The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-28
COUNTER REPORT,

TO that of the Majority of said Commit.
tee, and to recommend the Bill fayorably
for the consideration of the House.
Your Committe believe that the election
Of Electors OF Presi dent and Vice President
of the United States by The people, would
he more in accordance with the provisions
and spirit of the Constitution of the United
States, and the principles Of the Govern.
mcnt
Ihe Government Of the United States is
mixed Government, partly popular and
partly fcdcratye, and these features are man.
hested in the provisions in the Constitution
for thu alAStis---z- ,-syr--'
Ident. In voting for President and Vice
President. eSch State votes according TO her
representation in Congress South Carroll.
ma nine and New York thirty.six. Amaiori
" OF all the votes so east, being necessary
to choice, and this represents the popular
feature Of the government 1t is only after
the popular branch fails u elect. that the
election assumes federatiye character. and
the States vote as States--eoch State count-
ing one. This last mode of election is the
result of the failure to elect, and provision
TOR such contingency. The Constitution OF
The U. States provides that each State
ehnll appoint, as the Legislature thereof
may direct, number Of electors equal to
The whole number Of Senators and Repre-.
sentatiyes to which the State shall be enti.
tied m the Congress- From which, it is
clear that the Legislature would have the
power to direct as to tho appointment, or,
IN other words, to direct the mode, by which
the appointment shall be made. But in pre-
scribing the mode, regard should be had,
not only to the provisions of the Constitu.
ton regulating the election Of electors, but
also to the principle by which the votes are
east Tor President and Vice President. The
election upon the first casting of the votes
being popular one, the mode Of appoint
ment by the Legislature should conform to
that principle. And it is Submitted, that
the election of electors by the people, would
be more in accordance with the Constitution
Of the United States. aud the popular prin.
ciPle By which the votes are cast, than the
election Of electors by the Legislature.
which particles more Of the federative chars
scter.
Your Committee would also recommend
the passage Of the Bill, from its expedie ney,
and as demanded by the position in which
the State is placed by the act of Congress
OF l846. Congress has by that law pre-
Scribed that the election Of electors, through
ont The United States, shall take place On
Tuesday after the first Monday in Noyem-
Der, at day anterior to the meeting Of the
Legislature Of this State. A necessity then
exists, that the Consultation of this State
shall be 30 amended, that the Legislature
will be In session at that time, or that the
Governor shall call an extra session Of the
Legislature every four years, or that the
election shall DO given to the people. the
two FIRST propositions are Objectionable
Consultations long existing and understood
BY the people, should not be altered for slight
causes. n great and absolute necessity
alone shoald exist to justify change in
that instrumsnt, which is the exponent Of
the Government isseie The Constitution of
this State has not been altered or amended
moro than Eve OF six times sincs its sdop-
tion ; and your Committee cannot see. In this
ease, any necessity for alteration or amend
ment The whole difficulty may be prosid.
cd for by q simple Legislative enactment,
giving tho election Of electors 10 the peo.
pie. ~.
AZ 70 Ire otliss proposition .asss toe Gov.
ror 70 cali su Esssa Sessscs oftse IegS