Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-11-25

ded by we'll defined line, into TWO grea
portions or divisions, which are strongly
distinguished by their geographical fea.
lures; The character of their productions
and population; nnd the origin of their
inhabitants and manner of settlement.
Ofthese, one extends from the sea.
coast to The falls of the great rivers. and
is called the lower country; and the
other extends thence to the mountains,
and is called the upper country.
They constitute not only the two
greargeographical, but also the two great
political divisions of the state, on whicl,
its political fatrick rests,
Passing over the other features, which
distinguish Them, there arc two which
fro IL their important bearing or The
poinls under consideration, require par
iicuar notice; refer to the great excess
of the slave population of the Que COM
pared with the other, and :he difference
in the origin Of their inhabitants and
manner Of settlement. They both have
had great influence in forming aud mod
flying its constitution and laws, and
placing the two divisions in the political
relations, ,G which they stand TO each
other, as will appear in The sequel. With
these remarks shall now proceed 10
make good the position, that the adop-
ton OF a gcneral ticket would not be
fair or just between them regarding 1le
state in its federal relations.
The federal constitution, in reference
TO Presidential elections provides, that
"each state shall appoint, in such man.
ner, as the Legislature thereof may
direct a number equal 10 the whole num-
Der of Senators aud Representatives. 10
which ,llr Stale may be entilledin Con"
gress;" |, also provides that the "Rep-
rescnla,ives shall be apportioned among
The several states of the Union accor-
ding 10 their respective numbers, which
shall be determined by adding to the
whole number Of free persons, including
those bound 10 serve for a term of years
and excluding Iudiaus not taxed, thee
6flhs Of all other persons"
Ii follows from these provisions, that
the federal numbers OF The slave holdings
states, and consequently sIseiE reiaa is]s
wright in the House Of Representatives
and the electoral College, and through
them, in The federal Government, de.
pends more or less. on their respective
slave population. That Of this state,
depends more IN itlhan any other, be-
cause sin. has The greatest number 10
proportion Of that description Of popu.
la,ion. Its tsde,ai number by the press
en-, census is 463,582 # which The free
poaulaiion makes 267 $50; and its
slave population 1876 222.-Iis aggrc
gate ftderal number, divided betwec"
the lower and the upper country would
give to the former 246.l80. and To lhe
latter 2l7 .4O2, and a correspond excess
to the lower over the upper in the weight
of the state in the edera government.
But their respective weight is very une>
qualy affected by their slave population
in consequence Of its vc'y unequal dis
,rbution between the two divisions. or
the l9o. 222, which the slave population
adds to The federal weight of the state,
the upper division adds but 66,40s,
while tile lower, adds 1854, being
more than 2,o one on the par, Of the
latter, The case is the reverse in refe- :
renee to The number Gao, 1907 which
the flee population adds. or that the
lower division adds but 1866, against
$50, ,994, which the upper adds. These
estimates are throughout absed on dis
,ricts; all lying in the pol,iou Of the state
below the falls of the rivers, wholly or
principally are included in the lower di.
vision, and those above, in like manner,
in the upper.
Now as the voters consist entirely Of
the free population. and as the number
Of voters in the respective divisions is
probably very nearly in proportion tc
their respective free population, il is
manifest, should the general ticket be
adopted, that the upper division, which
gives the state less weight in the federal
government than the lower, would have
decidedly the power Of controlling the
appointment Of electors, 10 consequence
of having decided majority of voters
That mode Of appointing, which
would lead to such result, would be
neither fair nor just towards The lower
division, no ont who has any regard Il
equity justice will deny. III do no
greatly mistake, the upper country ha
loo deep sense Of both TO wish il, ever
fit had and should tempt to exercise it
the lower has too much spirit TO acoui