The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-02-06

, Il .
Letter nrom Jefferson Davis.
lFsoas; ..as5 JTGosssois ii4is5.) GL7d5is0n.
we are gratifie3 to have the opportu.
nifty to publish the following letter, writ
ten by Hon. Jefferson Davis in reply to
inquiries designed to elicit his opinion
upon q subject of vital importance {;
BEAUvoIR PosT OFFICE,
HARRISON CO., MISS, DEC. Ia, 1873.
Aiy Dear Sir: / this day received
yours of the 18th inst, asking for my
opinion as TO the right of the Legisla-
/. ture of State to instruct her Senators
in Congress.
Personally disinterested observer,
stand upon the political river, earnestly
watching whatever it may bear, but
without any purpose ever again 10 launck
my bark upon it. My opinions, howev-
or, upon any subject which interest Miss.
issippi are, as they always will be, at
the service Of my friends who may de.
sire to have them.
The government ofthe Unitou States is
essentially representative, the necessary
consequence ofthe admitted sovereignty
ofthe people, and the individuality ofthe
representative to his constituency would
be to attack the foundation Of our poIit-
cal system. The two houses Of Congress
represent, the one the people the other
the States themselves. If the people of
a Congressional district were to assemble
in mass, and instruct their representa-
tiyes upon any particular question, who
will gainsay their right to do SO, CT his
duty to obey?
In the compact of the Union it was
provided thai the representatives Of the
States, their Senators, should be chosen
by their respective Legislatures. Those
Legislatures 10, in that connection, ex-
press tho voice of the State, and the
senator WHO accepts his election by the
Legislature, as such expression of. the
State would seem to be estopped from
contonding at any future time that tho
Legislature was not tho proper channel
through which the State should speak to
him.
1t has been the practice of the Dcmoc-
racy either to obey instructions or to
resign the Office held from the people
SO that their constituents might,if they
so desired, select some one else who would
more truly represent them. Nor has this
been entirely confined to the Democ-
racy. The statesman who has been
called the cxpounder OF the constitution,
when tho wild waves ofabolitionism were
beating against the bulwarks of the
constitution, and threatening its sub
version, in view Of the prospects of re-
ceiving instructions which he could not
conscentiously obey, said he hoped the
event might not arise, and Clearly ind-
Gated, though he did not express it, that
in such contingency hc would yacate
seat be could not consistently retain.
:. In the democracy OF Greece the peo-
pie assembled in mass TO discuss and to
. legislate. In the republic of Rome the
government was one of orders, the patri-
clans aud the people having conflicting
powers. In neither of these could rep
resentations such as o.-s have been the
foundation Of government. Therefore
wo had to be law unto ourselves
Whereas all other modern republics were
based upon pro-existing feudal system
we had no compromises to make with
abuses aud with privileged classea. hut
were offered clear sheet, on which the
charter OF human liberty and the su-
prcmacy Of law might be written.
The people of each independent State,
possessing sovereign power. organized
each for itself q government oftheir own,
and by the compact of union, delegated
to the general government such powers
aud fucntions rs they we're willing to
confide to it.
In the State governments as we'll as in
that Of the United States, power was
attended by q correlati=e responsibility
of those who from either received author
ity and trust. Il was wise organism
when II was adopted; more wise, per-
haps, than the builders knew for our
experience has taught us that corruption,
which WORKS in darkness and unseen.
may undermine the fabric which could
resist direct and external blows. We
have been, by the Divine Maker, taught
the danger of being led into temptation.
In the growth of wealth and luxury,
We have seen arise, as the consequence,
INCREASED extravaganza, waiting on the
necessities of which was an army of
lobbyists, the agents of powerful corpor-
ations. special interests, and OF the
moneyed power. Against the influence
OF these 1t were safer TO trust tho body
of the people who were beyond the reach
of temptation, than the few ysho ara
Immediately exposed to it.
u oppofition to the right of tho con.
S Gstituency to instruct, ] know Of no argu-
nnent which deserves notice, unless it be
that which denies to the people the re-.
2 quisite amount of intelligence. If that
be true, the cornerstone of our temple
ID crushed, and it were vain to attempt
4 20 prop the superstructure. But is 1t
true? I hope not, I think not ard repci
tho assumption of any man that he has
more wisdom than the aggregate of his
neighbors.
So, sir, I end as began with the ex.
preston of the belief that the coexist-
ence Of liberty and power require the
direct responsibility of the representa-.
tive TO his constituency. This is the
characteristic and especisl merit OF our
political system, State and Federal.
In conclusion,l tine express the con.
viction that unless this be maintained,
and the virtue and intelligence of the
! people keep pace with the demand foI
both in the exercise of the high power
they possess, we must look forward e
corruption among officials, and anarchy
4 10 BIO followed by despostiam. Very
truly, your friend,
y rs JEFFERSON DAVIS.
- Washing a special TO the Seyy Y orb