Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-09

ElculuIN VI all pIcStbti
and Hale have re<prctirc V been run by the
abolition party for President at each Of the three
last Presidential elections. Yet as strong aa
that party undoubily arc al the North, AMI rs
fierce rs has been their warfare upon Us, neither
of their candidates carried 4 single State. nor goi
even respectable vote in any State, such WAS
and is the anxiety Of every patriotic American to
prcveu: the choice of President from being left
TO the House Of Representatives, am aware
that much has been said here about the lnablli-
ty of the present convention system, and the eec-
ton of Presidential Electors in the other State
by the people, TO reflect The real public will in
choosing Il President. But have YET heard no
argument to sustain the allegation. Every ca
ercise of franchise is merely rOluniary act. n"
man can be forced to vote in any election, and
as the people hold periodical and regular cirr-
tions for delegates to their conventions, although!
without any authority of law, we must rcas"na.
bIy conclnde, that they take rs much interest in
voting for President in other States, aa ii
casting their ballot for a constable, or county
clerk.
have other propositions to submit, but the
two upon which have already enlarged carry
conviction to my mind, and rs other gentlemen
will desire to address the committee both for aud
aguinst the bill L shall now proceed to answer
| some Of the objection. which have been urged
against giving this election to the people. One
objection came from the gentleman from Laurens
(Mr. Simpson } understood him, in the outset
of his remarks, to say that he was not opposed
to giving this election 10 the people, nor opposed
TO giving up our present system Of elections and
| legislation generally, merely on account Of lis
antiquity in the polity of the State. But must
confess that after following him closely in hi
remarks, thought he arrived at the conclusion
that he was opposed to this change on no Other
ground than the antiquity of the present system
of electing Presidautia! electors in South Carroll
ma. In reply to him, have only to say. that at
the time our act of 1892 was ratified this Union
comprised but thirteen or fourteen States, with
some $4,000, or 10000 unimportant offices, with
and federal revenue of only about S5,OOO,UOO
Since that time. the mammoth corporation, so to
speak, of the federal government, has grown tu
such huge proporlions-the number of States
added to this contedoracy has been 10 great, It,
population has increased so rapidly, its wealth
has accumulated 40 fast. and the facilities o
corruption could now operate so fenrlully, that
II the other States were to elect Presidential
electors as we do, honestly believe before INV
God, that this Union could not stand the shock
OF three Presidential elections, because Of the
corruption that would exist in the state lruisIa
lures, or be engendered in Congress- by throw.
ing the election into the House. therefore ap
peal to him to hunt up better argument thar
antiquity" against giving this election to the
people: Our ancestors perhaps acted wisely in
what they did in 1892, and We also, should now
net wisely in full view of all the circumstances
which sun found US and guided BY the light oI
experience III our government, which its foun
GERS had not. They established the government
ana set 1t in motion and therefore could moi
make all lts parts perfect at once We should
regulate the machinery and alter it, whenever
the harmonious action of our complex system
demands It, speak with reverence but in truth
when express the deliberate conviction that
our foreialhers themselves would make the
change proposed by this bill if they could ac
as the legislature Of South Carolina in 1855, as
they did in 1872:
Next let ME answer briefly the gentleman
from 81. Johns Colleton confess that en-
oeaVored to gather at least n skeleton of his
objections to The Bill but that was entirey una
ole 10 DO So He dealt in such grand"quen
phrases such bold images. such fiery Demos
: lhehc expressions, that could not for the IIlt
OF me m catch his thoughts IN they passed from
his lips lie told us great deal about the lrrnc'
revolution, but should like 10 know what llIa
mas TO DO with giving the election Of electors i'
inc people. 1t is very common now -a-dayS, iC