The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-12-19

N.
Mr.. b. F. Perry said he hoped the
'n'endment made by the member from
''ch'and would prevail; he considered that
ay time was the proper time for legisla-
on, and night the proper time for COM
nlttees to meet; this had been the custom
the Legislature may years ago, and
. thought it was the proper way to do
ns;ness. The House divided, and the
ote stood, yeas SO; uays,84; so The amend
uent was adopted.
Mr.. Cunningham called for the Special
Order, the bill to provide for the election
t Electors for President and Vice. Presi
dent Of the United States.
MIR. Cunningham commenced by saving
lat he had no intention of taking a part
Il the discussion npon this bill, until after
30 debate had commenced, and that
robably he would have not spoken at
Il, but from the fact that he had intro.
need a measure which constituted part
the special orders. 1t was a bill to alter
I'D amend the 10th section of the Ist
rti.'h Of the Constitution, so as to con.
ne the Legislature on or before the first
esday after the first Monday in Novem-
ar.
lie said he had two objects in view, by
.5 introduction of the bill; one was to cx-
I'D the time Of legislation, and allow the
.embers to deliberate more fully upon all
ncstions that were brought before them;
mother object was TO cover the time now
'rescribed for holding the election of Eicc-
tors. That he had not intro iuced the
bill as n compromise, for he was opposed
to compromises. He was perfectly willing
20 let the election of Electors remain as it
N'as, if other propositions and advantages
o'nd bsatforded to the people.
Mr.. Cunningham said Chat the present
72stem was defective one, and presented
"eral arguments to prove that it was de-
i've. He said he was opposed to the
- strict system, and he was glad to know
bat steps were about to be taken to aban-
9nit. 1t was not States rights, nor did
rive unity to the vote nor to the State
ounciis. That the Contitution Of the L.
"'5ed States did not contemplate that the
,ection Of Electors should be made by the
'ople en- nadsse, but by the people BY
ates. That the district system occasion
the present caucuses and conventions,
increased corruption, and turned parties
INTO political reekiessncss.
lie said that the present state Of things
IN South Carolina was such that they re-
quired to be spoken Of in plain terms; we
NNere living uudor roiSn of medroclty
and nepotisn, and had no fine views, nor
would we allow them to be entertained :;
that the present intelligence which repre-
onte1 the State in State and Federal
nciis, was beneath the capacities Of the
ople. He was opposed to the bill Civ.
= The election of Electors to the House
Representatives alone, for he considered
death-blow to the parishes.
Ir. Cunningham defended at length the
% which he introduced.
Mr.. Hammond said he did not intend
inter in full discussion upon the bills
, before the Committee; but as he had
Il the honor 70 introduce bill to give
election Of Governor and Lieutenant
vernon to the people, and which was a
ING the bills which composed the Spe-
j Order, he thought it necessary to ex-
ress his views upon that bill.
lie did not expect to get a two.thirds
Tote upon the bill, but he simply wanted
ne expression ofthe political sentiment of
he House upon the question, whether the
people are competent or not to decide who
,2all be their rulers2 That if they were
not competent, then they should select
hose who are. He had never heard the
ght OF the people to vote for Governor
2nied, nor that they had not the honesty
,etriotisn and intelligence to make prop.
choice.
It had been said, also, that the more e.
ctious we have the moro corruption thers
g'II be, but he was not sure that the Leg
4;dre was entirely free from corruption.
did not intimate that candidate for
vernon would condescend so low and de
de himselfso much as to electioneer for
ae, but ifone would visit the public hou
when Governor was to be elected,
, would see that there was an unusual
aantity Of champagne prank among GER
.in parties. That if the doctrine that the
ever elections we have the less corrup-
ion among the masses, then who will rep.
asent the people. He submitted the bill
20 the good sense Of the House.
Mr.. Totin next addressed the Commit
tee at length in opposition to the bill.
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