Hammond was selected by the state legislature to be a candidate for the House of Representatives in the 1834 U.S. congressional election. The public did the ultimate electing, but given the mechanics of Carolina politics, being thus anointed pretty much assured that Hammond would become his district’s next congressman. So ritualized was this process that candidates were counseled to avoid campaigning altogether. The chivalry did not go door to door begging for votes. As expected, Hammond won.
