06
"Questions to Candidates to the Legis-
ture,"

Mr.. Editor In the last number of your
paper appears sting of interrogations, under
the above title in large capitals. Upon read
ing them 1 was forcibly reminded of the
language of one of Eng lands greatest states.
men, in letter written upon the eve of an
election of members of the House of Cons
mons. There is so striking q contrast be-
tween its spirit and that displayed by the
propounder of these "Questions. that 1 can
not forbear quoting portion OF it. lie says:
81 wish to add few words. touching
question which has lately been much cam
vassed, 1 mean the question of pledges. In
this letter, and in eqery letter have writ
ten to my friends at -, | have plainly
declared my opinions. But think it at this
conjuncture, my duty to declare that / will
give no pledges will not bind myself to
make or support any particular motion. will
state, as shortly as 1 can, some of the reasons
which have induced me to form this deter
minaton: The great advantage of the rep
reseD tative system is, that it unites the ad-
vantages of popular control with the advan-
tages arising from division of labor. Just
as physician understands medicine better
than an ordinary man-just as a shoemaker
makes better shoes than an ordinary man-so
a person whose life is passed in transacting
affairs of state, becomes better statesman
than an ordinary man. In politics, as we'll
as every other department of life, the public
ought to have the means of checking those
who serve it. If a man finds he derives no
benefit from the prescriptions Of his physi-
clans, he calls in another, if his shoes do not
fit him, he changes his shoemaker, but when
he has called in a physician of whom he
hears good report, and whose general prac-
tice he believes to be judicious, it would be
l. !. al, III nIn 81
order particular pills and particular draughts
While he continues to be the customer of
shoemaker, it would be absurd in him to sit
by and note every motion of that shoemaker's
hand. And in the same manner it would,
I think, be absurd in him to require positive
pledges, and to expect daily and hourly obe-
diencc from his representative. My opinion
is, that electors ought at first to choose cau-
tiously then to confde literally and when
the term for which they have elected their
member has expired, to review his conduct
equitably, and pronounce on the whole TAX
en- together"
For my part, Mr.. Editor, 1 have no wish
to place any candidate in so humiliating a
position would the propounder of these
"Questions," nor do l care to vote for any
man who will submit to such humiliation, or
who will accept a representative position
hampered by pledges as to his daily and hourly
conduct during his term of service. Rath>
er let candidates for the Legislature adopt
the language of the same statesman above
quoted, who in conclusion says:
''If the people of -- think proper to
repose in me that confidence which is neces-
sary to tho proper discharge of the duties of
representative, I hope that 1 shall not
abuse it. If it be their pleasure to fetter
their members by positive promises, it is in
their power to do SO. I can only say that on
such terms l cannot conscientiously serve
them" AN ELECTon.