The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-02-26
COMMENTS.

COMMENTS.
We are gratifed to publish the fore
going argument though it does not
accord with our own way of thinking,
not upon an abstract question:" nor a
"barren ideality, as some have said, but
a question reaching down to the vital
principles of Democratic representative
government-the right of the people TO
rule, aud the duty OF their agents to
carry out their will as expressed through
Legitimate channels The above argu
ment against this principle, if not tn e
abest, Is certainly the most plausible
that has been offered, and it would re
ceive additional consideration if accom-
panied by the name of its distinguished
author. And yet he will permit us to
say with due respect, that his nom de
Prime a. b. c. is exceeding appropri
ate. His letter shows that he is in the
alphabet of political education, and has
a great deal to learn before he is fully
indocrinated in the true theory Of free
gocernmeot. He is correct in saving
that u majority Of the Democratic party
in the United States has always enter
tanned the doctrine that it was the DUTY
Of the Senator to obey the instructions
Of his State Legislature" True, there
have been cases in VIII ich the doctrine
has been set at defiance by its accredited
agents, but these exceptions have proved
the rule. But we have not been able to
verify the statement of our CORE. pom
dent that John c. Calhoun, whom he
declares to be the greatest Of Democratic
statesmen, '.always denied the doctrine of
instruction" Ia the first place Mr..
Calhoun was not in a strict party sense
Democratic statesman. He never gave
to party what belonged to his country.
For years he acted with the Wing party
and espoused its favorite measures, and
then at other times, he was the leader of
wing of the Democratic party. But
ne was undoubtedly a patriot aud
great statesman" SO far from eleva
ing the public agent above the people,
he declared as the canon ofhi faith that
he people were the true source of power.
In his great, and last work on Govern
nent, published a short time before his
leath and therefore containing his de-
iberate opinions at the close of his great
career, he asserted this cardinal truth:
The responsibility of the rulers to the
uled through the right of suffrage. is the
indispensable and primary principle in the
oand1ttoH Of Constitutional government |
When this right is properly guarded, and |
he people sufficiently enlightened to I'M
erstand their own rights and the interests |
II the country, and duly to appreciate the |
motives and cOnduct o. those appointed m |
make and execute the laws, it is all sufficient |
Q glre TO those eeho elect efectire control ove,
hose they haze elected.
The sum total, then, of its effects is 20 make |
hose elected, The true aud faithful representa- |
ices Of those sob0 elected instead of irrespoasi |
.hus converting it into an agency, and the |
rulers into agents, to divest government of |
III claims to sovereignty and to retain it
nimpa ired to the country. '-Calhoun's
Nor 5, Volume /, PIP 13, IA.
This is the very essence of the doc
rlne of instructions, the responsibility of
he agent to his principal. the amenabil-
y of the servant to his master at is
Il sufficient to give to those who elect
Elective control over those they have
lected, &c, &c.
We are we'll apprised that speech de-
vered by Mr.. Calhoun, when a mem
er of the House of Representative as
arly as January 23rd 1917, has been
uoted by those who oppose the princi-
lie declared by him in the work above
ted st the close of his life. But that
arly speech of his, had no reference
hateyer to the right of the Legislature ,
instruct the Senators. He was a
ember of the House and was depreca- /
ag the disposition manifested by mem ,
RS of the body to yield to popular t
amor upon pending question which .
emed to have excited considerable :
cling. He said ''the members are q
ected for two years, and at the end of t
at period, are responsible to their con- t
tuents for the faithful discharge of i
cir duties. 4 + + The g
institution has made the Praaida,,t = J