The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-01-15
THE RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION.
LETTER FROM HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS,
$ TO DENY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THR
REPRKsE STATIvE TO HIS CONSTITUENCY
WOULD BE TO ATTACK THE FOUNDATION
OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM


WOULD BE TO ATTACK THE FOUNDATION
OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM"
eve are gratifed to have the opportu-
nifty to publish the following letter written
by Hon. Jefferson Davis, in reply to
inquiries designed to elicit his opinion
upon a subject of vital public Importance.
1t will be read by his countrymen with
the interest which they attach to every
thing that emanates from its distin-
guished author.
BEAUvoIR p. O., HARRISON Co. MIss.l
December a. 1873. (
My DEAR SIR: / this day received yours
of the 18Th inst, asking for my opinion as
to the right of the Legislature of State 70
instruct her Senators in Congress.
Personally a disinterested observer,
stand upon the political river, earnestly
watching whatever il may bear, but with
out any purpose ever again to launch my
bark upon it. Ny opinions. however, upon
any subject which interests Mississippi.
are, as they always viii be- at the service of
nv friends who may desire to have them.
The government Of the United States is
essentially representative, the necessary
consequence of the admitted sovereignty of
the people, and the individuality of the
States. To deny the responsibility of the
representative TO his constituency would
be TO attack the foundation OF our political
system. The two houses OF Congress rep
resent the one, the people; the other, the
States themselves.
Ii the people of a Congressional district
were to Assem- bic in mass, and instruct their
Representative upon any particular ques-
zion, who will gainsay their right to do so,
or his duty to obey?
Ia the compact of the Union it was pro-
vided that the representatives of the States,
their Senators, should be chosen by their
respective Legislatures. Those Legislatures
do in that connection, express the voice of
the State, and the Senator who accepts his
election by the Legislature as such ex-
preston of the will OF the State, would
seem u be eslopped from cOntending at any
future time. that the Legislature was not
the proper channel through which the State
should speak 10 him.
1t has been the practice of the Democracy
either to obey instructions, or to resign the
office held from tie people, so that their
constituents might, if they SO desired, select
some one else Who would more truly repre-
sent them. Nor has this been entirely con-
fined to the Dem ocracy. The statesman
who has been called the expounder of
the Constitution, when the wild waves
of abplitio1ism were beating against
the bulwarks of the Constitution, and
ri x,;av
the prospects of receiving instructions
which he could not cOnscientiously obey
SAID he hoped the event might not arise, and
clearly indicated, though he did not ex-
press it, that in such a contingency he
would vacate seat he could not consistent
ly retain.
In the democracy of Greece the people
assembled in mass to discuss, and to Iegis-
late In the Republic of Rome, the govern
ment was one of orders. The patricians
aud the people having conflicting powers
In neither OF these, could representation
such as ours, have been the foundation of
government. Therefore we had to be a
law unto ourselves. Whereas all other
modern republics were based upon pre-ex-
listing teudal system, we had no compromi-
ses to make with abuses, and with privileg-
ed classes, but were offered clear sheet, on
which the charter of human liberty, and
the supremacy of law, might be written.
The people of each independent State |
possessing sovereign power, organized each |
for itself, government of their own; and |
by the compact of union delegated to the
general government such powers and
functions as they Were willing to confide
to it.
In the State governments, as well as in
that of the United States, power was at
tended by correlative responsibility OF
those who from either received authority
and trust. IJ was a wise organism when it /
was adopted, more wise perhaps 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 exter-
nal blows. We have been by the Divine
Master, taught the danger of being led into
In the growth of wealth, and luxury, we
nave seen arise as the consequence.increased
waiting on the necessities
u which was an army OF lobbyists, the
lgents of powerful corporations, of special
htefests, and Of the III oned power. Against
he influence Of these it We're safer to trust
he body OF the people who are beyond the
each OF temptation, than the few who are
immediately exposed to it.
In opposition 10 the right of the cOnstit-
Iency to instruct, | know of no argument
which deserves notice, unless it be that
which denies to the people the requisite
mount of intelligence. 1t that be true,
he cornerstone OF our temple IS crushed,
nd it were vain to attempt to prop the SUI
'erstructure- But is it true? hope not,
think not, and repel the assum ption of
ny man that he has more isdom than the
ggregate of his neighbors.
So sir. | end, as l began, with the express
on OF the belief that the co-existem"e OF I
liberty, and power, require the direct re |
possibility of the representative to his |
constituency. This is the characteristic
nd especial merit of our political system
state aud Federal.
In conclusion, let me express the convic-
ion, that unless this be maintained, and the
'irtue, and intelligence OF the people, keep
'ace with the demand for both, ia the ex- |
rcise of the high power they possess, we {
must look forward to corruption among ;
fficials, and anarchy, to be followed by |
espOtism,
Very truly your friend,
JEFFERs ON DAVIS. ,
By all means, let Senator Coke's bill
polishing the present system of fees to I
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