The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-07-26
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proposed change in clecting Electors Of
President and Vice President. las been
answered in manner the most satisfaction
ry by "t:laremont," and that notion. as
10 the unconstitutionality of the present
mode. clearly and most conclusivcly con.
futeh.
Located as am in Il remote corner of
the Diatrict, have not had, in my limited
intercourse an opportunity of knowing to
whom VIC are no much indebted for arrest.
ing the progress of this fatal hercsy. But
srs, it is indeed gratifying to find 80 well
finished and substantial spoke in the
wheel Of State. " Claremont has proven
himself to he OIL this great and important
question, most able defender of our rights
and privileges, and is possessed of intel.
lcrtual endowmcn,s, unqucstionaby of a
very high order.
You will allow me through this medium
to congratulate him with assurances,
that the county lone OF his forefa,hcrs
shall long feel their Indebtedness, while af-
ter ages VIII cherish with pride. the recol-
lection oi having reared in her bosom so
able an advocate and exposi,or of those
principles which have long been The shield
and rampant Of our Liberties.
The soundness of his conclusions and
the patriotic pathos with which he has met
this s"phistry, AT the very threshold, and
at time when the people were fan,astcal.
ly beguiled, and fain would follow an ipnis
tatuous gleam into wles and darkness, Of
anarchy-deInands the gratitude of peo
pie thus adnonished and awakened to a
sense OF their true position. We arc told
that the Legislature usurps a right that
properly and exclusively belongs to the
people at the ballot box. We are told to
cast Oft this obnoxious usurpation (being
method of appointment established by
the trainers OF the Constlution,) in virtue
Of the elective franchise. We are i:,vited
to higher and more felicitous degree of
freedom by thus abandoning the auciont
customs OF our fathers. What catastro
phe, what delusvc :allacious scheme. =
Is there one would ask within the limits
oi this District, who would now after re-
fiectinn advocate so foul a measure. What.
in this enlightened day to adop, principle
which lies ut the foundatio of system of
measures calculated exclusively to con-
suInmatc the designs OF the demagogue,
but is most fatally destructive 10 the dear
est interests and influence of the State
Would You pcrvcr, a government under
which you have so long and SO happily ex-
'sted; to crafty those hungry desires of as
pirants to office. In short will you destroy
one of the most ancient customs transmit
ted 10 you by your fathers, namely: Of
Electors OF President and Vice PresideH,
being appointed b. he Legislature u the
State to GRITTY u -,.'sA. du.,ss -, !.
lev asplran's But YOU are tolt.aia
EFT mode is uRconstitu,ional aid :,oas :. =:
comport with the interest of the free and
enlightened citizen Of the Distric, TO sub
init TO such all Innovation on their rights
How far you may rely upon this hypothesis
we will cndcavor to illustrate by single
extract "Claremont has adduced from
the Constitution Art. ]. Sec. 3. 1.-THE
Senate Of the United States shall be com.
posed of two Senators from each Suite
chosen by the Legislature thereof for six
Il -
vote" What can be more definite, what
higher authority can we desire for the
present mode Of exercising this right, than
the Constitution itself?
Whereas, on the other hand the new
tangled scheme is presented to you with
out form or system. You are invited 10
enter It's maze without chart or compass.
you are lett to adopt any system at the bal
'ol box, r: ;her than submit to the prcsen,
mode OF appointment. In short you are
called upon to abandon The method trans.
mttrd I" y"u by the trainers of the Con
si"n''on, not f"r mess ofpottagc "eyen,
no, but that you may rcvcl in u,opian
schemes of dcmagogues. who for name
won d enaanger The liberty purchased by
the blood and toll and sufcrngs OF the rev
oIu,ion. Why is it that change is
now advised Is liberty now different
thing from what it was when It inflated the
heart, and ncrved the arm. that struck the
blow that established 1t no srs; then there
is no view we can take Of this matter hat
does not lead to monslrous absurdi,ics, and
It ~ maxim in politics as well as common
sense hat whenever any doctrine lends to
such conclusion, it has no just foundation
and must be false.
The right Of the people to alter or abolish
old and constitute new governments is not
denied, it is admitted But that such an
alternative should only be resorted to in
case OF great oppression. or palpab'e and
dangerous usurpation is equally plain
MONTCLARE.
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