The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-13

Puisueu iof the iast twenty years oy uistrlcts,
the South which has under the present appor-
tionment, only LOG districts, against $50 in the
North, will at the next Presidential election by
the new apportionment, have only about loot o
600 Hence the South would have nearly an
equal vote with the North by States in Congress,
but by districts only about one-third-a hope
less and powerless minority.
Nor would an election by the States, in Con-
gress, be less equitable and popular, than BY the
present system. Heretofore the people have
been divided into two parties, about equally. A
majority of each as represented in the couven-
ton dominates, and this majority is not truly re-
presented, for, rs We have shown, district hav-
ing BUTTE Of one party, has delegate, as much
as one having many. But even if the rrpresen-
tation were equitable, bare majority of party
nominates-and that party is only about half the
people. So that, US majority of half the peo-
pie is only something more than fourth of all
the people, the nomination which is eq uivaent
to an election by the stronger party, is the work
Of only about fourth of the people.
Bot now, instead of two great parties, we
have four. The Wing, the Freesoi, the Demo
cratic, ard the Southern party. A plurality gives
| the vote Of the State Massachusetts is now al
most in the hands of the Freesoil party-since
its strength is nearly equal to that of either of
the others. Anything more than half the Free
soil party in Massachusetts may therefore, nomi
nate, and it that party is successful, the electoral
vote of the State W II be controlled practically
| by the Free soil nomination " hich is made by
only one-sixth of the people of the State. The
same principle operates throughout all the States
| in Presidential nomination and election, ac.
| cording to the present mode. But if the cleo
ton goes into the House, a majority Of the
whole delegation of State must give its vote.
Besides, the House is limited TO the choice of
one out of the three highest candidates voted
for by the people.
| 1t has been contended that an election by
Congress would be attended with corruption,
and great outcry was made against that of Mr..
ADAMS by that body. But no satisfactory evi
dence of the truth of that charge as to that
transaction, was ever produced. Members of
Congress are selected from the most RESPONSE
bic, respectable and honest of the people, or the
elective principle is failure. Besides, if they
were obnoxious to suspicion, members Of Ma
tonal Conventions are still moro so. They are
appointed by much smaller constituency
usually a very small proportion of the people of
the district, without much notice or scrutiny,
and generally from a class of men more OK
posed to undue influence A member of Con-
gress has already attained an elevation which it
requires at least considerable bride to jeopar-
disc. But members of convention are not
pointments of mombers Of Congress by Mr.
ADAMS, which were exposed to suspicion. But
there were a very large number Of members otthe
Convention that nominated Mr. Polk appointed
by him, to every variety and grade of office,
many If which could have been no temptation
to members of Congress.
Whilst the North therefore has by the abuse
and usurpation Of power excluded the South
from any share Of the new territory and thus
blighted all hope of increasing her power and
preserving her equality through the colonization
If new States it would be the most unpardona-
bic infatuation in her 10 waive her clear consti-
tutonal right to resort to the election Of Prcsi-
den by the States which would still give her
nearly an equality of power III the Executive
department. Of Government.
| We suppose we need not dwell on the neces-
sity that exists now, more than ever for the South
to assert and maintain all the powers that re.
main to her under this Government.
They are all required for her protection.
! Perhaps however VIC shall be told that if the
South resorts to a particular mode of election
Tor sectional objects, even for self protection, the
North will also exert its power scctionay and will
in any event be the strongest. But, in order to
lefeat the South, the North must be unanimous.
Well, if tho North can be so, we should then
know which she really intends. II, as is alleged,
there is large body Of the Northern people,
some say the great majority of them, still faith
ful to the Constitution, still devoted to the
Union, the South can lose nothing by a Prcsi-
dent of their election. If there is even respect
bile minority, that, will prevent aggression
But if the North cannot unite-if she is divided
between aggressive and conservative Classes,
then the latter will unite with the South in the
election Of President by the States in Con
gress, which they may do very safely, for in the
present and prospective weakness of the South
Nobody will suspect her of attempting an ag-
gres $ve policy, or if she does, nobody in the
North will be found to cooperate in it.
But can the South be united in regulating
the National Convention system, and in support
of candidate for election by the States, in Con,
gress! We answer, better than in any other way
There are now three parties in the South
Wings, Democrats and Southern In all Of the
Southern States, except Kentucky, Maryland
and Delaware, We believe that the Southern
party will be the strongest. In Georgia we set
Il vote of thirty thousand given by the latter