The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-31

4
tors throughout tho United States
shall take place on the Tuesday after
the first Monday in November, al
a day anterior to the meeting of the
Legislature Of this State. A neces
sity then exists, that the Constitution
of this State shall be 80 amended,
that the Legislature will be in session
at the time, or that the Governor
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 pco.
pie, should not be altered for slight
causes. A great and absolute ne,
cessity alone should exist to justify a
change in that instrument, which is
the exponent Of Government itself.
The Constitution of this State has
not been altered or amended more
than five or six times since its adopt.
ion; and your Committee cannot see,
in this case, any necessity for altcra.
ton or amendment. The whole diff
Guilty may be provided for by sim.
pie legislative enactment, giving the
Election of Electors to the peoplc.
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 Go.
vernon can constitutionally convene
the Legislature for the purpose of
voting for Electors. . lie may on
extraordinary occasions convene the
General Assembly but it is submit
ted, that the Legislature, having met
since the passage of the act by Con-
gress, the occasion is no longer an
extraordinary one within the mean.
ing Of the Constitution, but becomes
an ordinary one ar capable of being
provided for by ordinary legislation.
Even, too, if there were no doubts
as to the power of the, Governor to
cafl an5cxtra sessiof Of the Legis,a.
ture for that purpose, still there arc
objections to call session, on &C.
count of the inconvenience and ex.
pcnsc. 1t is true, however that the
cxpcuse would not be very great, on.
ly about ten or twelve thousand dol
lars every four years, but it is the
principle. lfthe principle is wrong,
it is unnecessary, and therefore un.
called for.
Will this bill interfere with the
Parish representation and the Com.
prom ses of the Constitution of the
State Your Committee believe
that it will not, and they are not dis.
posed to interfere with that Compro-
mise. The principle recognized in
the Constitution of this State is, that
not only population, but taxation also
should have representation but it is
only in the State Legislature, where
laws are made, and taxes imposed
that that principle obtains, and in
the relation which the Districts and
Parishes bcor to the State Govern.
mcnt in the Legislature thereof, and
not in the Election of Electors-a
relation altogether different. The prn,
| ciple of representation in this State is
a domestic settlement, applicable alone
to the Legislative action of the State
The election Of President and Vice.
President grows out OF our Federal
Relations, and is provided for by the
Constitution % the United States.
Your Committee would also recon-.
mend the passage Of the Bill, because
the Election OF Electors by the people
will prevent the mngling Of State and
National politics in the Election o
mcnbcrs Of the Legislature, and give
to'thc people an opportunity of calling
into the Council Of State, fit and suita
bic representatives to serve them in
the Legislature, and who, ut the Same
time, might differ with them in the
Presidential election.
In conclusion your Committee would
allude to the fact that South Carolin;
is the only State in the Union in whcl
the Election of Ecctor is made by the
Legislature. This is circumstanc,
well worthy of consideration, and fur
nishcs Mt least, presumption i'll favor
Of the Election by the people. They
are satisfied that the people of Soutl
Carolina possess the same intclligenc,
and integrity Of purpose with the pco
pie OF the other States, and are as ca
pablc of making proper selection fol
President and Vice President, rs they
are capable of making n proper sclcc
tion OF members of the Legislature.
Entertaining these views, your Com
mittec would respectfully submit thu
Bill for the consideration of the House
GEORGE McC. WIrnERspooN,
r.. MooRMAN,
ID. S. TAYLOR,
WIN. GILES.
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