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

Il FiSoSiAoSu pHeS thS 13iSSSiOu VI lIICC
tors throughout the United States
shall take place on the Tuesday after
the first Monday in November, a
q day anterior to the meeting of tl,t
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 peo.
pie, should not be altered for. slight
causes. A great and absolute ne.
cessity alone should exist to justify a
change in thar 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 altera.
ton or amendment. The whole diff.
Guilty may be provided for by sim.
pie legislative enactment, giving the
Election of Electors to the 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 Go.
vernon can constitutionally convene
the Legislature for the purpose of
voting for Electors. He 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 an capable of being
provided for by ordinary legislation.
Even, too, if there were no doubts
as 10 the power of the Governor to
caii an extra sessiofi Of the; I.esiis.a.
turc 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
expense would not be very great, on.
ly about ten or twelve thousand dol.
lars every four years, but it is the
principle. II the principle is wrong,
it is unnecessary, and therefore un.
called for.
Will this bill interfere with the
Parish representation and the Com.
promises of the Constitution of the
State ? Your Committee believe
that it will not, and they are not dis,
posed to interfere with that Conpro.
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 beor to the State Govern
mcnt i'll the Legislature thereof, and
not in the Election of Electors-a
relation altogether different The prin,
ciplc of representation in this State is
Il 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 mingling of State and
National politics in the Election o
members Of the Legislature, and give
to the people an opportunity of calling
into the Council OF State, fit and suit;l
bic representatives to serve them il
the Legislature, and who, Mt the same
time, might differ with them in tn,
Presidential election.
IN conclusion your Committee woult
allude to the fact that South Caroline
is the only State in the Union in whicl
the Election of Elcctor is made by the
Legislature. This is IL circumstance
well worthy of consideration, and fur
nlshcs ut least, presumption in favo
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 fo
President and Vice President, as the,
are capable of making proper sclcc
tion Of members of the Legislature.
Entertaining these views, your Com
mittec would respectfully submit TIN
Bill for the consideration of the House
GEORGE McC. WITlIERspooS,
r. MooRMAN,
ID. $. TAYLOR,
WIN. GILES.
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