Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-11-06
Remarks of Dir. StOddard of Grafton, on
the Plurality Bill.

Dsirered in Tie House Of Representatives., Oct. I6
In all acts of Legislation it becomes to be duly
cautIous Especially should feel way with care
when we are about making innovations upon long establish
ed usage, or the slightest departure from the republican
principle upon which our government and is Institutions
are based The present bill contempates change in the
mode OF eecting town Representatives. mode that has
so lar as know, given entire saisfacton from the organ
1aon oil our government TO nearly the present
II proposes 10 transfer the control OF this election the
majority 10 minority and this minority many instances
will scarcely, ii at all third of the freemen
Ihs to me, seems serious aud unnecessary departure
from the true democratic principle of elections
Du II SAID we have already adopted the plurality sys.
m ana That It's practical operation has been aYoraby test.
cd IL Is true, that matter of convenience perhaps
may say OF necessity, we adopted this plan in the election
oil County Senator's and Of Representative Congress ID.
on tue third ballot But tie necessity OF the Is the on.
excuse for this departure from the democratic system
considerable time must necessarily intervene between the
eeng Of me electors and the return aud OF
"e votes II there be choice another meeting OF the
Heenen must be Called aud day time expended in eve
~ ballot II worthy Of consideration also that The
spread over large space and have opportu.
NIFTY to confer with each other for the purpose Of
tTa'on, or uniting upon candidate candidates whom
hey could elect Towns not thus embarrassed thew
may continue TO ballot long there is any hone Of an
election They confer with each other for the purpose
o. union, and the majority can make any compromise
they may elect but they cannot and major part of the
eemen choose 10 be unrepresened rather than send
son who is obnoxious to them, what right SIR have we to
eIpei them to be represented and that too by delegate
The gentleman from stAbans, on former occasion. in
9uep y me system contemplated by the bill be Just
principal eonendng parties with the only present hope of
defeating ooth because itvruuy dsranchises them moi
to the minority because they choose rather not to be repe
scented at ALL than 10 be represented by whose political
principles are odious to them II just only to that
minority which may happen to give the greatest number Of
votes for one f indeed the idea of justice can be en-
iertained in the dispensing Of hvos the few while the
many can only purchase them by sacrificing their political
principles and violating their eonsciences.
pal The gentleman says that large portion of the towns
are uurepresened and that the this hall will
DC vacant know not what visions of the future the gem
nsnan may have had They certainly do not predict the
future by retrospect Of the past Who ever heard ha
there were not sufficient number Of elect
s @an 70 MAKE the state and County appointments and as
wanedl And we have nov, 10 saw The Ienst rrooJ
nnuoer-more than New York requires to superneSd the
numerous ana complicated legislative interests Of SO large
bat why are gentlemen much alarmed What IL there
s esen. aspect OF things to require the passage of
oh may be said that there three poilicai
sad has the Efforts Of saeh neualize acts q HI or
s4t me t"o principal parties are prevented from making
IN election by the small number Of the weakest But why