The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-06-06
MLSCELIANy.
Speech Of Hon. r. ". ricl.crs,

Ectorc he Urmccyutic .S!ctc Cc!tcy.;!o4.
Coi""15;u, Noy ), 1856.
GENTLENES OF THE CuxvExryoy II
return You my tIi;uks for tic very kid!
manner iii wlit!: Yea are please! to receive
.n". w"aia have d"c::!tcL t;.a lo>itiou
YOU have cai!c,l.lnc TO as&unlc rs voHr p:..
siding officer, for | desire 10 noto,;v.v whit
ever in public affairs, but for one GO; ..;,cri
ton, and that is, that know t!.c!c is cori
'aldc;''bic opro*i'';n 10 The Purpose, o. TIL,
Convention Ill mI:!y Hccti"l.s ui our STATE.
anl it is accompanied will, much bitter
ness. [ nIcr these circumstances, Go not
wish 70 ail"""- -r"n - .-r-:l Il! .r,i:,~
r.sronsiI,i!tv, or 10 lr.a., any share OF vi
tu.puru,ion. 1t has been the habit o.! mv
life to meet every responsibility imposes! on
me by those whom esteem aS my friends,
and have always hal to encounter my tul
share of dcnuncia;ion. On this OCCASION.
while shall not avoid Tie one, sl.:i! defy
the other.
Ii ain correctly informed, the sole Oh
iuct Of this Convention i, Ia srnl Delegates
10 represent the people OF this State Ill Tie
Cincinnati Convention, which meets to noG.-
mate. for the Democratic party, ca'!,!i,i;.!c>
for President and Vicc-l'lc,idcnt OF Ia:
United States. The objections to this are
fist. that it has not been the usual Gus
tom of South Carolina TO do SO and scs:-
ond, that it leads Us i~to :, corrupt s.ru@-
ric and contest for :hc Offices Of the FEEDER
III Government. Fi:s., rs TO custom, trust
you will bear with ne while !ool; barl;
briefly into this matter. AS the issue has
been made in South Carolina, it is important
that we should understand the history OF it,
,or at least SONG points bearing ,uponit.
= In the clause of the Constitution Which
creates an ELECTORAL college, it was origin
ally Intended by Mr.. Madison, and others
that the, election of President and Nmc,
President should be removed from the pco,
ple, and beyond the reach OF popular OK,
<;itemcnt: and twas intended that the cleo.
toral college should chose whoever they
thought proper, without reference to any
previous indications. But, in the progrcs.
of events the theory was entirely changed
and the election Of electors was, in fact, tho
election of President, for the bo'!y was
= pledged in advance to one candidate or an
other. The clause in the Constitution. a:
it originally stood, only provided that they
should vote for two namcs, without ticsiy
mating who waste be President, and who
was Vicc-P president, but the lghcs
should be President In 1900, the confess
between the Federal and Republican part,
was bitter anh excited. Jefferson an,i BUR-
:erce run by the latter, and it fell into tl,t
IIouse-,hcy both having All equal nun
bef q votes. Burr was voted for rs Pres
idcnt, but only intended by the RernbIi
.,:ans ins the electoral college to be Vice
President !; and yet the Fcdcralists, taking
!. advantage Of tic technical flaw in the Con
-stitution, which prohibited them from DIES
: icnating who was for President, and wht
for Vice President, actually rallied on Bur
e for President in order to defeat Mr.. Jcffcr
son, Who was the most odious of all men t,
them. The balloting continued by State
in the House for length Of time, until tn
saGovernment approached well near to Bit
ter rupture; sozamuch SO, that Jefferso
himself said, if continued, Virginia woul
arm. Bysa member or two from Sout
Carolina, who were voting for Burr, at las
declining to vote at all, the election We
made in favor Of Jefferson, amid intens
excitement, and great danger to the perm,
ncnce Of the Government itself. The fec
ing of danger was SO widespread, that til
Constitution was Immediately amended, S
rs to make it the duty of the electoral co
legc to Designate on their ballots wfiol
thevsjntendeA as President, and as Vic
President The country also saw tho grci
danger of corruption, and rupture Of I'll