The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-05-28
EXPUNGING LAMAR.

EXPUNGING LAMAR.
The resolution of instruction canrOt ant
must not be eXpunged" Tor various rea
sons The right of instruction is funda
mental and essential condition of popular
representative government, and can never
be surrendered or repudiated while the
doctrine survives that wisdom and the
right to govern reside with the people and
not with their Senators.-Clarion.
Some unnamed but "much respect
ed' cotemporary of the Clarion, hav-
ing suggested that resolutions of in
struction to Mr.. Lamar be expunged,
that journal finds the proposition just
to its hand. Why? Not because it
believes there is anything in it-not
because it believes anybody, even the
writer who suggested, really wants it
done-but because in its raging desire
to expunge Mr.. Lamar, it suits its pun =
poses to excite all the prejudice pos
sible against him on this subject.
On the merits of this question, the
Clarion has had its say, and been more
than answered. In discussion of it
which ran through its columns for
some months, our recollection is that
it was badly worsted. Its opinions
were shown to be opposed by all the
great leaders of both the Wing and
Democratic PARTIES Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, Clay, Calhoun,
Webster and Cass, to say nothing Of
minor and more modern lights. But
it still persists. An English states
man known as "single speech Hamil-
ton," once gave the world remark
able work on Parliamentary Logic"
of which we think the Clarion must
possess copy. "You know the con-
sequences you want; find the prin-
ciple 70 justify them" 1t is an art
to make use of what is doubtful as an
unquestionable MAXIM" IF the
principal thing in question is thor
oughly against you, consider what is
the thing most likely to please, that
makes for you, and dwell upon that"
These are few of its tenets that are
called to mind 10y the adroitness and
fairness of our cotemporary.
AS TO the precise point in hand, how
ever-the proposal to expunge the res
inslructing Mr.. Lamar i'm
plies that the legislature had no right
to pass them. 1t is well known that
this is not Mr.. Lamar's position. In
his Oxford speech, which he made in
October 1870, he used nearly the follow
ing language, as we find it in the
Vicksburg Herald's report, republish-
ed in THE COMET:
''On the subject of the resolutions Of in
sent him by the Legislature, he |
said he desired to be understood as admit
ing that the Legislature has The right TO pass
such resOlutiOns-that Is to say that IL IL |
proper means of making known to Sem
ator its views or the views Of the people |
upon any subject. And he thought Sem
ator should pay great respect to such ac-
tion, and should conform his own views to
il If possible TO do so consistently with his
oath and conscience. But he denied that
the Legislature has the power to issue
direction to u senator to govern
his vote or action. Such power Is incon-
sistcnt with the very first clause Of the
Federal Constitution" etc.
At one time Mr.. Lamar said that
the Legislature has the right to IN
struct Senators in the sense of inform
ing them as to its views, and that this
Is the province of instructions. He
,uofad Mr. Calhann-tha Urna anostla |
Of States Rights-in support of his
position, and showed that he had
never placed the doctrine on any high
ground than this and in fact had ex-
pressed disrespect for it which he,
Mr.. Lamar, did not entertain.
We venture the opinion that the
people of Mississippi are neither fools
nor ingrates. They will not be flatter-
d nor cajoled through their self-love
nto accepting as sound, u doctrine
which has been repudiated by the
yisest, ablest and most patriotic states
men the country has produced; nor
will adroit appeals to their prejudices
nd resentment blind them for a mo-
nent to the faithful services and un-
werving devotion Of a Senator who
ears for her to-day in the Senate Of
he United States head as clear to see
nd comprehend his grand duties as
ny Senator in that body of great .
nen.