The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-06-05
From the South Carolinian.
S p E E G III
HON. F. w. PICKENS,
Before the Democratic State Convention,
Columbia, Nay 5, 1856.

Before the Democratic State Convention,
Columbia, May 5, 1856.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNvENTIoN: l
return you my thanks for the very kind
manner in which you are pleased to re
ceive me. would have declined the
position you have called me to assume as
your presiding officer, for desire no noto
riety whatever in public affairs but for one
consideration, and that is, that know
there is considerable opposition to the pur-
poses of this Convention in many sections
of our State, aud it is accompanied with
much bitterness. Under these circuinstan-
.ces, do not wish to appear even to avoid
all proper responsibility, or to dread any
share Of vituperation. 1t has been the
habit Of my life to meet every responsibli
ty imposed on me by those whom esteem
as my friends, and have always had to
encounter my full share Of denuuc;ation
On this occasion, while | shall not avoid
the one, shall defy the other.
If am correctly informed, the sole OBJ
Ject Of this Convention is to send Dele gates
to represent the people of this State in the
Cincinnati Convention, which meets 10
nominate, for the Democratic party, can
l. L
of the United States. The objections 10
this are-frst, that it has not been the
nsual custom Of South Carolina 70 DO so;
and second, that 1t leads Ills into a corrupt
struggle and contest for tue offices of the
Federal Government. First, as TO custom
l trust YOU viii bear with me while | look
back 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 some points bear
ing upon it.
In that clause of the Constitution which
creates an electoral college, it was orig
nally intended 10y Mr.. Madison, d oil ers,
that the election of President and Vice
President should be removed from the peo
pie, and beyond the reach OF popular excite.
ineui; aud it was intended that the cleclc :
raj college should choo whoever they
thought proper, without reference TO any
previous Indications. But, in the progress
Of events, the theory was entirely changed,
and the election of electors WAS, in fact, the
election of President, for the body was
pledged in advance TO one candidate or
another. The clause in the Constitution,
rs it originally stood, only provided that
they should vote for two names, without
designating who was TO be President and
who Vice President, bat The highest should
be President. In 1900, the contest between
the Federal and Republican party WAS Bit
Ter and excited. Jefferson and Burr were
run bv the latter, and it fell into the House
they both having an equal number OF
votes. Burr was voted for us President,
but only intended by the Republicans in
the electoral college TO be Vice President;
and yet the Federalists, taking advantage
of the technical flaw in the Constitution,
which prohibited them from designating
who was for President and who tor Vice
President, actually rallied on BUR- for
President i'll order TO defeat Mr.. Jefferson
who was the most odious of all men to
them. The balIoting continued by States
In the House for length OF time, until the
Government approached well near TO a
bitter rupture; so much SO, that Jefferson
himself said, if continued, Virginia would
arm. by q member or two from South
Carolina, who were voting Tor Burr, at last
declining to vote at all, the election was
maze in favor of Jefferson, amid intense
excitement, and great danger to the per.
manence of the Government itself The
feeling of danger was SO widespread, that
The Constitution was Immediately amended,
SO as TO make it the duty of the electoral
college TO designate on their ballots whom
they intended as President and AS Vice
s'resident. The country also saw the great
danger of corruption and n rupture of tho
Government, by the election falling into
the House OF Representatives; and TO pre-
vent Its recurrence, and looking with ab
horence upon the dsgraceiul attempt in
the Federal party to force Burr upon The
country, the Republican party rcsor,ed to
some mode by which it was TO be prevent
ed in future. Hence the Congressional
caucuses Of tho Republican party to con.
centrate, by nomination, the whole strength
OF the party, and to prevent division, by
which the electoral college might fail IL
elect, and throw it again into the House OF
Representatives. So at the end Of Mr. JEFF
ferson's second term, Madison was nomina.
ted over Monroe; and SO ut tho end OF
Madson's second term, Monroe was nomi-
mated over Crawford, aud others. Then
during Mr.. Monroc's administration, after
the war, tie Federalists, with the odinm OF
opposing the war; and tho olium of their
intrigues under Burr, became utterly pow
erIess. Mr. J. O. Adams, the son Of the
great leader OF that party, had betrayed
them and made merit OF disclosing their
secrets TO Mr.. Jefferson, and ho had accept
ed office under him and Mr. Madison. lie
now was made Secretary Of State under
Mr. Monroe, which consummated his re.