Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-07-12

and ought TO be repealed not then is the question
Has Congress the right to dsfranche State for doing
that which It had right require dol The district
law hangs upon one OF these diemmas; it ought,
therefore, have been passed. else Congress ought
to have completed its work by dividing the into Con.
gressiona districts; If left that division privilege
to the States, ought have accompanied with proyi
that where the Legislature Of any refused
ected to act upon that privilege Congress would itself pro-
ceed ut its next session, apporon such State
gressonal districts Such law would have been
Constitutional objections: As il now stands il ought
TO be repealed or modified in that manner.
But the law possesses another obecton does not ac
compish or but impehecy accomplished that for which
the law was designedan equal division
among the people of the States.
The Government of the United States was intended nv
Its founders TO be emphacaly People
not OF party, composed Of but portion of the
out OF tue whole People, In elections Of representatives
IN Congress from the several States it desirable therefore,
TO equaze the representation among all parties nearly
possible: This only be done by giving to each parry
representation IN exact proportion to its numerical
In elections OF representatives by districts is impossible
TO come nearer than approximation perfect repre-
sentaon of all parties and pcrsons for State entitled TO
eleettweniyone representatives may have majority ofoyer
loOOO IN favor OF one party and the districts be appor
toned rs TO give twelve representatives the party which
Is actually in the minority in the State and seven only TO
the party which has the majority leaving the remaining two
districts doubtful See the Report Of the Wing members Of
the Ohio Legislature. One district may have majority in
favor OF party exceeding by 900 the combined ma
opposite party See Report where it stated that
the 9th district laid down by the apporonment of the
Legislature, gave at the last previous election Wing
joriy of 4,SO3 while the ID, 3D. 4th 7th Sth 9th 10Th
l2t llh and 18th districts gave aggregate majority
but 1908 the opposite side: and the Wing majority in
the 5h and 18th districts exceeded by 2504
bined maoriies in all the twelve districts the State CIV
ing maorities OF the opposite pnr Two districts may
have each majority OF but 100 side and though
third district may have majority Of 10000 the other
SIDE yet the former will elect representatives while the
in its
tatve voice the latter will be minority Of . al
though in its popular voice it is in majority of so L.
The injustice Of such representation be apparent
to every Again. in elections by general ticket they
have heretofore existed the representation still u
Just TO the minority there the minority, though may
ia but lille snort IN numerical votes Of half OF all the
votes given, has representative voice at ALL
The distribution OF representation among different par
ties and interests IN exact proportion their numerical
can only be effected by dividing the total number OF
gwen by the number OF representatives be elected the
number thus obtained will be the number Of which
each representative is entitled, the quoen required for
the election OF any candidate: Then dividing the az
gregute vote given by each party by this quoeni will show
the number OF representatives TO which each party emit
tied IN exact proportion TO its numerical vote.
In any such arrangement for the division of representation
II VIII be necessary 10 guard against arbitrary decisions
the officers appointed TO decide upon the election returns
10 the construction distinction party votes: il being i'm
their power the matter was left their discretion throw
many doubtful votes upon which side they pleased or arb
trary TO class the candidates among different parties
signing part Of the candidates of party nomnay to
some oher party so as to insure the election OF all
~ all oil the candidates whom they disposed favor
Moreover appears TO me inoNpedent that any officers of
election, matter how unimpea chabe their integrity
should be allowed TO Judge of the politics or party of any
candidate upon whose election they have decide To
guard against accidental intentional in this respect
the part OF the officers appointed TO decide on the cleo
nons' whereby the rights OF the electors might be inrnged
the only method 1t Is believed, would be require the
election OF each representative number of votes equal TO
the quotent TO which he may be entitled hdpnR his name
them, be counted off, and those votes used thus in the
han
ing again used for the election of any other
Every one however, at all with popular cleo
nons knows the frequent prevalence Of spurious tickets
Purporhng 10 belong TO one party, but containing
more names Of the candidates opposite party and
put IN circulation by members Of that party for the purpose
OF decevlng their opponents hope that of those
tickets OF their party and thus of
the candidates OF the party by whom the tickets ccu
lated while believing themselves be voting against them
IL will be seen that regulation, requiring the election Off
Gers TO proceed IN the above specified viz select
for the election OF representative number votes
equal TO the quoen To which he be entitled having
them the Of SAID representative and forbdding
them TO use said votes for the election other repreen
tave, unaccompanied by any other restriction regua
ton, would place II in their power select for any fayoe
candidate every spurious ticket voted inadvertently by
opposite party, which the Of said candidate had
been surTepuousy entered reseying the Of their
own party for other candidates. aud thereby elect
TO elect said candidates by the the party opposed TO
him, at the time nnnung those regarded all
other candidates named on them-thus doing double in
also place in their power select every ballot Of doubtful
political bearing that might have the VI some
candidates OF each party for those candidates belonging
the party which said officers disposed favor
ing, before those ballots Of decided politics. favorable TO
the same party, tor the election Of other candidates.
This can be eectuay guarded against by providing that
all tickets offered by electors at the polls shall have the
contained thereon arranged column with the name
OF the candidate for whom the elector has preference
any placed at the top and in order Of preference;
or else, the name Of the candidate whom the eector
gives first preference marked 1.-The candidate whom he
gives preference marked g. and order Of pre-
ference, and requiring that the officers appointed for that
purpose in selecting from the total number Of the
quOuent TO which any candidate may DO entitled shall
select those votes which said candidate had the first or
highest place Of preference.
therefore present the following plan as one which tsH
secure an eJdct and impartial representation 10 ererV
party dHdndoiduai and notices. where there dis
unct party divisions for though tho divisions Of party
teresi should be the number Of representa-
hyes 20 be elected, twill each s propoonate
representation. Moreover, under this plan, and this
consider IL greatest merit, individual could feel he
must under all other plans, that HE cote may BE- totally
lon " falling IN the minority, bat eUery UOfe wOud 20
to0ards the election Of representative. n this
plan could also be- adopted in the election Of electors Of the
President Of the United States perfect expression Of
the popular will would be obtained than could be by any
other method. Its a. follows;
l. In oil elections In the several Saios for Congressional
Representatives, said elections 10 be made by general ticket
| in the following manner
H. II shal be the duty Of each eector vote for num-
Der oi candidates, equal 70 the number OF representatives
sad candidates shall b. piece paper and arranged
n column. The namo Of the candidate for whom said
eecto has fret preference " any, shall DO placed first on
Che list The candidate for whom he has preference
shall BE- pacod noEt and In order Of preference; or
else e of the candidates shall be numbered in the
order u preference o the ooctor the for whom he has
first preference being marked No. the one for whom
BE- has next preference being marked No. q and 20 on
IN order u preferences And In oil where there are no
numbers attached 10 the namos then the order which they
stand the list shall be considered the order of prefer
| cuce.
H. Register shall be kept Of every vote with the No Of
| preference given In that 10 each candidate
~. Register shall be kept Of the total number of votes
and 81 the number Of votes given each candidate spoc
Tying The number which he had the first place Of prefer
ence, the I'd place Of preference md respectively
" Tho total number Of votes shall be divided by the
number u representatives. 70 be elected which will give
tive.
VI. Commencing with tho candidate who shalhsv re-.
ceived the number Of A..