The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1846-12-02

Sthe gre w
he sii entire
3lutlo fSssil exc ellenk
scnnslil ,itisna which .Makes
soilrs, jim gits true n,ssat,in sepnbllc or
4 the g yer,fnentoi
wh5is ould nye$al, ute and q
.lsspaiic demo ;s-tllc rl,t'sl't of
one ,nIofS.he 60. ;oy er the the otl,sr-
liz esnne tfa1 has /; Inc; greatest snumbe aof
! votes. q oyef iha. ..which.hn fewest. No
greute cI,rse could befall the Stale. inclu-
ding botE liiyisions s--, lie one (which voull
! Jacauire tbs pow wer, and The other which
would ilnse ii. would cerruPt4the tone
ana sdebase tho ether. .:3s3.s
ss But We aretol,l sin order Ia. induce zus
10 take q step sd fatal, that all other States
! pfihe Unionihave atloptedthe general tick
4 4et fur Tho appointment Of electors. II is
Str,,e That such is The case; 5a. ~: equally
! 50, thatti.sS adoption was not the resultSofl
sunbiaasel and deliberate preferences. II
was not so originally. have not at hand
fhe means of 6scertnin;ng the mode adop-
tell at firsl by. the several States, but unless,
Il greatly mistake, u do not err in asserting
that the great majority appointed their
ELECTORS, either by Districts or their Legis-l
iatufes, anu few tndeeu. by general ticket.
That all since. except this State. have
adopted it, is attributable, partly, to the
yiolentparty strug giles, growing out ef The
Presidential election and partly 10 that
tendency Of all popular governments to
concentrate power in the hands Of The mere
numerical majority as already explained,
In these struggles, one slate after another,
ofihosc that adopted the district, system,
resorted, in their eager desire for victory,
10 The general ticket in order to concen-
itrate their power; whilcs,he states. which.
at first, appointed BY their Legislatures
gradually yielded 20 the tendency towards
The numerical minority. Tha, this s.n,e
has been able to resist successfully the
operation Of such powerful causes is attri-
hutable 10 the superiority Of her Constitu
tion. Long may itsenable her to continue
her successful resistance, and, instead OF
following the evil example of others, NAV
it be her patriotism and prize 10 be anaex-
ample to them, even if itshould remain, 10
be as it now is. solitary one.
! With these wcighty and to my mind
overwhelming reasons against the adoption
Of the general ticket, would here clnse
X the discussion, as FAR as regards il, ns being
wholly out Of the question, we're il not f,r
the deep conviclionI 1 have, as to the dis
astrous consequences 10 the state, which
would follow, should it be unfortunately
adapted. Under its influence, feel j. IL
be duty, in replying 10 } our mole, to o,ni.
no material reasnn against it. There still
remains one such, with which shall close
this portion Of the discussion Of the sub.
ject.
Those who support a general ticket
aeem 10 me. with all duo dafe renee. IN eat
Its adoption on series Of unlounde,ia as
sumplions. They assume, inahe first place.
that the federal Constitution vests the ap.
pointment Of electorsin e people. BuI
such is not the fact. On the contrary, il
expressly provides, that each state shall ap-
point its electors, with no other restric-
tions, except that the manner shall he as
directed by its Legislature, and that no
Senator, or Representative, nr person hold.
ing an Office Of trust, or profit under the
United States shall be an eleclor. II is,
then. clear. the assumption. that lhe fetler.
al Constitution gives the appointment, tn
the people, rests on another assumption
that the people are the state. 1t is indeed
true sthey are, regarded In their nrga,,ic
character, as constituting body politic.
In thaIsense, the people are the slate, and
the state the people. but no other. 1t is
not, however, in that sense, that the adyo-
Gates Of the general ticket use it. On the
contrary, they evidently apply i, TO the
peope,4in their unorganizcd character
as mere individuals,-as sense, III which the
people are never called tho state, nor The
state the people. e. say evidently, because
the effect Of adopting i. would be, 10 give
the appointment 10 u mere majority, re-
garded as so many individuals. without the
slightest reference to the peculiar poli,i.
cal organization OF our state, or even an
attempt TO adjust thetpowcr OF appointing
the electors, SO as to Conform to it. But
tho assumption, that tic people nre the
state that sense, is us unioundc,l, us the |
first on which il rests, that the Constilu-
ton gives the appointment to them. But
even this unfounded assumption rests on
another equally SO; TINT the numerical
majority is the people. and on thut rests
the conclusions that the adoption OF The
general ticket; which would give the pow
er;to Il woull be the same as giving il tn
thepseple. AndStLis brings us 10 The final
Tandradical assumpionJ which lies al the
bottom Of tho whole series. thar the ma.
jority has the natural, inherent and inde-
feasible right Of gnverning.-up assump-
lion not only utterly unfounde,i, but Of The
most dangerous character. aud in direct
conflict with The Constitution uf this state
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