The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-03-07
From, the Sumter BdnRcr.
Election of Electors.

We find the following concise and pointed
letter in the Carolinian, upon this interesting
question, which is so soon to be discussed be-
fore our people, and regarding two Of the views
rGnsertcd as tnrcihle and somewhat original
we insert the letter entire into our columns
1t is getting time our people were being inform,
ed upon the merits Of this question, as We un-
derstand it will form one of the principles in
volved in the next Congress:
'Mr. Editor: There are two suggestions in
regard to change in the mode of appointing
Electors ofPrcsident and Vice President, which
seem to me to carry weight with them, but
while make them | wish to dsavow all sym
pathy with Maj. Perry and his demagogism.
First The constitution provides that each
State shall appoint, in such manner as the Le-
gislature may direct, number of Electors,
&c. &c. 10 the Legislature is thus given the
power of providing the mode Of appointment
not the power Of appointing. Now, it is a
maxim of law and of common sense, that when
trust is given to devise mode Of doing any
thing, the agent cannot supersede the power
and execute the trust himself A trustee to ap-
point an agent cannot himself execute the trust
for which the agent is to be appointed. Ifsuch
a trustee were to appoint himself, it would be
fraudulent and void. All that the Legislature,
therefore, can do is to devise mode of ap-
pointment. The Legislature is not the coustit-
ucncy of the Electors to be appointed. The
Electors are to derive their authority from some
source to be directed by the Legislature, not
from the Legislature itself do not see that
this objection to the competency of the Legis.
aturc can be fairly and honestly met; or that
the present mode fappointing Electors is 9th.
er than usurpation Of power net properly be.
longing to it.
Second: In regard to the question who of
right ought to be the constituency of the Eec.
toral College. ltisv very clear that the appoint
mcnt of that body is to be made by the State,
not by the Legislature; for fit assumes to be
the State, it isa usurpation. Now, what is the
State, us recognized and established by the
constitution of the United States? The State
of South Carolina is represented in the general
government, in part, by its members to the
House Of Representatives, and the representa-,
ton i'll that house is fixed by the number of her
inhabitants, counting three tllhs Of the black
population. They constitute the State as it
stands in relation to that branch Of the federal
III SO'HlStlIs VI lhc llouSc VI Rpplc
scn'atives. This political recognition of who
are entitled to Il representation in branch of
the legislative department, would seem to i'm.
ply an equitable right of representation in the
other department, (the Executivc,) in maintain
ing Il just and uniform relation to the General
Government i'll its capacity of State. | there
fore think that there should be the same con.
stItucncy for the Electors that there is for the
representation in Congress, and | can perceive
no practical harm in it, but on the contrary an
an@logical fitness. HARPER.
\ motion madc IN the Mississippi House of
Representatives has been rejected, by vote of
73 To 7, for appointing Il Committee to report
some plan by which the State bonds of s., 900,
600, issued in favor of the Union Bank, might
be paid