The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-06-02
THE RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION.
The Aberdeen Examiners Argument ia
Prove that it is - MOnstrOus.'
Aberdeen Examiner.

Aberdeen Examiner
1t will not do for Tue CLARION or any other
journal to contend that the right of Legisla
lures to lnseruct the Senators Of their State
"aud to have their will carried out. Is II I'm
ddueHtat and essential condition Of free sorern-
meHt. We wont begin to endorse that doc
! TRUE. nor will we believe that any consider
! able number Of Democrats, Conservatives. or
! Old Line Wings in the State. will stand by II
or echo it. Why, the idea is monstrous, and
/ is not claimed as governing rale or princi-
! pie by the dominant party, in either organi-
zation. in any State in the Union. Did THE
/ CLARION ever contemplate the effect and re
suits Of the adoption of such apolicy, or think
/ where the general recognition of the right of
| a Legislature by majority vote to INSTRUCT
would lead to suppose for the sake of nrgu-
ment that the Republicans shall control the
| Legislature that will assemble at Jackson next
January, and that this Legislature shall see
| fit TO Instruct Senators Lamar and George to
vote upon some measure under consideration
by Congress which will be in session at the
time-in opposition TO the will of the party
as ascertained in caucus. Would THa CLAIR
ION expect them to obey this semi-official di-
rection? Or take another illustration which
is based upon condition of things actually
existing; Suppose that the States Of New Jer-
sey, Ohio, California and Oregon, all Of them
with Republican Legislatures, and each OF
them having Democratic Senator eIcep' the
last named, which has two should have in
structed their Senators TO have voted for Cor
ham and RIddlebdTger, in the late contest,
and to have esp0used the cause Of M8hone,
thus contributing to the disentegratiou OF the
Democratic Party-wou.d THE CLARION have
contended that il was their duty to obey
resign We anticipate the answer of The
CLARION that the circumstances and condi-
tons are reversed in these instances, and that
Democratic Senators are not expected - obey
the orders Of Republican legislatures but
this answer is not sound in law or logic. The
constitution and laws take no note Of parties
the Legislators duly elected and sworn, re-
present the people of the State, the whole pe)-
pie, without regard to party. race color or
previous condition. and if 'the right Of the
people instruct their serv ants and to have
their will carried out fundamental and
essential condition Of free government is
recognized, we are compelled 10 accept the
vote OF the Legislature As the voice of the pe0-
pie, without pausing to consider the political
complexion Of the majority.
In fact, il this power y Teoogized As a
right, compliance with which is IAN essen
tial coBdi.io Of free government the obli-
gaticn Of obedience is more apparent when
the character of the majority in the Lcgisla-
ture chosen subsequent to the election ~ the
Senators, Is politically changed, .han under
other circumstances fos II 6etokens a change
or revolution ia she sentiments of the peo-
pie, even though temporary and the Sena-
tors are compelled TO admit that the voice OF
the Legislature Is as much entitled to aei ght
and credit as the voice Of the penple when in
opposition to their owD sentiments as if in
consonance with them.
The question OF the reconciliation of sill
yer is a dead issue now, for the public men OF
the country are practically unanimous in ac-
cepting the fat OF the two-thi rds Of Congress
that passed the Silver Bill over the veto Of
Hayes tvo-thirds that included President
Garfield in the House of Representatives
and his Secretary Of the Treasury, Secretary
Of the Interior and Stanley Matthew's, in the /
Senate II was never q political measure or
il could not have become law, for while il
was vetoed By Republican Usurper in the
White House 1t must not be forgotten that it
vas sent to him with the approval Of a Repub
lean Senate.
Its opponents were not mainly men who ep-
posed it monometalists; remember that
With many of them as with Senator lamar, .
he question was not - 10 the restoration Of
liver to the oqrreIeY OF the country, but a. +
O the proper. honest, and legitimate weight T
f the silver dollar. 1t was question as TO 4
whether the proposed legislation put eighty I
I'VE cents, or 8 hundred cents into the new \
DIN and Col. Lamar c0uld not see Ia mis- +
oint Of view-how a resolution VI the Legis- .
atuFe Of his State couils add the extra fifteen +.
.nts to the weight of the dollar that the Sill (
sr hill proposed TO issue.