The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-10

be chosen by Congress, but this vote
was soon reconsidered, when the dis.
tinguished Rufus King made a
speech in favor of clecting the Prcsi.
dent By Electors chosen by the pco.
pie. At this stage, some discussion
arose as to the precise meaning of the
words States" and "People," and
tho result was a very general concur.
renee of opinion among the members
of the Convention, that they we're to
be regarded and construed as synong.
nous. We beg the reader to note
this, as an important fact.
Mr.. Madison spoke rather in favor
Of an election "by the people at
large" but said that tho peculiar
circumstances of the Southern States
in regard to slavery, rendered the
election by Electors the best system,
perhaps, that could be adopted.
1t was moved again that the Prcsi.
dent be chosen by Electors to be ap-
pointed by the State Legislatures,
which proposition WAS now adopted
but the vote was soon reconsider
ed. when it was proposed that the
President should be chosen by Elcc-
tors to be elected b. the people of
the several States. The Convention
now iin'!ing that they had made no
progress i'll this important matter,
owing to the great diversity and con.
tiict of olinio,s, it was resolved to
refer the whole snbject to q commit
tee, which committee reported, and
recommended that "cach State shall
appoint IN such manner as its Lcgis,
laturc may direct, 4 number Of Flee
tors equal" &c. Ills report was
finally adopted.
Now we desire our readers to com.
pare this language with the languas se
cf tho proposition made by Luther
Martin, az given above, and then let
them see if they can reconcile the
result Of such comparison with the
idea that the Convention intcndcd to
confer the election Of these Electors
on the Legislatures Of the States. .-
MIR. Martin movcd l!at they be elect
ed by the State legislatures, and
the proposition was rejected. The
Convention !iu.lly decided that "cach
Stute s!lal! appo:u; in such manner as
its Legislature may direct" &C.
Now if the Convention had intended
to adopt the South Carolina system,
why did they not fall back upon Mr..
Martins plan, and say i'll his Ian
guayc, that 1.-THE President shall be
chosen by Electors TO be appointed
by the State Legislatures? 2 We
might satcI, rest the argument here,
and regard this one fact as decisive {
of the whole question; but, inasmuch
as We cannot say all we have to say
under this head, without extending
this article to al unreasonable length
we will conclude this part Of our sub
jcct in oul next, promising our read.
els to cnndcHSc our matter as much
as possible. .-puijactto State Ban.
nCr.
The Athets, (Gco.) Herald thus
sunmarlly disposcs Of the arguments
of both parties in the present Prcsi-
dental campaign:
We have been greatly amused, we
must conies5-thc thing is really
laug ughablc, and will move the risibcs
Of any one who occupies the position
Ola locker on'-by Observing the
course taken by the two parties TO
prove the fitness and unIitncss Of
their respective candidates for the
Presidency. Gen. Scott, it is stout
ly maintained, it is fit for that office,
because he fought the battle Of Lun-
dy's Lane and some dozen other bat
ties |! and is unfit for it, because
he is charged while captain with
having on one accession withheld the
pay VI lliS oDl'licio . Il lcN ti iSS~-ti L
same an .ul.tinS to less than fifty
dollars General Pierce is fit for
that distinguished Office, because he
was in Congress about lime years
ago., believed in the justice Of the
Mexican war, and afterwards fit,
blci and died for his country! And
he is unfit for it, forsooth, because it
is ale cgcl he fell Of his horse on one
occasion and tainted on another! !!
This is the sum and substance Of
the argument on both sides, aud we
hope that those who can quarrel and
dispute about such tlillcs, will have
q good time Of it,.
In the name Of all that is funny,
What has the fighting or the famtim2,
of either Of these gentlemen to do
with tho Office of President? They
have both boon amply paid for every
thing they ever did, and as to talk.
ing about the people owing either Of
them, it is all humbug. We don't
believe the people owe such men, but