The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-02-21
,puly Of representatives 10 cons'i'"'

i Inf understand your article In Thg
|Imlnorlho l7th instant, you hold
Al the representative Is "Gn entirely
|eapcul" If so, then ! mistake the
L.Hciplos upon which our government
Funded, aud the acknowledged prnc'
and understanding Of eminent
|tsmcn, particularly of the demo-
!, ,Gc party, The leading politicians
|nong democrats for the last lilty years
|Nchcld to thedoctrinc, "obcy inelruc'
i n or resign" Such has been ans
|mnced in the senate Of the United
ltcs repeatedly Your assertion that
esenator is Nmenablc to the people,
beds qualification; the senator IL ac'
|mablo to the sovereign people but
|nugh the legislature who in that case
Me representative Of the sovereignty
state. Mr., Lamar is responsl'
i TO the people Of Mississippi
i, only through the legislature, The
|0ple do not elect the senator, the
|0plc elect their representatives The
|tsnumes do not instruct their repre-
lnmtiyes. hence the resolutions Ct inN
rnction from the legislatures to Their
majors read, Resolved, that our sena'
b. be instructed and our representa-
Iy@ be requcstcd" etc, This gov
lnment is u representative governs
bent 1t is expected that the
ltnatog will represent the state
D cannot do but one of two things; he
bust represent the state or misrepreN
lntit Mr.. Lamar is amenable to the
people, but not directly, but indirectly
tOugh the legislature, which is direct
\ the representative of the people,
} here is no mode neither has there
lcen any attempted, to instruct a sena-
~ only through and by the legislature
Your article states that Mr. Lamar
free and independent" Upon
tat assertion we take issue with
lN We hold that he is the servant
h the people, and accountable to them,
POI directly, for that cannot be, for
lle people do not elect the senator
therefore he is responsible through the
kgsIatue to the people. We cannot
~ the cunning or tricks of the demaN
ggue " in the representative obeying
ihe will OF the people of his state Sena-
lB have arisen in their places in the
United States senate, with the resoIu'
tons Of instruction from their state
tssIOtures in their hands, and obeycd
lhc Instructions. We cannot see but
lhat Mr. Lamar could have arisen in
ls place, had the resolutions read, as
did, and obeyed the will Of his state,
p the same time differing in opinion
Pllh his people.
The doctrine of instruction by the
legislature TO the senator has long since
Peen discussed pro and con, and at least
E''Ied by the democracy that it is the
puy to obey or resign. We under
fand that there might arise a case in
Phlch the senator could dispute the
pushes Of his state. We do not under
ffaqd that Mr.. Lamar disputes the will
A tue people OF Mississippi in regard to
ehe silver bill, but that he has an opin'
POh OF his own on the merits OF the
question, and that he votes his own
plnlon and not the wishes of his state.
" Your article you say; 1--WE regret
Eir' ,Lamars course in voting against the
EaL 1t appears from the record that
Us vote would not have changed the
measure IN the senate, the vote being
EO'Velght to tTenty-one. Then we ask,
Y all candor, Mt has Mr. Lamar acN
sOmphshed? ~ has disobeyed the
IIlisructlons from ;ihe legislature, the
eHlsAest and only authority that could
instruct him. He has set bad example
y a representative government. lie
ttS placed himself alone, as democrat,
i ny hls brother senators of the south.
az J Will suffer the consequences in the
, \ We write this short article,
.a'mlng the right of instruction to our
\; ;enators, and their duty to obey; asserts
,uS mat this is a government founded
\, M Tue principle of representation; that
IN NY senator should obey the instructions
i the legislature in all cases, where it
!, |, ao' political question, and that even
- 'Ha' case, 1t admits of qualification.
A DEMOCRAT.