Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-31

Fee sufErage--Mr, Edwards.A
The Raleigh Register, speaking OF the defeat of the
Free Suffrage bill IN the Senate makes following de-
claration: E l s. a.
81. II i well known that the Senator from Warren,
(Mr Edwaris,) was elected on the ground of his OPP
position 10 This measure. He and his friends, no
doubt as true :. Democrats any in the State, made
that the main issue in the campaign
Now, with all Difference to the opinion of the Reg
lister we must say that in the above assertion, he
mistaken. That the friends OF Mr.. Edwards who
first started in the movement 10 solicit him TO become
candidate for the Senate. did it because of his known
opposition to Free Suffrage, do not deny, but this
was not the case with all who supported him in the
election, a letter gotten up BY anti-Free Suffrage
Democrats and Wigs, soliciting Mr.. Edwards to be.
come candidate for the Senate. This letter cir
Gu lated throughout The country, and IRE knoa0 tina,
many persons signed it who and always have been
srongi y in favor of Free Suffrage. Why they did il
We cannot say; but it is Afer Gen. Hawkins be.
came candidate, (which he did Upon strong solici.
taton and contrary to the expectation OF great many
| there those who agreeing with him upon the
question of Free Suffiage, wuuld have voted for him
but considered themselves pledged to the support Of
Mr. Edwards, after having solicited him 10 become
candidate
1t is very certain that there was no direct and open
issue made the subject during the campaign; foI
Mr.. Edwards on, of the County during the whole
|
before the people and his friends, in urging his
claims. certainly did not press his opposition 10
Free Suffrage reason for his election on al
whom they approached. These things being so, we
fee warranted in saying that Mr.. Edwards was moi
elected on the ground OF his opposition to the meas
ure,'' and hence the assertion have made hereto
fore. that " Warren County even the Freeholders oil
Warren County-are in favor OF Free Suffrage"
We may be mistaken in views and opinions In
regard to the feeling of the freeholiers in the Coun
fhn htNtf - foc rhIRh VIZ
know NOT mistaken, and that is that severa
persons who signed the letter of Mr.. Edwards, ask
lng him 10 become candidate, and who afterwards
voted Tor him. openly protested to be IN favor OF Free
Suffrage and some OF them went so far as 10 propose
holding meeting time after the election 10 in
struc him TO vote for it in the Senate when ii should
come up.-Warrenton Ners.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The Vice Presidency.
VIM. Il. King. Esq., has resigned the position Of
President of the u s. Senate, in consequence of
continued i'll health. He is afflicted with most
distressing cough which nothing can relieve
We trust that so pure man, and so true patriot
may be spared, to enjoy the honor conferred
upon him by the people, and to continue his well
tried usefulness to the country.
| Should 1T, however. be the will Of Providence tC
emove him from the stage of hfe question arise:
as to who will supply his place. rendered vacant by
so sad an occurrence. We observe that some
Wing papers argue that, should Mr.. King die before
the votes officially counted on the second Monday
in February next, the day fixed for counting thu
votes it would then devove on the Senate to selcc
from the two highest the iSt'' the Vice Presi
dent ; and other person has votes but Mr.
King and MIR. Graham, and, the votes for the form
er being virtually cancelled by his death, the
Senate would have to declare Mr.. Graham tn
Vice President elect-he being the only living per
son who has any votes.
This is very far-fetched conclusion though VI
admit that, had Mr. King died before the voting G
the Electoral College, was at one time apprehen
died. the above application of the Constitution wonl
have doubtless been But the facts Of the
are now materially different. The provisions of th
Constitution follows:
The electors shall meet in their respective States
and vote by ballot for President and Vice President
one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabtant c
the same State with themselves They shall nam
in the ballots the person voted for President ant
in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice Pres
ident; and they shall make distinct lists of ali per
sons voted faE PRESIDENT and Of Y
y for as Vice President, and of the number of vote
for each which list they shall sign and certify,
L. transmit sealed to the seat of government of the
States directed to the President of the Senate Tt
President nf the Senate shall, in the presence of tt
- Senate and House Of Representatives open all til
certificates, and the votes shall then be counted: &
The person having the greatest number of vot
as Vice President shall be Vice President, if sue
! number shall be ma ority of the whole number
electors appointed and if no person have a maj or
" ty, then from the tlco highest numbers the list I'll
SENATE SHALL CHOOSE THE VICE PRESIDENT. A gu
IL rum for the purpose shall consist Of twothirds
the whole number of Senators, and majority of tt
) whole number shall be necessary to a choice"
- In the language Of the Baltimore Patriot, VIII
i paper, Mr. King was elected Vice President on tn
l. first Wednesday of December, inst when the ele'
T. tors of the several States met and voted for Pres
u dent and Vice President. What the Senate has
do now is to open the votes thus made, and asce
l. tain who is elected There is nothing said IN tn
l. Constitution about the person elected dying before
the day fixed for the counting of the votes, doe
the of the constitution admit the consruC
!: ton that in such the votes cast are to be dc
} clared void.
l. If Mr. King should die before the fourth of Marcel
/ it would be the far as his successor is cor
= cerned as if he had died after. The presiding of
d Ger of the Senate Mr. Atchson, will be, by virtu
of that office the Vice President. with the pow
:. er and duties that Mr.. King had, when he, on til
!; death of Gen Taylor and the transfer of Mr.. Fill
siding officer of the Senaie
!; Another inquiry has been started out Of the prof.
able death of Mr.. King, and that is, who woul! SUI
coed Gen. Pierce, President, if he should not liz
out the term of his office The Constitu ton refer
red to Congress to provide by law for this exgenc
Il They accordingly passed law, which declared tina
in the event of the death of both the President
e Vice President, the presiding officer of the Senat
Is first, and if there be presiding officer, then tt
h Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall a.
! as President till an election by the people can
hold To SuDDlv the vacancy IF the death