Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-09-03
From the Palmetto State Banner.
Election of Electors.

ulCtee OH IrNHeSeS anu LleCIiois, VA
to provide for the Election of Electors OF Presl-
dent and Vice President of the United States ny
the people of South Carolina" This report was
made at the session of ls49. 1t is very ably
drawn, and signed by four gentlemen OF dlstlllc-
tion in the sections they represented: Mr. With
erspoon was from Lancaster Mr. Moorman from
Newberrv; Mr. Taylor from Pendeton, and Mr.
Giles from Union. The first, second and fourth
named are now candidates for the Senate III their
respective Districts. We We're not able to OBJ
tain a copy Of this report until Saturday last
otherwise We should have published Il on IN ear
her day 1t is Wei worthy q; 4 careful con>ld-
Grafton It's positions are im!Irgnahlr; It's ar
pulnentS are Unanswcraiir. Let the people
whose cause it So ably advocates read and reflect
If they will bu; d, this, we know they will ar
rive at Just conclusions:
REPORT.
Of the Minority Of the Committee on Pririlc-
qes and Elections, on "a Bill to propide for
the Election of Electors of President and
Vice President of the United States, ty the
People of South Carolina" lS49.
The undersigned, Minority of the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections, to whom was
referred A bill to provide for the Election of
Electors of President and Vice President of the
United States by the People of South Carolina,
beg leave to make a
COUNTER REPORT
To that of the Majority OF the said Committee
and to recommend the Bill favorably for the con-
sderation of the House.
Your Committee believe that the Election of
Electors of President and Vice President of the
United States by the People would be more in
accordance with the provisions and spirit OF the
Constitution of the United States and the prin-
ciples of the Government.
TIE Government of the United States is a
mixed Government, partly popular and partly
federative and these features are manifested in
the Constitution for the Election Of President
and Vice President In voting for President
and Vice President, each State votes according
to her representation in Congress, South Carroll
ma nine and New York thirty-six. A majority
of all the votes so cast is necessary to choice,
and this represents the popular feature OF the
Government. 1t is only after the popular branch
fails to elect, that the election assumes fedora
tive character, and the States vote States each
Ollt iiiOuS VI N'NNtioh 40 IiiS
result of the failure to elect and provision for
such contingency. The Constitution provides
that leach State shall appoint as the Legislature
thereof may direct, a number of Electors equal
to the whole number of Senators and Represcn-
ratives to which the State shall be entitled in
Congress-" From which it is clear that the Leg
islature would have the power 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 to the provisions Of the Constitu-
ton regulating the Election of Electors but also
to the principle by which votes are cast for Pre-
sident and Vice President. The election upon
the first casting Of the votes being a popular
one the mode of appointment should conform
to that principle. And it is submitted, that the
Election of Electors by the People, would be
more in accordance with the Constitution of the
United States, and the popular principle by which
the votes are cast than the Election Of Electors
BY the Legislature which partakes more of the
federative character.
Your Committee would also recommend the
passage Of the bl from its expcdiency as de-
manded by the position in which the State is
placed by the act Of Congress of 1916. Con-
gress has by that law prescribed that the Elcc-
ton Of Electors throughout the United States
shall take place on the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, at day anterior to the
meeting Of the Legislature Of this State. A ne
cessity tlen exists, that the Constitution of this
State shall be so amended, that the Legislature
will be in session at the timc or that the Cover
nor shall call an extra session of the Legislature
every four years, or that the Election shall be
given to the people. The two first propositions
are Objectionable Constitutions long existing
and understood by the people, should not be al.
tered for slight causes. A great and absolute
necessity alone should exist to justify a change
in that instrument. which is the exponent o
Government itself The Constitution Of this
state has not been altered or amended more than
five or six times since its adoption; and your
Committee cannot see, in this case, any necessity
for alteration or amendment. The whole diff
Guilty may be provided for BY asimple Legislative
enactment, giving the Election of Electors to tho
people.
As to the other proposition, for the Governor
to call an extra session Of the Legislature every
four years, there are objections to it. 1t is a
question Of doubt whether the Governor can con
stitutionally convene the Legislature for the pur
pose of voting for Electors. "1e may on extra
ordinary occasions convene the General Assem-
bly," but it is submitted, that the Legislature
having met since the passage Of the act bv Con
rrraes the ocrosion iS no lnnoar an nytr,orInor