The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-02
pulitital,
REPORT

hEIORC
Of the MAJORITY of the Ci,nn,ittee on P,ii-
oiteges and Elections, on Z" A Bit to
provide tor the election of Electors of
President and Vice President of tie
United States by the Peopio of South
Carolina"
The undersigned, Minority of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections, to
whom ives referred A Bill to Provide for
the Election Of Electors Of President and
Vice President Of the United States by
the People Of South CaroHna beg leave to
coUNTERREpoRT,
TO that Of the Majority Of said Commits
zee. Hnd sscemmtad <lIa Bill h40fahiv
for the consideration of the Hoess: (,
Your Conlmitte believe that the elec.
ton Of Electors of President and Vice Pres
ident Of the United States by the, people,
would be moro in accordance will, the pro-
visions and spirit of the Constitution o.;
the United States, and the principles or
the Government s..
The Government of the United States
Is mixed Government, partly popular
and partly federative, and these features
are manifested in the provisions in the
Constitution for the election of President
and Vice President In voting for Presi-
dent and Vice President, each State votes
according to her representation in Con-
gress-South Carolina nine and New York
tasTty~six. A majority Of all the votes so
cast, being necessary TO q choice, and this
represents the popular feature Of the gov
ernment. 1t Is only after the popular
branch fails to elect, that the election as
sumes federate character, and the States
vote as States, each State counting one. This
last mode IT election Is the result Of the fail
urs to elect, and a ::;sion for such con-
t;noe,cy The :on..:ou Teton Of the Unitea
States provides that "each State shan sr
point, as the Legislature thereof may d.
rect number Of electors equal to the
whole number Of Senators and Represen-
tatives to which the State shall be entitled
In the Congress" From which It is clear
that the Legislature would have the pow
er TO direct as TO the appointment or, in
other words, to direct the mode, by which
the appointment shall be made. But in
prescribing the mode, regard should be
had not only 10 the provisions Of the Consti-
tuition regulating the election of electors,
bnt also 10 the principle by which the
votes are cast for President and Vice Pre-
sident The election upon the first cast
ing Of the votes being popular one, the
mode Of appointment by the Legislature
should conform to that principle. Aud il
IL submitted, that the election # electors
by the people, would be more in accord
ance with the Constitution Of the United
States, and the popular principle by which
the votes are cast, than the election Of
Aasrtohs by the Legislature, which psrtakes
more Of the fedesatiEe character. A..
Your Committee would also recommend
the passage Of the Bill, from its expedien-
cy, aad rs densadsd BY the position in
Shidh the Sts.e Is placed by the act Of
Cosgess Of ls40. Congress has Ly that
law prescribed that the c.sction Of elcctors,
throughout the United States, shall take
place on the Tacsday after the
Inst Monday in NoYembes, at day aase-
nor to the meeting Of the Legislature Of
this State. A necessity then exists, that
the Constitution 0f this Sta 70 shall be 60
amended, thai the Legb.xturo win balm
session at the hrne, OF that the Goyerno.
shall call an extra session Of the LeQisla-
tvre every four years, or that the election
shall be given to the people. The two
asst propositions are Objectionable. Con-
ssitutions long existing and snderstood by
the people should not be altered for siight
eauscs. "A great asd absoluts necessity
alcpe should exist 70 justly change in
inst instrument, which u the exponent Of
tie Governments itselk The Consultation
sstbis State has not been altered or amen