The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1846-12-02
From the Pcndleton Messenger.
mr. Cnlhoun's Opt, lan OF tito General
g.'E& Ticket SYSTEM. ~ st35

mr. Calhoun's Opfl lan OF tito General
Ticket System. E 81.
FoRr Hill, Nov. 1876.
GEnrL.aES:-I am in the receipt or your note Of
the 18th ult, in which you xprcss dcsre To have
'ny views in relation the proposed change in our
state Constituton reference 10 the election OF the
President and Vice President. In compliance wit.
y'ur. request, herewith enclose communication.
In which they arc briefly skc,chcJ To have done
full Justice in reference TO Tho many and important
questions involved in The SUBJECT, would lave made
my communication ton prox.
anve given it the present shape, rather ttun
that Of formal letter in reply 10 your note. because
itlca me at Liberty to arrange my views in conf0rni
" 10 the order which the subjec, required
WITH grca, respect,
uln, &c. &c. &c.
J.C. CALHOUN
N1esars. james L. Orr, William Sloan, A. E,ins
and F.. w. S, ,mmes
ltw"uld seem from the public prints,
That large majority nf those, who are dis.
p"sed To change ihe. present mode Of an
pointing electors nr President and Vice
President Of the United States, are in Ca.
vonr Of a. general ticket. III lieu OF the pre-
sent mode ofappninting tIiemaby tho Leg
isIatnrc. They rest their opposition IL .he
latter, and support OF the former, on The
broad principle, lha, all power belong to
tie People; that they should exercise il
directly, without the: intervention Of any
intermediate agency, whe never they can
properly do SO. and that whenever they
can SD exercise it, il would be an act;or
nsurpation.onit the par, Of The Government
10 withhold il.
From this, they conclude, Thai The pow
or Of app"in,ing electors should he given
20 tho people directly: and .ha, the H.o.le
"f appointing should be, 10 rlec. ,hcm by
a general ticket. Those. on The contrary.
WIN are opposed TO the pro- oscd change,
ar the mode proposed 10 he substituted in
lieu "fthe present. admit the principle; bul
deny that il would give tho nrpninlmrn,
IN The people to elect them by a general
ticket; or that, il it would, they could PRO.
petty exercise il in this case.
The difference then, between them is
REDUCED - Two questions; Would the
adoption of the general ticket give The
power To the people in renIi.y 10 appoin,
electors! And. iii woul.., is this case, in
which il could he property cxercsctl On
their decision, it Is manifest. The pr"priety
ni adapting the general ticket must depend.
Ifii should uppcar on investigations, tha,
It would not in form only. but in truth give
the rower directly 10 the people, and thai
they might exercise it, without, disturbing,
or injuripnsly affecting tho state. in its fc-
deral 0rsinterior relations, then it nigh,
with Proprietybe adopted. Blu, f The con.
drary sloull}appear, in either nf The cases,
then il could not. Thus far, there can be
40 difference ofiopinion.
As one of The peaplc, taking the pro.
sonndests stsintereslin whatever may .nucl,
the liberty or prosperitysnf,lhe stnte, 1 have
investigated these eimpurtant ues,ionis with
,he greatest care and Sdelibera,inn. f5r The
guidance oflmys own curse, and have come
10 the conclusion adverse TO The general
ticket in teferencetOb both questions. The
investigation has made deep imprcssinn
on me, that,so. .far from Sgiying the power
10 the people, il would bethe mos. eiIec,u.
al way that could be devised Of ,liyastinp
them ofit.aiil transferring i. to party'asiaSin.
ayers anic cliqnes, and that it'll were nos.
sible to osovcrcome that objection, Il ough,
not s.illsto be adopted. because it&woHld
deepiysdisturb and i,juriously affect The
state in its sfedera! andipierior relations. Il
now remains, in compliance with your re.
luest.5to state the reasons, witch have
bronghs me 70 these conclnsiNns, which ]
hall'next proceed TO do withou, fur,hefre.
marks. FIJI
The first and radical objection, 10 n gen-
eral ticket is. that where many are 10 elect
many, especially over "a large extent Of
country. it does moi in fact, consii,u,esai, 4,
election, but is mere delusiGn. undesery.
ing tbe{name. The reason, is in the frs,
place, that il issimpossibIe fora the great
body Of the voters TO be guided by Their
Individual kdowledge in selecting the eau.
diaaies, either ffornspersonala acquaintance