Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-11-25
NO. A..

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powell. without reference The form, OF
taking it, and as much as il would be in.;
creased, lin consequence of ats connection
. with the Presidential election, its increase
from the form that election, should il be-
by general ticket, would exceed both of;
the Others combined. Its vast increase
from this sourcs would be derived from a
consequence, which, as already shown,
wonld follow ils adoption, that is That i
would introduce the caucns system. with
all lis train Of party managers, with their
cliques aud machinery. The system once
introduced, although for the particular
purpose of nominating electors. would not
be slow in extending its jurisdiction tar
beyond. bringing under it the nomination, ?
OF the Governor. Lieutenant Governor,
Senators in Congress, Judges aud all other >
officers, elected by the Legislature. Bat
just 10 the same proportion, that It might
extend its Jurisdiction, would the power
Of the numerical majority. Of which iii
but the exponent, be extended. When 10
this it is added, that the reasons assigned
for appointing electors by general ticket
equally apply to the election Of the Gov >
eruor, and Lieutenant Governor and ;
Judges, in the same manner, il is not I'd /;
| be doubted, that. If it should be adopted !.
for the one, it would be ultimately for the
others. Indeed. it is already urged, that
the TWO first should be SO elected.--By the
time that is done. the compromise which
places The two divisions oftbe state in Ihe
relation Of perfect political equality; will
have been utterly destroyed and The pow
ers of the state and government concenira-
ted ID that, which has the greatest number
Of voters. ltwOuld an eii,ire aud disas:
trous political revolution. Instead Of tho
presen, excellent constitutional govern =
menl, which makes ours, 10 its ifue mean
ing, Republic, or commonwealth, that is
the government Of the whole. we would
have an absolute and despotic democracy;
the government Of one portion OF The
| state over the other-lhe one that has The .
creates, number Of voles, over that which
the fewes,. No greater curse could befai
the state, including both. divisions-thee
one which would acquire the power, and
the oiher which would lose il: II would Z.
corrupt the one and debase the other. .v2
But we are told, in order 10 induce Us TO
take step SO fatal; that all o,hef. s,a,ea
OF The union have adopted the generaltirket:,
for tie appointment Of electors,--lslsS ,rue
tThat such iisfffe case; but ii5is equally 60
that its adoption was rot The result; Of un-ii
biased and deliberate preference. II; was
not SO originally. have not at hands the
means Of ascerlaiuing the mode adopted
| at first by lie several states. but nhIessi
greatly mistake. do moi err ia asserting
that the great majority appointed their 2
electors. either by Districts or their Legis-
a,ures, and few indeed BY general ticket:
Tha, all since except this state; have adop-
ted il, is attributable, partly, to the violent
party struggles, growing out Of the Presi-
iden,ia election. and partly TO that ten
dency OF all popular governments 10 cou-
ceu,rate powe; in the Hands Of lhe mere
numerical majority, as already explained.
In ,hese strU sies. one slate alter another.
| Of those ,ha, had adopted the distric. sys;
tom, resorted in their eager desire for VIC
triy, 10 the genera! ticker; in order 10 con
ccn,rae their power; while the states.
which. u, first, appointed by their Legis:
laures gradually yielded 10 the tendency
towards the numerical majority. That
| this STATE has been able 10 resist success
fully the operation oil such powerful causes
is attributable to The superiority Of her
Constitution: Long may ii enable her 10
continue her successful resistance, and,
instead Of following the evil example of
others, may il be her patriotism aud pride
10 ba:an example 10 tlierns even il it should
remaiu, to be as itnow is, a solitary oue-
With these weighly and TO my mind
overwhelming reasons against the adop:
ton Of The general ticker, Iwould here
close the discussion; as far as regards fit.
as being wholly out of the question, were
it not for the deep conviction have, az.
10 the disastrous consequences to tho
state, which would follow, should Il teF
unfortunately adopted. Under its influ:
ence, | feel ii 10 be duty, in replying TO
your dote, to omit no malerisl feasoG
asainstit. There still remaiGs one such,
with which l shall close this portion of the
Ediscussiun of the subject. S. =
Those who support a general ticket
seem to ME. with all due Difference. TO
j res, its adoption on series Of unfoundeti
assumptions. They assume, in the first
place, that the federal Constitution vests
ihe appoiDtment Of electors in The people.
4 But such is not the fact. On the contrary,
Ill expressively provides, that each state
shall appoint its electors, with no other
; restrictions. except that the manner shalt
be as directed by its Legislature, and that
no Senator, or Representatives or person
holding an office Of irns,, or profit under
the United STATES shall be an elector. Il
is, then, clear, the assumption, that The
} federal Constitution gives he appointments
/ 10 the people. rests on another assumptions
+ thai The people arc the state. Il is indeed
"a a ~