Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-10-30
REMARKs OF Mr.. sToDDARn or GRAF-

Adjourned.
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REMARKS OF MR.. STODDARD OF GRAF
TON, ON THE PLURALITY BILL,
Delivered IN The House of Representatives, Oct JIG.
In all our acts of legislation, it becomes us TO be
duly cautious. Especially should we feel our way
with care when we are about making innovations
upon long established usage or the slightest de-
parturo from the republican principle upon which
our government, and its institutions, are based-
The present bill contemplates change IN the mode
of electng Town Representatives, u mode that
has so far as know, given entire satisfaction from
the organization of our governmentup to nearly the
present time. II proposes TO transfer the control OF
this election from the majority to minority; and
this minority, in many instances, will scarcely, it
at all, exceed one third of the freemen This, to
me, seems serious and unnecessary departure
from the true democratic principle Of elections.
But it is said, we have already adopted the plu-
raty system, and that its practical operation has
been favorably tested. 1t is true, TINT as matter
of convenience, perhaps | may say, OF necessity,
adopted this plan in the election OF County Sen
ators, and of Representatives to Congress upon the
third ballot. But the necessity OF the case Is the
only excuse for this departure from the democratic
system. Considerable time must necessarily inter-
vene between the meeting Of the electors and the
return and canvassng of the votes. If there be no
CHOICE another meeting of the frccmen must be
called, and days time expended in every ballot
1t is worthy of consideration, also, that the voters
are spread over large space and can have no OPP
portuny to confer with each other FOR the purpose
of concentration, or uniting upon a candidate or
candidates whom they would elect Towns are not
thus embarrassed; they may continue to ballot as
long as there is any hope of an election. They
can confer with each other for the purpose of unlon
and if the majority make any compromise, they
may elect; but if they cannot, and major part OF
the reemon choose to be unrepresented rather than
send person who is obnoxious to them, what right
sir have we to compel them TO be represented;
and that, too, by delegate odious to them?
The gentleman frem ST. Adams, on former &C.
cason, inquired if the system contemplated by the
bill be not just ? Just! to whom? Not to the few
who struggle between the principal contending par
ties, with the only present hope of defeating both,
because it virtually DISTINGUISHES them; not to the
majority, because they choose rather not TO be rep
resented at ALL than to be represented by one whose
political principles odious to them 1t is just,
then, only to that minority which may happen to
give the greatest number of votes for one man. If,
indeed the idea of justice can be entertained in
the dispensing of favors to the few, while the many
can only purchase them by sacrificing their politl-
cal principles and violating their conscences.
But the gentleman says that a large portion of
the towns unrepresented, aod that the seats
in this hall will be vacant. | know not what Wis
ions of the future the gentleman may have had
They certainly do not predict the future by a ret
respect of the past. Who ever heard that there
were not a sufficient number of Representatives
elected to make the State and County appointments,
and as many, and in most instances, more laws than
the people wanted? And we have now, to say the
least, goodiy number-more than New York re-
qurcs to superlntend the numerous and complicated
legislative interests of so large State.
But why are gentlemen so much alarmed? What
is there In the present aspect Of things to require
the passage of this bill? Itmay be said, that there
are three political parties, and that the efforts Of
each neutralize the acts of all or that the two
principal parties prevented from making an cleo
ton by the small number of the weakest. But why
charge the result upon the smallest party? Would
not change Of like number of votes in either Of
the other parties, produce the same result?
Sir this is not the first time there has been three
political parties i'll this State. 1T is but short time
since the parties called Democratic, Wing, and
Anti-Masonc, were contending for the mastery ;
but | have never heard in that contest or in any
other, that the people suffered for the want of
sufficient number Of Representatives.
If the object of the bill is virtually to dsfrnn-
chse and eXtinguish the political hopes of either
OF the present political parties in the State, let
remind gentlemen that Mordecai was not hung on
Haman's gallows! If any portion of the ireemen
OF Vermont entertain peculiar views relative to po-
lltlca or civil liberty, any other subject which
they think worthy to be Incorporated INTO their po-
litica creed, and carried into effect at the ballot
box, what right have to say that their appeals TO
the intelligence of the people shall be Intellectual
by virtually taking from them the right of suffrage.
Sir, l am willing to trust TO the virtue and inteli-
gence of treemen in this matter, and so long as
they are capable of conducting their elections, /
am for trusting to their integrity, and continuing TO
the majority the rights they haze so long enjoyed.