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

elect many, especially over a large exleh
of country, it does not in fact, constitute
an election, but is a mere deusion, I'M
deserving the name. The reason is, ir
the first place, that i, is impossible fol
the great body oilhe voters to be guided
by their individual knowledge in selec.
J ting The candidates. either from personal
acquaintance or reputation, which is
/ Indispensable TO that exercise of judg-
ment in making selection necessary TO
constitute an election. And in them
admitting i, to be possible, and that the
mass Of voters could be guided by their
individual choice in making the scec-
tion,- the scattering Of the votes would
be so great that the result, as 10 who
would have the plurality Of votes, would
be mere accident, and no indication of
the voice Of the Stale. Take our own
State for illustration. 1t is entitled al
present To appon, nine electors; and It's
present number of legal voters may be
estimated without pretending to preci,
sion, al $4,000, scalteld owe: surface
say oi $50 miles. In an election by
general ticket, each voter votes for. the
whole number TO he elected. Nuw, |
hold il 10 be Impossible with al the in
leIigence of our people for the great
mass of them, 10 form a ticket from
their own, knowledge, either personally
Or by reputation, Of nine persons, TO be
electors, duly distributed over its various
parts, who may be fairly consdele ed sep
ara,eIy as representing the voice of the
several portions, in which they may
reside, or jointly, the voice of the whole
statel Indeed, ! nigh. take far more
restricted position, and affirm with truth,
NOT only, that the great mass of voters
have not tho knwledge to make Out
such ticket for themselves, but that
even the most intelligent and bes! in>
formed, would be a loss to do it.
But waving this difficulty, and admit
ling, that they have sufficient intelligence
ITO make oul each a satisfactory ticket
for himself, The othe. objection, Eot less
difficult would remain TO be surmouuted,
that is the scattering would be so grfat,
thai the result, as 10 who might receive a
plurality of votes and be elected, would
be a mere accident, and no Indication Of
the voice Of the state. The diversity of
opinion 10 the qualification ard >uia
bleness, would be as g.eal, almost, as
The numbrrof voters. Few tickets would
have the same names on them, and the
great body oftle state, would be disai,-
pointed and dissatisfied with the result.
1t would be impossible for suci a state
Of things long to continue. The first
| consequence would be for a few promi-
ncnt and influential individuals. to enter
into secret concert, to con,!oI The
detection, which need not be very cx-
tensivc, when the scattering would be so
great. The next woul! be, for others
to enter into like concert 10 defeat them;
and fnaIly ,he,e would grow out of this
state OF ,liiaes two parties, with all the
usual patty machinery, OF caucus, con-
venlions, ciques and managers 10 con.
troll tue election. The whole would he
put into ac,iv" operation every four
years, on The approach of the Presiden-
idcn,ial election, and each party would
make out full licke, by what would be
called slate convention, and every
voter, whether he approve of ii or not
would have to vote for one or the other,
or 10 throw away his vole on ticket,
formed without concert, and which
would have no chance OF success.
I,is thus, by the operation Of causes
growing out of the very nature Of gem
eral, ticket, it would, if j, should be
adopted, end in delusion. Ins!ead If
giving the election, directly TO the peo-
! Pile, as its supporters assume, il would
! divest them oft, and place it under the
control Of intermediate and irresponsi.
ble cliques and poli,ica managers, as
certainly as it is adopted. Thaf ever
has and must be its result, and that by
laws, as uniform and certain in the
moral world, as gravlation is in the
physical
But setting aside this objection, ane
assuming that the great mass OF she vo
J tiers of the state are sufficiently intelli.
gent and well informed, each 10 form &
ticket for himself, and that their votes
J could always be sufficiently concentra'
! ted, without the intervention Of party
machinery, 10 secure a majority oil the
! votes fol the nine electors $, there woult
still remain an insurelable reason agains
, adopting il; because, as stated, ii woul'
disturb and iniuriousIy affect the state
botb in iiy federal and interior relations