The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-09-26


GERS. Commissioners Of Roads aud Bridg-
es, Foor and Free Schools, Commission,
ers and Mastersin Equity, and various
other officers. This embarrassses legis.
lation, occupies great deal of the time,
ofmembers, and is productive Of evil
consequences. The most of these cleo.
,ions and appointments should be taken
from the Legislature.
The-election of Presidential Electors
by the Legislature is clearly an usurpa.i
ton on the part Of that body, and which
no other State in the Union tolerates, at
the present time. The Federal Constl-
tuition declares that "cach State shall
appoint in such manner as the Legislature
thereof may direct Electors Of President
and Vice President. "The State, and
not the Legislature, is to "appoiat" Elec.
tors. The Legislature is to direct the
''nanner" of appointing only. The peo.
pile are the State and should aappoint."".
No one will contend that the Legislature
which represents the State, is the State
ITSELF This gross error will no doubt
be corrected by the first Legislature
which assemblies under your new Con,
stituton, and it may be well for
you to express wish for its correc.
tiop. x
The appointment of the State officers
might be given to the Governor with
the advice and consent of the Senate.
He might also, with great propriety, be
empowered to make the appointment of
many ofthe District officers, aud thereby
relieve the people of a fruitful source Of
decentralization in making these petty
elections. The question issuggested for
your consideration. 80
In all elections made by the Legis.
lature, the voting should be Vtua Voce, so
that each members constituents might
know how he voted. The BALLOTS Sc,
cret and conceals the Representatives
vote from This constituency. The peo
pie have Alright TO know how their Rep.
.resentatives voted in elections as well
as inlegislation. In all elections by the
people, the ballot is certainly the proper
mode, as it enables every man to vote
independently. according to his own
convictions. No one has any right to.
know or question his vote. : He votes
asa sovereign. Bnt the Representa-
tive votes for Others. anu they have a
right to know his vote.
1t would be well to consolidate the
Treasury Department. The State of
South Carolina is neither SO large nor 80
wealthy as to require ,two Treasurers.
The Secretary of State and the Survey.
or.General should be required to keep
their Offices only at the seat of Govern
rdent. The facilities of travelling be-
tween Charleston and Columbia are now
such that there is no necessity for divi.
sion of these Offices at the expense of
tho State. The Court Of Appeals ought
also to be required to sit altogether in
Columbia where one law library and
one set of officers would be sufficient for
the Court.
In order give additional Importance
and consideration to the office ofLieuten.
ant.Governor, he ought TO be made er.
o8icio President of the Senate; or, whick
would be as we'll, let the President
OF the Senate act as Governor in case of
a ayacancy, till another election can be
male by the people.
You should provide for the election Of,
members of the egislature at an early
day--the second Monday in October---so}
that the General Assembly may be con.
vened in time to order the election of
members of Congress and United States
Senators, before the first Monday in De-
cember next. II is important that
all of the Southern States should
be fully represented when Congress as.
isenbles. q \ y y Z
In your new Constitution, You should
provide tor and declare valid all Lei.
lslatiye, Executive and Judicial acts Of
the State since her secession, ON the
twentieth Of December, eighteen i,ra.
dred and sixty, which are not in conflict
with the Constitution Of the United
States. Likewise ail civil officers elect.
ed since that period should be author.
ized to continue to discharge the duties
cct their respective ofIices nptil the exy,