The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-17

abandoned the convention system has
gained more and more precision ct
movement, with more and more power.
But suppose, today, u deadlock in one
of the conventions, OF, better still, ia
both. Suppose that we owed it to the
good Offices of silver or gold, OF protec-
tion or tariff, or all these together, that
each convention adjourned without
nomination. In that case each Of the
great parties would be forced back on
the plan of the constitution. And it
would work exceedingly we'll.
Each party would name, in each state,
the strongest possible electoral ticket 1T
could name, Of men commanding the
public confidence, for on such men ev-
erything would depend. In Maine Reed
men would be chosen By the Republic
ans, in Ohio Mckinley men. In New
York the Democrats would vote for
Whitney men, in Tennessee and Ken
tucky for Carlisle men. Forty eight
hours after the November vote would
tell the country whether Republican
or a Democratic majority had been
gained in the As state boards OF electors.
No one would care much for whom
the minority party gave its votes. But
the electors Of the successful party would
meet at Washington or at some other
central point and determine in conven-
ton who should be their, candidate.
Here we should have convention rep
resenting majority states, and those
states only. The members would have
been chosen by all the people, not as
now by a few eager partisans. The con-
vention could sit for one, two or even
three weeks before the members need
return to their state capitals to give the
formal vote which is required under the
constitution.
This condition of things will not come
about this year, nor, perhaps. at any
election within the next decade. But it
is more and more probable with every
election, and when it does come about
people will be extolling, as they should,
the wisdom Of the fathers who made
preparation so elastic and so admirable
in any contingency. We are led to con-
slider the rI.isibility Of SUCH contingency
BY the curious C1oseness Of some q the
presidential elections. The celebrated
election of 1900, which really changed
the policy. not to say che constitution,
of the national government, seemed to
waver for months. 1t was decided at
last in Jefferson's favor in house Of
representatives in which the Federalists
had large majority.
There were then really four modes OF
choosing electors They were chosen by
the legislature, and some legislatures
voted by concurrent vote and some BY
joint ballot, or they were chosen popu.-
larly, by general ticket or by districts.
Massachusetts and Virginia had aban-
loned the district system. In Virginia
the people voted by general ticket. In
Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Car
olina the Federalists controlled the sem
ates and the Democrats the other houses
OF assembly. Different arrangements
grew out of this complication, resulting
IN division OF the votes Of these states.
Pennsylvania chose seven Federallst
electors and eight in opposition. North
Carolina had eighth opposition to four
Federalists, and Maryland was equally
divided.
The great decision was made BY what
may be- called, roughly and with excep-
tions, the general rule Of the politics Of
the first so years Of the century-name-
II. the union Of the southern states with
New York against the rest Of the north
ern states. At the very last the doubtful
point was South Carolina. The election
was in the legislature. So doubtful was
it that the opposition members even Of
fered to compromise By agreeing to vote
for Jefferson and Pinckney, giving the
vote Of the state to one Democrat and one
Federalist. The Federal ticket through
the country was Adams and Pinckney.
Had the South Carolina Federalists
agreed to this proposal, Jefferson and
Pinckney would have had an equal
number Of votes for the highest office.
As Pinckney was South Carolina man
there was naturally local temptation
to the South Carolina Federalists to &C
cept this offer. Had it been accepted,
Charles Ccteswcrth Pinckpey would
have been the third president of the
United States and Thomas Jefferson
would have been the vice president.
Very much to the credit Of the South
Carolina Federalists, they declined the
proposal. Jefferson was chosen president
by the house Of representatives, and by
that election the course ef American
history was changed.
EDWARD 3. HALE.
The Plausible Lie.
We resent -calumny, hypocrisy and