The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-18
Communications.
FOR THE LEDGER.

several candidates for scat in the next
Legislature, to submit to the people,
through its columns, their distinctive views
in relation to the following subjects: to
wit, the approaching Presidential election,
the Bank Of the State, and the Free
School system as it now operates in this
State.
These, fellow citizens, are subjects in
themselves of the most commanding i'm
portance. and fully concur with those of
you, who have thus manifested an inter
est in them, in believing you can never
attach too much Importance to them. In
deed, the first step towards misrule and
the abuse ofpower in all governments, orr
ginates in the neglect of the people, con-
sequent to blind attachment to the Con-
stitution, and willingness on their part,
to suffer the evils of corrupt administra-
tlons as long as they are sutferable, rather
than, in rcstive spirit, which prompts
them to right themselves by an opposition
to the government, which might threaten
and endanger its overthrow. Delighted
with the idea Of having a wise constitu-
ton, the people particularly in Rcpub-
lic) are too apt to lose sight of the man
ner in which it is sought to be admins
tered and enforced And tits certainly a
sense of just pride to me, to know that the
circumstances which induce mo to offer
the following brief exposition of my views
upon these subjects, furnish no low evil
dence of the intelligence and virtue Of our
people. | have always been firm be-
lever in the general good sense and virtue
of communities and States Tin country
like ours, where the freedom of speech and
the liberty of the press are allowed) as
furnishing the only enduring and solid foun-
dation for the daily increasing superstruc.
tnrc Of free government. And am per-
suaded that so long as we are permitted
to enjoy these capital advantages of a free
people, but little danger need be appre-
hended to the permanency of our institu-
tlons, by acknowledging the right of in
struction. The doctrine of instruction. with
in the limits and restrictions of the Con-
stitution, has always been as clear to nv
mind as light itself To my understand
ing, the term Representative as clearly
implies its existence and force, as does the
term agent, the existence of principal, or
subject the existence of magistrate.
Entertaining these views as to tie right
OF the people to instruct their representa-
tives, the new relations which am seek
ing to assume towards you, render it ne
cessary that I should satisfy you as to my
political views and sentiments. This |
shall always be glad to do, not only upon
the subjects on which you now ask my
opinions, but also upon any other in which
you may manifest an equal interest.
The first in order, then-for shall take
them as they come-is the subject of the
approaching Presidential election. The
present method ofelecting Electors in this
State, renders this a subject of peculiar
concern to you, in electing Representatives
to your State Legislature. In most if not
all Of the other States in the Union, the
Presidential Election, involving as it does,
questions of great national importance, is
kept separate from the state government,
in giving the election of electors to the
people. In this respect, the other States
have undoubtedly acted more in accord
ance with the true meaning and spirit
our Federal Constitution. According to
our system of government, the States are
free to legislate for themselves, within the
restrictions of the federal constitution
local legislation is kept tseparate from fede-
raj legislation and the two should never
become so mixed as to destroy the identity
Of the States or impair in any degree their
rights aud privileges as such. State gov
ernment is one thing, Federal government
is another, and this distinction should not
be lost sight of, because it is indispensa-
ble to a correct understanding of the rela-
tive rights of the States.
To my mind, this is an objection to our
mode Of electing Electors; it forces upon
the people the consideration of national
question (the Presidential Election) in
eIectng representatives to serve them in
their local Legislature. Besides this OBJ
lection to electing electors by the Legisla-
ture, there is still another of no small
weight; the unnecessary expense to which
the State is now every four years subject,
in order to cast her vote. Before the