By 1823, the nation had grown to over 9 million people with six new states and many new districts added. President James Monroe was stating his final two years as President, with many new members in both House and the Senate. So in his 1823 State of the Union address. President Monroe shared these words of wisdom for 18th United States Congress. They are as valuable today, as they were in 1823
1. Let your actions be Transparent, meet with your constituents. The people must not be "kept in the dark". Whether men fail by error , or are misled by passion, let the light of day expose this to their constituents. Lawmakers need to spend time with their constituents back at home. Meet with every day citizens who are "in the pursuit of their ordinary avocations". Avoid the special interests, and rather spend time with those who are "calm but deeply interested" in the events and conduct of what happens in Washington.
"The people being with us exclusively the sovereign, it is indispensable that full information be laid before them on all important subjects, to enable them to exercise that high power with complete effect. If kept in the dark, they must be incompetent to it. We are all liable to error, and those who are engaged in the management of public affairs are more subject to excitement and to be led astray by their particular interests and passions than the great body of our constituents, who, living at home in the pursuit of their ordinary avocations, are calm but deeply interested spectators of events and of the conduct of those who are parties to them."2. Listen to what your constituents have to say. No matter what role a representative of the people fill, each is responsible for understanding the will of the people. The more they understand the needs of the citizens, the better they can judge the "wisdom of the policy pursued". Listen to the advice of the people. Let them be your impartial or "dispassionate" judge. Let the praise or "approbation" of the people be the "most gratifying reward" for virtuous action, and let their "censure" or the fear of losing their votes be the best security against the "abuse of their confidence".
"To the people every department of the Government and every individual in each are responsible, and the more full their information the better they can judge of the wisdom of the policy pursued and of the conduct of each in regard to it. From their dispassionate judgment much aid may always be obtained, while their approbation will form the greatest incentive and most gratifying reward for virtuous actions, and the dread of their censure the best security against the abuse of their confidence."3. Consider all Sides of an issue objectively. Each member of Congress should avoid making decisions based upon their own personal judgement, but rather gather information from all sides, and consider the sound judgement of those who are able to see things objectively. By doing so, only then can "local prejudices and jealousies" be avoided. Only then, can a truly national policy be achieved that fosters "care and protection to all the great interests of our Union".
"Their interests in all vital questions are the same, and the bond, by sentiment as well as by interest, will be proportionably strengthened as they are better informed of the real state of public affairs, especially in difficult conjunctures. It is by such knowledge that local prejudices and jealousies are surmounted, and that a national policy extending its fostering care and protection to all the great interests of our Union, is formed and steadily adhered to."4. Deal with foreign powers fairly, and with a thorough understanding of world affairs. If we as a nation are expected to be treated fairly in our trade and in our alliances with other countries, law makers need to have deep and thorough knowledge of foreign powers. Equally important is an intimate knowledge of our current state of affairs regarding public defense, resources, revenue and economy. As Monroe put it, "It is by rendering justice to other nations that we may expect it from them. It is by our ability to resent injuries and redress wrongs that we may avoid them."
"A precise knowledge of our relations with foreign powers as respects our negotiations and transactions with each is thought to be particularly necessary. Equally necessary is it that we should for a just estimate of our resources, revenue, and progress in every kind of improvement connected with the national prosperity and public defense. It is by rendering justice to other nations that we may expect it from them. It is by our ability to resent injuries and redress wrongs that we may avoid them."
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