The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-06-26
Instructing Senators and Represen-
tatiyes.

Instructlng Senators and Represcn-
tatiyes.
The right of constituents to instruct
Senators and Representations to the State
Legislature has of late been much dis
cussed in Abbeville county. Upon this
question, like all matters Of public inter
est, we shall put ourselves upon record
by expressing what We believe to De cor
rect principles and the proper rules for
our guidance.
Inapurely Democratic Government the
people themselves meet and transact
their own business, but in a Republic
the Government is conducted by q Repre-
sentative Democracy. The argument
that Representatives should be govern
ed by a majority Of their constituents is
not good logic. In Abbcville county the
negroes, who are clothed with all the
rights Of citizenship, are largely in the
majority. If this rule was observed u
delegates would act in accordance with
their wishes, and the whites would have
no control whatever. Senators and
Representatives should be chosen for
their superior ability and intelligence,
for their fairness and decision Of charac-
ter, for their good judgment and clear
ness of thought. They should be men who
will, according to their own convictions
Of right, discharge the important pub
lie duties devolving upon them with I'M
swerving fidelity, :.~regordless: Of public
clamor.
The people Of n particular location have
O right to request certain local legislation.
In such matters, for instance, as laws
granting the opening Of a public high
way, or requiring the construction of q
bridge across a stream, the erection of
county public buildings, the incorporation
Of a town, college or manufactu ring COM
pany, the chartering of a railroad route,
or a request to allow the citizens of GER
tain localities to tax themselves for spe-
cial or local reasons, the delegate is the
special Representative of that communi-
ty which may make requests Of him as to
the above and kindred matters. Beyond
the necessary attention to these matters
he ls not a local Representative but a
Representative of the whole State.
The local club at Abbeville Court
House, for instance, has no more right to
instruct the Representative as to what
action he shall take upon a question in
volving the general interest, than they
have to instruct the delegates from
Charleston upon the same question. 1t
is denying our Representatives the right
to represent the State fully if we forbid
them to vote as their conviction of right
shall incline them. When we adopt this
plan of instruction and our Representa-
tives shall accede to it, they reduce them
selves to mere puppets to be moved
when others pull the string. A legisla-
tor who is at all worthy Of the Office, and
who is on the spot where he can or has
heard all the evidence and the argument
pro and con, is more familiar with the
facts, and is capable Of voting more intel
ligently than those of us living a hum
dred miles or more from the capital.
| There would be as much reason in re-
quiring a jury to render n verdict before
hearing the evidence, as there is in a COM
munity who know little, or comparative
ly nothing, instructing an intelligent and
intelligent and able Representative on q
subject which it is his duty to examine
into carefully and then act with all the
facts before him.
When q representative is called to vote
upon such questions as the Public
Debt" the estate University" the "Or-
ganization of new Counties" the "Elec-
ton Of Judges" the ELECTION of United
States Senator'S" or the "Levying of Tax
es for UNCONVENTIONAL Colleges" he rises
higher than the local Representative. I'm
questions of this character he represents
the whole State and should act for the
whole State. When the contemplated
legislation affects O principal involving
the welfare Of the entire State, w con-
tend that Abberille has no right to ask to
have it put in such shape as to please us,
regardless Of the interest Of others. Leg
islation should be for the general good,
and not for the benefit Of a few to the
damage of many. If the local club at
| Abbeville should feel disposed to express
their want of confidence in our Represen-
tative by directing him how he shall vote
,,~,>n r,,ocftoro IF r,thtfn snfaracf and
instead of resenting the insult, he should
sacrifice his manhood by saying to the
General Assembly that he is not at liber-
ty to vote according to his convictions be-
cause of instructions given him by con-
stltuents, he is in Jul opinion, in the
wrong office, and should Immediately
vacate for a better man. The Represen-
tative whose hands are tiled, is in an I'M
enviable position.
A Representative that is relieved Of re-
sponsibility by instructions from con-
s~tituents is a mere cypher, while he who
lacks the manhood to act according to his
own his own convictions, but on the 9TH
err hand seeks to follow the popular wave,
is as unstable as water and as uncertain
as the wind. Such an one is far below
the standard of an Abbeville county lead
er, and does not approach our criterian
| of a strtesman. We want men In the
Legislature who will assert not only our
rights, but their wi as we'll.
The constitution has imposed upon Rep
resentatives the duty of electing judges,
and the wisdom of the provision has So
cured to us one Of the finest officers that
ever wore the judicial robes in South
Carolina. When a Representative seeks
to shirk the responsibility by instruc-
tons from constituents he violates his
oath to support the constitution.
Edgefield Enterprise.
The Edgefeld Advertiser continues it's
series Of excellent portraits of distin-
,r,;,b,d Co for ~ hoe pivop Goyar-