Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-02-20

Legislature can be of long continuance, un-
less sustained by portion Of the people
out of the Legislature. How long could a
representative stand speaking and acting
against the will of his constituents 3? Hence,
if the appointment by the Legislature Of
Presidential Electors were unauthorized by
the Federal Constitution, and were against
the wish Of the people generally, still, the
! Legislature, in continuing 10 exercise that
power, would be but giving expression to
the will Of the minority, in opposition to the
will of the majority. But who can say that
majority OF the people are against this
exercise OF power by the Legislature On
this subject there has been as yet no gcner.
al expression of the popular will. The
people generally lave sought no change.
Not petition or memorial, not present.
ment of Grand Jury has gone up from the
people to the Legislature asking Tor change.
So far as can be fairly judged the desire for
change is confined 10 few, at least TO Il
minority, Of whom many are political agi-
tators, seeking 10 become leaders among
their felow-clizens. With what show Of
reason or decency, do these men claim to
be par excellence the representatives OF the
people, aud to demand in the peoples name,
il new mode Of electing Electors! Can they
mean more than to carry out the will Of
those who think as they do OIL this subject!
Yet will they deny to others what they
claim for themselves, viz: the right 10 rep
resent those who concur with them in SEN
liment; who believe it wise to adhere 10 the
existing mode? Because. the people, Of
Greenville and Of Spartanburg, Of pickeHs
and Anderson may seek change, is no re.
spect to be paid to the wishes OF the people
Of ELgeGcld, BarnwelI, and other Districts,
that may desire no ehangea Is it not ab-
surd-nay ridiculous, to charge the people
of these Districts with usurping the rights
OF their C.llow.c citizens of other Districts, be.
cause, differing from them in opinion, they
may wish 10 cling to a timehonorcd custom,
which has secured to them all their hts
touching the Presidential election!
Ircpeat: The charge Of usurpation is en-
tirely groundless 1t is indeed a so'ecism
in terms to accuse the people of usurping
their own rights This is simply question
of expcdiency, about which Il contest has
arisen between different portions Of the
people of the Stale. The inquiry now is,
which portion is right? they who go-for
letting things stand as they are, or those
who call for change! This is the point to
be hereafter determined.
1t is further said, that the expense and
Inconvenience Of calling the Legislature to.
gelher every four years, merel y to elect !:.!ec-
tors, render this change proper and ncces-
sary. Which is worse, small expense inc1r-
red every four years with some inconvcni.
cnce, or the unknown rerils Of the ruthless
innovation to which this change will expose
US! Which will cause tie greater accn.
vcniencc-wllich will appeal more strongly
to the wealth and industry Of tile State. the
drawing off $4,000 voters on tho day Of
election from their usual avocationS, with all
their incidental expenses, or the meeting TO-
gcthcr Of about ITO pcrsons at Columbia at
an expense of very few thousand dollars {!
Is time no clement Of wealth! Is the saving
Of tLe peoples money no saving Of wealth
to the State? On the score Of cconomy the
meeting of the Legislature would BE- prefer
able while the Inconvenience would be tri-
fling
But the existing evils may be easily reme-
died. In the growing interests OF our
State, by which our Legislative business has
been necessarily multiplied, it might not be
amiss, every four years at least, to have a
longer Session in order that important OBJ
jects of Legislation may be duly weighed
and considered. The fact is not to be dis.
guiscd, that in our present short Sessions,
from want Of time for thorough Il discussion,
hasty legislation on weighty matters not
unfrcIuently results, from the i'll effects OF
which the State does not sometimes recover
for years. BY calling tho Legislature to.
gether, therefore, every fourth year, if not
every year, on the Tuesday next after the
first Monday in November, the day fixed by
the Act Of Congress 1915, for electing lilec.
tors the Inconvenience of IN extra Session
would bo remcdied, and important beneficial
results obtained.
This change is again urged, because our
plan Of clccting Electors differs from that in
use in tie other States OF the Union. Where
is the forco OF such an argument! Observe
TO what extent this mode OF reasoning would
lead us! For the same reason we might
cast aside many Of our important internal
arrangements, in the wisdom and utility Of
which, no one doubts. Why not in iIale the
example of some of the States, and elect
our Governor, Judges i'd all other State
officers by general b. .at! Why not give
our Executive a veto? Why not change the
mode of procedure in OIL Equity jurisprn.
dencc, or blend the jurisdictions Of Law and
Equity? If example, apart from practical
good, is to be our guide these changes may
be introduced; but where would be the wis.
dom or philosophy Of such Legislation
VIII the statesman urge measures for his
country without the prospect OF any benc.
fetal results, or o( some conservative good?
Let the advocates of the change proposed
point to the practical benefits arising in
other States from their mode of cloctins
Electors. We ask ii it has there built up
stronger safeguards to popular liberty: We
ask if it has Increased the intelligence and
patriotism of the people? if it has added to
their social and domestic enjoyment! We
ask if it has made the people there more con-
servativc of the sound parts Of the ins!i!u-
tons Of The land They, | am aware, who
espousc the cause of change, sometimes
boast of these benefits. But is there ground
for such boasI9 II y blind adherence 10
party; if familiarity with caLalis;ic phrases;
;f unInn unrmih lnul hIlyzns and q Lnll Of