The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-09-11
CONSPIRACY TO THROW THE ELECTION OF
PRESIDENT INTO THE HOUSE OF REPREsEN-
TATIVES-COALITION BETWEEN THE AMER
ICANS AND BLACK REPUBLICANS.

FhEo1UENI lNlO ThE HOUSE OF REPRESEN
TATIvEs-COALTTION BETWEEN THE AMER
IcANs AND BLACK REPUBLICANS
The Wing of yesterday concludes an ar.
ticle on "Mr. Filmore's Prospects," with
the following words:
"At this point, we close our remarks
with All extract from Il communication in
the Baltimore American, touching the
prospects of Mr.. Fillmore in the House
which tho American tells us is from the
pen OF one of the most prominent and i'll
iluential Wings Of Maryland-one who
never allowed partizan zeal to blind his
Judgment, or to express opinions that he
has not the best reasons for believing TO be
correct and reliable."
In the communication Which is so warm
ly commented to the confidence of the
readers Of the Whig, we find this para,
graph:
"Thc Republicans will make an earnest
struggle Tor their man, but when they see,
rs sec they must, that it is destined to b.
fruitlcss, they WiW join tie .in,cyirnns unl
make Ar. Fillmore Prcsi.i.nt. IHry mU
neither rote for Mr.. Bach"non nor $nGiy'
the election TO 90 10 Mc Senate. My Wtor-
nation on Mis sutjcct IS d2.ircd .t;ons Mc
most Intelligent onI ontlrutic $ourrcx.
"Thc result upon the whole is that the
people will fail to elect Il President; that
the House will elect one, and that the
choice of the House will be Mr.. Fill
more"
Thus distinctly do the organs Of the OPP
position reveal the bsis OF their hope; anal
aspirations. Tie election OF Mr.. Fillmore
by a popular vote, not hcjn. within tn"
limits of possibility, they are co"ly calcu-
1atinT his chances OF succcSs i'll the House
of Representatives.
It is obvious that the efforts of the op-
position have no other aim than to defeat Il
choice of President by the people, and to
throw the election into the House, where
the issue OF the struggle may be determined
10y corrupt Influences ar accidental co.nbi-
nations. This fact invites the most serious
consideration.
The Constitution prcsrribcs the choice of
n President an,l Nicr-I sc>,rut by popular
vote, through the intermediate agency Of
electoral colleges The contingency Of "A
failure of an election 10y tlsr people. is con-
tcmp!ated like any other irrc-t,lar,v in the
operation Of our institutions; and The pos
sibiiiy OF such am exceptional and :,lnor-
nal case, is provided ior by an appropriate
enactment OF the Constitution. sSiiil, though
the choice Of President dcvnlvc upon the
House Of Representatives,, the selection can
only be made from among the three caldi-
dates who receive the largest popular vote
"a limitation which illustrates the absolute
necessity, i'll bur system of government, of
the immediate responsibility of the Exccu-
tive to the reopie. The defeat of an cleo
ton Of President by popular vote, par
takes of the character OF violence aud is
analogous TO Il failure of legitimate success
sion and u change Of dynasty in monarchi-
cal governments. Such an event always
involves more or less of domestic disturb
ancc, and necessarily implies danger TO the
stability Of the government. The provision
for the election of President hy the House
Of Representatives, is intended To avert the
calamities which, without this safeguard.
would result from an obstruction in the le
gltimatc and cquahc operation Of our insti-
tutIons. 1t Is Il remedy for extreme cases
of diseased action, and was never meant TO
bc the daily diet Of the government. \
deficiency Of natural vitality and strength
in the human system, is supplied hy artifi-
cal stimulan's; anal, in like manner, when
the government falls into Il sort OF syncope,
It's consciousness and power are restored bv
extraordinary application: The faithful!
physician, i'll either case is not the man
who deliberately produces tic PARALYSIS,
but lie who anxously sus,ans the health
full action Of the system, and only resorts
to an extreme medicine in an cxtrem.
emergency. When we see a party spccu-
latng on the probability of all obstruction
IN the action of government, and coolly
calculating the chances of SUCCESS in the
event OF defeat Of the popular choice, we
may safely infer that its patriotism is not
equal to its passion for the spoils. The
things that breed and faten in disease, !,
organization, are the creatures of corrup-
ton.
The history or the country furnishes a
practical illustration of the philosophy incul-
Gated III the preceding paragraphs. There
has been an instance and but a snnlc III
stance, of the defeat of the popular choice
in the election Of President; and there
was certainly nothing OF success in that cy-
pertinent TO invite its repetition. Tn 1921,
neither candidate for the Presidency re-
celved majority OF the electoral votes,
and the choice devoived upon the House Of
Representatives. All the elements Of on
position to the Democracy united in a
coalition, and John Quincy Adams was
elected over General jackson, who had u
plurality of the popular and the electoral
vote, and who was the indispulable choice o.!
the country. The shock to onr system was
80 severe as to inspire the gloomiest apprc-
tensions for tho safety of our institutions.
Here was'proof that popular government
might he perverted to the defeat of the
will Of the people, and to the ageranIize.
ment of an oligarchy Of inscriptions poll
tlclans. A feeling of disquict and diseon-
tent pervaded the country; the people
wrlthed and groaned as under the heel of
hsurpa'ion; there was universal reyol,
against the dynasty which had seized Dos
session Of the government in defiance of
the manifest will Of The masses. The Ex-
ccutive was paralyZed by tho irroor,.,;,, -.