The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-07-27

could easily plead these facts, if not
to justify, at least to excuse them.
selves. In all the other States, the
people themselves choose their Elect
ors. South-Carolina constitutes the
solitary exception. Why should not
the people of South h-Carolina do as
the people Of the other States do? Are
they not to be trusted! Are they
inferior in Intelligence or virtue to
the people of the other Statcs9 BY
no means. 1t is their undeniabIe
right to vote for these agents, and
they should make this right by do
ing so. Is there a single consideration
either Of policy or necessity that
should restrain the people from
the exercise of the right? To say that
they ought to be restrained by con-
sidera,ions of policy, would be to
say, that the Legislature is wiser and
better than those who created it,
and would therefore exercise the
power with more wisdom than the
people! In other words, it is equiv
alcnt to saying that there is more
wisdom i'll Il body composed of
lG9 men: chosen by the people, than
among the whole mass Of the pco
pie from whom they arc takcn! This
cannot be 50. If it be said that the
people ought to be restrained from
the exercise Of this right by con
sidcrations Of necessity, it is equal
~ absurd Tor it is obvious enough,
that the people could vote for Elect
ors OF President and Vice President,
with as little Inconvenience as they
now vote Tor their Representatives.
There is no necessity, then. in
the case. 1t is the right Of the pco-
pie to vote Immediately for Elect.
ors, and because it is their right, We
would have them to exercise il.
We wish to see it taken out OF the
hands of politicians, and placed where
it belongs. We wish to sec our
people identify themselves more com
plctely. With the people Of other
States who arc bound to us by Il
comnon interest. and y common
destiny, and We know that this
can never be the case, SO long as
this powerful lever is in the hands of
Il few. We. do not affirm that
this power has ever been abused or
perverted ly those in whom it is
now vested. We do not affirm that
the legislature has ever chosen elect
ors who did not cast the vote OF
the State as the people would
have east it, We have no means of
a*ccrtaining this point. Rut no man
cain affirm with certainty ,l.at the
vote Of th7 State has always been
given hi accordance with the wishes Of
the people, for these wishes were
not known: under the present con
stitution of things they could not have
been known, for there was no way by
which they could he known. Bu,
let the people vote directly for these
electors. and very soon a different
state of things would be presented:
We are not only decidedly in
favor OF giving the election OF elect
ors of President and Vice President to
the people, to whom it rightully be-
] ng>. but We would rejoice to
see So'lth-Carolina, in the approaching
cont ST, give Pierce and King, the
Democratic candidates, most cor
dial support. We are not Of the
number OF those who counsel in
difference, collncss, or nonaction.
There is neither digmiW nor wisdom in
such a course. Let those who are
pledged to non-ac,ion maintain thoir
position. The people can get a.
long withou; them. Gen Pierce has
ever been a State Rights man ac-
cording to the strictcst school. lie
uniformly, while in Congress voted
with Mr.. Calhoun and the South. ON
every question ailrctiug the rights or
the interests OF the South: and SO
far as his political votes or acts in
dicatc, we can prove that l.c is
rs sound as any man we could get,
either North or South, by the high
est documentary evidence. As to
the Hon. WIN. K. King Of Alabama,
we need merely remark. that he is
II Southern man by birth and
education, and Democrat who ha,
Seen more than forty years ofpulitic,.I
service. Md TO this. both Of these
gentlemen have Il high reputation for
talents and political sagaci,y; that
both sustain moral characters which
are beyond rcproach, and j, seems
to us, that no true State Rights man
can hesitate to give them his most
ardent support.
But this article is already too
long. We have said enough, how
ever, TO define our position, and
now close by expressing the hope that
the people OF The State will move gen
orally, III this Important matter, and
move in the right direction We
III resume the subject hereafter
Palmetto STATE jannu.
TIE Sorru CARoLIHA RAIL RoAD.--
We are pleased to learn that the long
pending arrangements between the
City OF Augusta and the South Carroll
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