Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-11-19
MlSCelgM2se0aES.
From The Southern Chronicic

ELECTION OF ELECTORS BY THE PEo-
pLE.-We iusrsi. To dav, The skeleton OF
bill giving the election of Electors Of Presi
dent aud Vice President of the United
States. toIIle People of South Carolina.-
We know If no goud aud valid reason why
this pnwer should be withheld from them,
while it is cnjnvcd bv the citizens of every
other Slate in the Uniun. 1t is maxim,
identified with the very existence of re-
pubIics, that po,ccr should be kept as near
the people as possible; aud experience has
amply manifested, that tho people are less
liable to hecumc corrupt Than their leelsa-
tors. The present system Ol electors has
many evils connected wilhit, pot the least
Of which is, that = few designing and iuflu.
entail leaders in the Legislature may, at
any time, defral the wishes of majority
of the people CT the Sta,c. But il is use
less for US 10 multiply arguments in its IA
vor now, or to shew the li'ilty the pre-
sent system. as we doubt not it will be am
ply discussed by ADLER pens. We snljnin
the Bill, and commend il 10 the a1lIen'lon
ofthe Legislature.
A BILL
To e.irc the Elections Of Electors of PrcS'-
dent and Tice Pre$ident Of the United
States, to the People.
SECTION |. b. Il cnacted By The Honor.
able fhr Senate and House n Representa-
fips. no,c met and sitting IN General .4s'
sembtv, That the citizens oG 'hi> Common
wealth, qualified Iovote al III" general cleo
tio = .,fthi> State, shall, at'he! several pla-
cr. nj election. un the Scc",': Monday III
Ny,rmhtr, in ihe year H:;r '!nusand 'igh'
hundred and forIy-lour. aud o. ll' same
Mun!av in every fourth year thereafter,
eier, q >"llicirnr numhrr al persons 10 he
ELECTORS Of a President aud Vice Presldcn,
of r!,r United Sr1tes
SEC Ind be IL further enacted, That
il shall he III" .luty of the sheriff, Of the re-
srec,ivs Districts, 10 give like notice of
sucl. election. as is required in cases of c.
lec,ian of members Of The Legislature of
this State.
SEC. 5. At every such election every
qualified citizen shall be entitled TO vote,
b. delivering Ia the proper office, writ
ten or printed ticket, containing the names
of number OF persons cqua! ~ The whole
number of Senators and Representatives,
10 which the State may lie entitled in The
Congress oE II" United States.
SEC. 4. {! shall he the duty Of The Sc
crclary u! STATE. on receiving 'hc returns
of the election fer Electors, as hereinafter
directed. 10 lay them before the Governor.
who Sha! ennmcratc and ascertain HE
number OF vr'rs given Inr each person 50
voted :;pr, and shall cause Q notification of
his election, 10 hc delivered tn each per-
sun SO 2i.csrn, on az nctnrr the la>i We'd
tesdav in,hc inGE'h OF November, next,
after such election.
SEC. ). The Eier;"rs cl,ner: rs aforesaid.
shall aSscnIe ~ c searo Of Government
Of this commonwealth, at IL o'clock "f the
d.y which is. or n,av he. directed by the
Cvrsre,- "f .be J:.:,A.l Ssn'"s, md shall
then and there perform The duties cnjoined
upon them ssthc Constitution aud laws Of
the United States.
SEC. 6. It'any such Elecor shall die, or
from anv cause fail 10 attend At The seat Of
Government, at the time appointed by
law, the Electors present, shall proceed 10
chuose r,ra roce, person 10 fill the vacan-
cy occas;ourd thereby: and Immediately
ailer such choice, the name Of the person
40 chosen shall he trauSmi'tcl by The pre-
siding officer Of The College. to the Cover
nor, whose duty it shall be forthwith 10
cause notice in wiring to be givenro such
person Of his election, and the person :"
elected (aud not the person in whose place
he shall have been cho>cn) shall he an f.
lec,or, and shall. with the other Electors,
perforrn the duties enjnued on them, as
aforesaid.
SEc.7. Every Eicctor aforesaid shall re-
ceive from The Treasury of TIE Upper Di-
vision, the sum of thrco dollars for every
day spent in travelling to or remaining AT.
and returning from, The place OF meeting
aforesaid And The contingent expenses
Of the Electoral college. not exceeding fli-
" dollars in amount, shall likewise he paid
by the said Treasurer in both cases. upon
warrants drawn by the presiding officer o!
the college.
SEC. s. That all acts heretofore enacted.
repuguant TO this act. are hereby repealed.