Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-10-15

Lteut7haht oo'ethoAt |
covered by the Democratic press that he
is not capable Of fulfilling the duties OF
that very responsible position. because
he cannot be trusted. lie is . pledge
breaker. The discovery wAs first heralded
to the world by the Carson Tribune, Q
journal which assumes to DO Republican.
and yet is doing all in its power to de-
feat the Republican State ticket. What
may be the special cause Of the eumity
existing in the mind OF the proprietor
OF that paper toward his brother editor
Of the Appeal; whether 1t is prompted
by envy or jsalously. or both. or a comb.
nation Of causes. We have no means OF
knowing. Nor is 1t OF the least conse-
quence. 1t Is enough to know that Mr..
Mighels is accused OF breaking his
pledge to his constitute nts during his SER
vice in the Legislature OF 1877. and the
best and most conclusive way to meet
the charge is. as the gentleman himself
met it at Reno last Friday night. by
sweeping 1t away altogether.
A State legislator or a Congressman
is supposed to DO the servant Of the con-
stituency which elects him. He is not
placed in this position by means OF any
special statute. IL is true. When once
elected he has the byal right to do as he
pleasss. and II he misrepresents his con.
stituents they have no legal redress.
But his moral duty is to act. so far as
possible. in accordance with the desires
Of the people who have elected him to
represent them in the Legislature or in
Congress. This principle is 20 well es-
tablished that when a legislator fails to
act upon ii, he invariably meets with a
Just and speedy punishment by repudia.
ton at the polls on the very first oppor-
tunity given his constituents. Aud 1t Is
right hat he should be thus punished.
Our whole system Of government Is
based on the idea OF direct rule by the
sovereign people. The system Is sim.
plifed by reducing the people in the alb.
straet to a small body OF Legislators. and
each one OF these is simply n servant to
represent his constituency to the best Of
his ability. IL uninstrueted. and when
instructed. to obey his instructions in all
cases.
Now tho awful crime Of pledge
breaking which is charged against Mr..
Mighsls consisted simply and wholly in
recognizing the above principle and act
ing in accordance with what he rightly
deemed to 10 his sworn duty. In the
campaign OF 1876 Harry Mighsls
pledged himself to oppose any modi'
fcation Of the bullion tax law. At that
time the voters OF ormsby were almost
unanimous in their opposition to the
so-called Compromise Bill. They hal
a right to pledge their representative to
carry out their views by opposing this
bill. and they so pledged Harry Mighels.
There can be no reasonable doubt that
hal he refused to take the pledge, no
would have been defeated in the cleo
ton. Mr.. Mighels admits the pledge
with all ii implied. But what followed'
Before the Compromise Bill came before
the Assembly events occurred which
entirely changed the sentiments OF the
voters OF ormsby. The men who had
originally demanded the pledge OF Mr..
Mighels united in a petition. to the
number Of over six hundred. in which
they not only released him from his
promise. made in the campaign, but
Instructed him to vote for the Compromise
Bill, and save the State from
the financial crisis which at that time
threatened il. Among the signers Of
that petition were the two Parkinsons.
who are now making this Infamous at
tack on Mighels through the columns Of
tho Carson Tribune. This fact alone
destroys what little influence that jour
nal might otherwise have to the detri.
ment Of our candidate for Lieutenant
Governor.
What course was left to Mr.. Mighels
but the course which he pursued His
instructions were plain and direct; vote
for the Compromise bill and W our
State from impending disaster. They
came from the people OF his county. the
source Of all the power which he held as
u legislator. the men who had placed
their interests in his keeping. trusting
in his honor to iul6ll the charge en-
trusted to him. Had he ignored their
petition, aud voted against the bill. he
would have proven a traitor to his con-
stituents. and the Carson Tribune would
have been the first to brand him with
his iniamy. He broke no pledge. for
his pledge was annihi.ated by the men
TO whom he had originally given 1t. II
was like a note OF hand voluntarily de-
stroyed by the holder. The debt which
it represents becomes extinct with the
note. Mr.. Mighels vas thus left free to
act as he pleased, so far as pledges were
concerned. He was morally bound.
however. to act in accord with the eI.
pressed wishes Of his constituents; and
this he did. II this be pledge-breaking.
the State and the country would DO the
gamer were there more pledge-breakers
in our midst.
OK Saturday evening next the Repub-
licans Of 0rmsby county will be AL.
dressed in the Carson Theator. Carson
Civ. by Hon. I. r. Lewis and Hon