The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1906-03-01
Senatorial Responsibility.

First and last there has been much
discussion OF whether senator or rep
resentative should obey instructions
In lS2l. when the presidential election
was impending in the house and Hon,
John Scott of Missouri, sole represent
ative of that giant young common
wealth. was about TO cast the vote OF
the state for John quincy Adams con-
trary to the wishes of the state. Colo
mel Thomas Hart Benton. then n sena-
Tor in congress. wrote one of the finest
letters in political literature. protesting
against his 80 doing on the ground that
he should reflect the will of his con-
stituents and predicting Scott's p0liti-
cal destruction if he voted for Adams,
and Scott was destroyed politically. ac-
cording to Rentom's prophecy. Every
man and boy in America ambitious TO
hold representative Office should com
nit Benton's letter to memory and act
upon it. But mirable dictu, When
in 1S49 the Missouri legislature in
structed Benton how TO vote on most
important matter he scornfully refused
10 Obtt anu NtDN lbt loh''
Scott travelled before him.
TO my mind the question presents no
difficulties whatever. 1t is the plain
and imperative duty of any man hold
ing representative position in any ca
pacity and in any body to honestly and
coulageously reflect the sentiments OF
his people when those sentiments are
known to him or to resign and let some
body else do il il he cannot conscien.
tiously do so. That's precisely what
Senator John Quincy Adams and Sena-
tor John Tyler did at Important june
lures. They seemed to be ending their
political careers prematurely and
abruptly, hut both lived to hold the
presidential Office No man is forced
to become representative or senator
in congress; quite the contrary. My
readers Will please understand that /
am not arguing for a Slavlsh obedience
to instructions by constituents or to Il
blind obedience TO their wishes, but
they have n perfect right TO have their
wishes voted and voiced, and our whole
theory Of government IL based on that
idea. lf senator or representative
| cannot conscientiously obey he always
has the perfect remedy of resignation.
| ann fully aware that the idea is grow
ing In certain quarters that the crea-
tnre may become greater than the ere.
ator, hut that idea Is erroneous. Ger
tainly there Is no compulslon on II man
to continue Ia hold an Office given him
by the people when his opinions have
undergone a change and theirs have
not
All this Is predatory 10 the following
interesting editorial on the subject
! from the Washington Post:
| The discussion In the senate Wednesdsv
between Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Patterson
| touched on one point that has never been
| settled In our country. and that Is
whether senator is obliged TO obey the
instructions OF his state as expressed by
| the legislature, Both the senator from,
| Texas and the senator from Colorado are
f, agreed that he should obey or resign.
| That was the view OF the "oid SOUTH for
II saVors OF state sovereignty" II wa
| the view OF Stephen A. Douglas. who
spoke against Il proposition that lie voted
for under INSTRUCTION" OF the Illinois
/ legislature and It Is curions to note thai
on that occasion he WAS commended by
Jefferson Davis, though the measure he
! voted for and spoke against was the WI.
mot proviso. that was as odlous 10 the
south OF that period as the Lodge cleo
tion law was 70 the south OF twoscore
years later. Allen q. Thurman carried the
doctrine so far that. as a member OF The
house OF. representatives, he obeyed tAe
request OF the Ohio legislature to cast
/ his vote against his party.
But greater than Douglas or Davis or
Thurman or Bailey, q greater than ali OF