The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-01-04

~NS P>otAS ~ ehS PLSoSat SCuCI
r. Again. in support of the plan Of giving
the election Of electors to the people, will,
for tho benefit of Senators, submit COM
parison between the up aud low country as
to'the relative strength of their vote under
'our present joint ballot system, under the
plan of throwing the election into the House
OF Representatives as proposed by Mr.. Ches.
nut, and under the general ticket system
The present number on joint ballot, in both
branches of the Legislators, is one hundred
and sixtr-nine votes, Of these. tie lower
country will cast sevcnty.eight votes; and
tue up-conntry nincty.one, leaving n differ.
epce Of thirteen votes in favor ofrthe up.
country. If ,yon, omit, the, Senate MS is
proposed bys the plan of my friend Mr..
Ghesnpt sll the lower country will cast fifty.
five votes and the up-country sixty-nine.
giving to the: :up.eenntry a majority Of four,
teenNvotes. According to my plan Geqiuote3
from the census of u $40, and tax fe,nrnsl
the population, including tile slaves aof the,
lower :country, isitwo hundred and seventy.
six thousand one, hundred and sixty:four,
and tHat of TIE up: country is three hundred
and eight ythrce thousands three hnndred
|andseighty, leaving aditference in favor Of
the up:countfy Of one hundred and; sriine
thousand Two, hundred and sixteen Thus
It will hefBssn hat the up country has
the advantage eaeIlicheversway You may,yiiew
the three plans. Then.SI Say if thereiis no
difference astto the relative strenptllsof the
two sections, why not for the lower Country
come eSand join hands with lis, and say to
the people, you laye the right,to cast your
vote directly. for the electors, and We
|;Willino longer withhold that privilege from
Eyou. Will.tliey not scoifne forward in "a
spirit of@compfomise, it a COMPROMISE is
necessary, and5 eolnot as "a people of one
common; interest, and common destiny,de-
iermined 10 give the people their long de-
terreds rights7 We.may shift thessquestion
asSwe please; We: may disguise and hood.
winkthe people now, but tho time is coming
when they will rise in sthe majesty of their
s'trengtlizand wreat this power from you T
know there are Senators who feel perfectly
secure 10 their position here, and think. too
much knowledge and light among the peo. ut =
pie is dangerous thing, but say 10 them,
the people are awakening up upon this sub
Ject. They will not come here and beg
Of the Legislature to grant them rights now
withheld by their own agents. They will
say, you have rs much right to vote for
members Of Congress, Shcrifs, Ordiua.ics
and Clerks, as You have to cast their votes
for electors. If YOU have the right, they
will say, in the one case, you have it in all.
Is it not better that we should talks the step
ourselves in advance Off any popular demon
stration, than to have this privilege wrested
from MS by the sovereign wills In mo-
narchical form Of government, you may
shut ont light and knowledge; you may
trampc under foot freedom Of thought and
speech, but in this government, and under
the broad blaze Of education, the right to
think aud act for oncs-sclf is right that
will never be surrendered by the people.
With these remarks, submit the uues-
ton to the serious consideration Of the
Senate.