The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-05-28
THE INsTRUCTING REVOLUTIONS.

From the Aberdeen Examiner.
!, Says one of our respected Mississippi
, contemporaries
"We think it nothing more than justic
to our gallant Senator (Lamar) that tn
resolution instructing him how to vote o
the Silver Bill, passed by the Legislature c
1878, should be expunged from the reeor
We believe that the people will deman
that the resolution shall be eypunge
finally"
This presentation of the issue, to say tn
least, has the merit of frankness. We di
not suppose that it would come up In
form so aggressive as proposition to eX
punge the resolutions passed by the Legis
lature instructing our Senators and re
qucsting our Representatives to vote fO
the reconciliation of silver. We do no
concur with our contemporary tlat th
people will demand thatthe resolutions b
eXpunged. We do not concur with 1t TO
several reasons. One is that they value tn
right of the people to instruct their ser
wants, and to have their will carried out, II
u fundamental and essential condition o
| free government. Another is that Will
the resolutions were in the strict line o
this principle, the bill to restore silver Il
its constitutional functions as none.
metal, was "a good measure, the wisdom
and justice of which have been completed.
vindicated by time and experience.-Jack
son Clarion.
We do not believe that any Mississppar
in the State would be more adverse to tht
introduction of resolution of that char
actcr, than Senator Lamar. Nor did W.
regard that resolution as in any respect on,
of censurc or as indicating lack of conf
dence in any member Of our delegation.
The Examiner was, we believe, the first
journal In the State to demand its passage
and IL was also among the first to come to
the defense of our Senator when his mo.
tiyes were impugned in consequence OF hi,
declining to have his vote dictated by the
Legislature.
In demanding the resolution of instruc.
ton we were actuated by two motives:
First We wished the voice of Missis.
sippi to go to the record as in favor of
what we conscientiously believed to be a
wise and just measure.
Second; Knowing that Senator Lamar as
conscientious in his opposition to the
"Silyer Bill" as we were in its advocacy,
and believing that its friends would need
his vote to carry the measure through the
Senate, We urged the resolution of instruc.
ton in order to relieve him from the un.
pleasant dilemma OF either surrendering
the convictions Of his judgment or thwart-
ing the wishes of majority of his con.
vote for the bill, and knowing that such q
vote would put him in the attitude that
made Garfield ridiculous In the End session
OF the 10th Congress-speaking one way
and voting another-we believed that the
effect Of the resolution would be TO enable
him to record his vote for the Silver Bill,
und er protest.
Had We known our senior Senator us well
then as we do now, We should not have ex-
pected him to take shelter under a subtcr-
fuge, or seek refuge from the personal
odium that might possibly attach TO public
acts that had the approval of his conscience
and judgmcnt-but we would have advo-
Gated the passage of the resolution by the
Legislature all the same, because it eX-
pressed the prevailing sentiment OF the
that resolution to expunge this record
will ever be offered it certainly will not
be by any thoughtful friend of Col. Lamar,
that the expunging will be asked. Nor
will il do for the Clarion or any other jour
nal to contend that the right of Legisla-
lures TO Instruct the Senators of their State
"andto have their will carried out, is a
fandameatdi and esseatidL condition Of free
gogernmsat." We won't begin to endorse
that doctrine, nor will we believe that any
number Of Democrats, Con-
servatives, or Old Line Wings in the State
will stand by IL or echo it.
Why, the idea is monstrous, and is not
claimed as governing rule or principle by
the dominant party, in either organization,
in any State in the Union.
Did the Clarion ever contemplate the
effects and results of the adoption Of
such policy, or think where the general
of the right Of the Legislature
by majority vote to instruct would lead to 2
Suppose for the sake Of argument, that
The Republicans shall control the Legisla-
Iure that will assemble at jackson next
January, and that this Legislature shallscc
it to instruct Senators Lamar and George
10 vote upon some measure under consid-
sratIon by Congress-which will be In ses-
'ion at the time-in opposition to the will
II the party as ascertained in caucus.
Would the Clarion expect them TO obey
his semi-ofiicial directioni
Or, take another illustration, which is
,ased upon a condition Of things actu-
lily existing: Suppose that the States Of
Sew Jersey, Ohio, California and Oregon,
II Of them with Republican Legislatures,
nd each Of them having a Democratic
enator except the last named. which has
wo, should have instructed their senators
o have voted for Gorham and Riddlebar- |
er, in the late contest, and TO have espous- |
d the cause Of Malone, thus contributing |
0 the disintegration Of the Democratic |
arty-would the Clarion have contended |
hat il was their duty to obey or resigns
We anticipate the answer Of the Clarion
hat the circumstances and conditions are
eversed in these instances and that Demo-
ratio Senators are not expected to obey
he orders Of Republican Legislatures =
ut this answer is not sound in law or
,gic. The constitution and laws take no
ote Of parties-the Legislators duly elect
q and sworn, represent the people Of the
tate, the whole people, without regard
party, race. color or previous condi-
on - and n "the right Of the people to
lstruct their servants, and 10 have their
I'M carried out, as a fundamental and es-
initial condition OF free government" IL
we are compelled TO accept the
Dte Of the Legislature as the voice OF the
eople, without pauslng 10 consider the
Dlitical complexion Of the majority.
In fact, II this power is recognized asa
right" compliance with which is can es-
ntial condition Of free government the
litigation Of obedience IL more apparent
hen the character OF the majority In the
legislature chosen subsequent 10 the cleo
on Of the Senators, IL politically changed,
an under other circumstances; for 1t be-
kens q change OF q revolution In the sen
ments Of the people, even though tenn
,rnry. and the SENATOR are compelled 10
INIT that the voice Of the Legislature IL
much entitled 10 weight and credit ~
e voice OF the people when in opposition
their own sentiments ~ n in eonson-
zee with them.
The question Of the remonetization Of
ver IL q dead issue now, for the public
en- Of the country are practically umAni-
uus in accepting the Fat Of the fwo-thirds ,
Congress that passed the Silver Bill over ,