The Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-1852, 1844-09-25

Legislature, be restored to them. |
The Committee proceed, next, to consider the |
Governors election.
By the Constitution of South Carolina the cleo
ton OF the Governor has been vested in the Leg
islature. Will the people admit that this was in
the first instance, wise or proper2 The Execu-
tive, in organizing the State was intended sepa-
rate and distinct branch Of the same Government.
But here he is dependent ansther branch OF
the same Government, the Legislature. They
elect him; they regulate his salaries thcir will.
Are the people prepared admit that his election is
unsafe in their hands Has he patronage, by
which to control, in any way influence his cleo
ton amongst them? None whatever.
1t would seem. then, that consistency, if not the
very wiscst considerations of State policy, called
Tor Il transfer OF this sufferagc. This, above all
others, should be under the control of the people
They are the only legitimate consistency vested
in any other body is anti-dcmocratic and volativc
OF the principles upon which our State Government
was profcsscdy established. All our political
institutions proiessed to be republicau-the peo-
pic. the acknowledged source of all power-thcir
Government, system of agcnccs-their agents
to be directly responsible to them! But, in
South Carolina, what departure from these boast
ed fundamental principles The highest officer
Known IN their Consttotiop is not appointed by
the people. The chief Executiva o: their State
| by the manner ofhis srosnisftesrN becomes vrtn-
any creature OF esses.,sscs ''d'ich OF their
State Government. removed md protected, in his
responsibilities and sense Of official duties to the
| people, by an intervening body of electors, the
| Legislature! 10 account for these Inconsistencies
at the origin of political Institutions is not diff
| hcuit when we reflect that it common then to
regard them all as many experiments. untrird
| and uncertain i'll their stability and duration and
| hcnccthc trainers of all the first State Constu-
tons, acting IN distrust of the wisdom and dscrc-
ton OF the people, to very great extent disliar-
chiscd them, and hcapcd upon the Legislature
and m Ipfuppcp tbn
| that was threatening to the rights and liberties of
| the people and to remedy these first and palpa-
bile errors in the distribution Of the elective fran
chse nearly every one of older States of the first
thirteen, have been reforming their Constitutions
and restoring the right Of suffrage back to the peo-
| pie. And further, not one of the new States, in
the formation of their Constitutions have attempted
to withhold from the people the appointment ofthe
| Governor by direct vote.
1t becomes subject of enquiry. why it is that
south Carolina should be so far behind in the work
ot democratic reform. While nearly all the States
OF the first Union have been rcmodcliny their Cons.
ttuuons and extending the elective franchise upon
the true democratic basis, and making themselves
practically republican. she remains nearly where
she was III the experimental days Of our rcpubli-
can institutions, SO slow is the change of political
opinion among her citizens. And but lately has
her people been permitted to elect some of the
sH6o'd'ndtc officers, such the Sherffs of the Dis
rics, the Clerks of the Courts the Tax Collectors
&c. &c; and in relation these elections too the
opinion was but lately prevalent that the people
were incapable of making these, iudiciously.
But arc the people not awakening to their rights
and duties and interests VIII they stop a. '',s
/ and be content with these small elections when
the great suffrage for the cheif Executive officer
other Stote isS;se 49, s'ena q Its again ask
l ed, ~.'t the i,ss,isf tl,.sz,,,,s
steathy hand these minor and comparatively in
! significant appointments, when the election OF the
highest and most responsible officer of the Stale is
withheld from them, ipvestedsas he is. By the Con-
stitutlon with some of the highest powers and lu-
ties compatible with the rights and liberties of the
people "A bare enumeration of his constitutional
preroSatlvcs and duties will demonstrate the i'm
Porance of his appointment by the people, viz :
hat OF rcpricving and pardoning the citizen after
convection OF his life-hc is the COMMANDMENTS
Chicf OF the armies and navics and militia OF the
State-the chief executive officer of the State pre-
siding over one of the great departments of the
State Government-whose duty it is to see that
the laws are faithfully executed-to recommend
to the Legislature the great Of policy they
should pursue, and the laws they should enact
with power to convene and adjourn that body un-
der certain circumstances.
These, then, are his powers and duties under
the Constitutions; and will it be conceded that
with all these powers and duties and influences,
operating so directly upon the people, that his ap.
polntinent was more wisely vested in the Lcgisa-
ture! Are they prepared to admi, that it is no,
safe under their own control
Inc Committee entertain very different opiu-
ION. They believe that the opinions and wishes of
the great mass OF the people of South Carolina are
now IN favor of reforming this suffrage, and that
general expression of opinion, united action on
thcIr part, Is all that is requisite effect it,
lhe COMMITTEE would here close the subject,
but they arc aware Of the fact that there are
many lndIvduals throughout the country opposed
to any reform whatever, but at the same time, en-
tcralnmg among themselves very dscrcpant and
conilctn9 opinions in regard to the whole matter,
one opposing all constitutional reform, on the
ground that Constitutions too sacred, too time
honorcd and hallowed to be sacrileged by the
meddIesorne hands ofthe people; "bctter to bear"
they say, The evils we have, than fly these we
know not Of" Noli me tangerc, is their maxim
while another argues that Governors duties
IN South Carolina SO limited and unirnportant
mat his office is sinccure, and why trouble
the people with his election, which, as they al
ieEc' 1t IS so dcnoralizng and distraciug 20 the
nlilI IfIt,lty 81. r