The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-10
pO LITICAL,
The Electoral QslestiOnl.-Tl he
Light of ComtcMporaaacoNs
IT t4E 2.EssE VHSsrnry


don us five make statement which
may be regarded as personal i'll ref.
erence to ourselves.
If there be any in South Carolina
who would detract aught from the
high and illustrious name of Calhoun,
We belong not to that number. If
there be any who, had they dared,
would have assailed him whilst living;
any who basely sought to tarnish the
lustre of his fame, or dim the glory
of Ibis renown, we are not Of that
number. If there be any, we say,
who did, or who would have done
these things, but who, now that he is
no longer living, would us, his great
aud iconsecrated name to subscrve
party end or party triumph, we are
not of that number. For more than
twenty years, beginning even with
our minority, we claim to have been
his constant followcr--his cnthuslas-
tic admirer. We arc not ashamed to
eonfessit. We stood by him; adj
hered to his political fortunes, dur
ing the darkest days Of his adversely,
days when friends were far fewer
than they were afterwards, or seem
to be now. We have no respect for
those who envied and would have
~aapplanted him whilst living, nor far
thoa s'if suclr- ,the1s be, who would
achieve a political triumph by any ap,
peal to his opinions now that he is
dead. We were honored with his
confidence and friendship to an en-
tent ia: beyond our humble merits.
We knew the man, and to know, was
to admirc-to love him.
We hove said these things in no
sain-gloriousror boastful spirit; WITH
none of the conscious guilt Of ego
tis,n, but merely to show where We
have always steod-a Nulliticr III
80, and State Rights Democrat
from that period down to the present.
We are not ashamed or afraid to
avow both, and certainly will never
Tepudiate either. If, then, the pro
position to give the election of I.lec
tors of President aud Vice President
to the people "smacks Of Whiyery,"
the poor, pitiful, puerile missile sent
by ncrveless arm touches not us.
And now to the subject which
stands announced at the head of this
article.
a distinct proposition was made in
the Convention that framed the Con
stitution Of the United States, to
give the appointment Of Electors to
the Legislatures Of the respective
States. This proposition, in this
form was tacice rejected. 1t is not
a fair Inference then, that ii the ia,
theirs of the Republic had intended
to confer tho appointment Of these
Electors on the State Legislatures as
such, they would have declared that
intention in precise language and
such as would have excluded the pos
sibility of misconstruction ?
MIR. Randolph OF Virginia propos,
cd that the President be chosen by
the Congress, which was rejected.
~LMr. Wilson of Pennsylvania, pro-
posed that he be chosen by the pco-
pie, and to this end, moved that the
States be divided into Districts, and
that the voters in each District,
choose tho Electors. This PROPOSE.
ton contemplated dividing the whole
United States into Districts without
any reference whatever TO the terri
terial boundaries of the several
States. The proposition was reject
ed.
1t was next moved that the Prcsi.
dent be chosen by the Governors Of
the States, which was rejected with
out much debate.
Mr.. Wilson's plan was then re.
considered, being the District system,
but without any regard to the terri,
torial limits Of the States, and again
rejected.
Mr.. Randolph's plan was again
considered, when it was moved to
strike out the words "National Leg.
islature or Congress- and insert in
lieu thereof, the words "citizen Of
the United States" which was not
adopted.
The celebrated Luther Martin
then proposed that the "Prcsident
be chosen by Electors to be appoint.
ed by the several State -Legisla,
tnfes," the very system We have in
South Carolina. This proposition
sDas rSec'eq, we beg the reader to
keep this fact constantly III view, in.
asmuch as it will prevent his being
misled by the subsequent final action
Of Tue Convention.