The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-12
The Proper Basis fer Representation D..
PelitteaI Conventions.

A correspondent, referring to our objec-
tioos against the scheme Of representation
adopted by the Central Committee for the
coming Democratic State Convention, asks
Us to suggest better and iairer plan. We
will endesvor 10 do % 10 this article.
In the first place it will not be disputed
that numbers should form the basis Of re-
presentation In all bodies. 10 legislative
bodies, this representation is properly based
upon the aggregate Of all people within their
Jurisdiction, without reference TO sex, age, or
political belief. In partizan assemblsges,
however, the basis must be restricted 10
such fraction Of the aggregate number a. is
affiliated with the political party sought to
be represented. And to apply the rule to
the case in hand, the representation for a
Democratic Convention can only End its
proper basis on Democratic votes.
The Democratic Stale Central Commit.
tee applied the rule governing legislative
bodies to q political convention. For q
Democratic convention, which is to assem-
bic for the purpose Of legislAtiBg upon Dem.
ocratic principles, and selecting Democratic
nominees to be supported by Democratic
voters, our Central Committee adopt basis
which not only includes all manner Of voters
Black Republican, and Know Nothing, as
well as DemOcratic-but which takes in the
aggregate population Of the State, men,
women, children and niggers. That this
scheme is unjust, on the face Of it, does not
require argument or illustration. But to
satisfy those who have not paid attention to
the subject, We will illustrate the wrong
done to the Democracy Of the State by the
laundering Of its Central Committee. We
take the returns Of the last general election
for this purpose.
Washington county, with s74 Democratic
votes is given fire delegates. while Winona,
with ar delegates, has but. GG8 Democratic
votes. Fillmore county with 1912 Demo-
cratic votes, has eight delegates, while Da-
kota with 1861 Democratic votes, Is allow
ed but ~ven. Wabsshaw county, with but
2i6 Democratic votes, has four delegates in
the convention, while Blue Earth with 594,
lie Sueur with 500, and Sibley with $50,
Democratic votes, are permitted to send
only t,eo delegates apiece. Mower county,
with 235 Democratic votes. is given three
delegates, while Carver with 523, and
Stearns with $50 Democratic votes, are al
lowed only tuo delegates each. Faribault
county. with but IS Democratic votes, is
set down for iuo delegates. while Sher-
burne, with exactly the same number and
Anoka with 2O7, are allowed but one
apiece.
This parallel, or rather contrast, might
he extended throughout the entire list Of
counties. and with the same resut-show.
ing the gross partiality and injustice OF the
Central Committees scheme Of representa-.
ton. When you add to the above the
equally glarlng wrong, which We exposed
the other day OF admitting seventeen or
eighteen delegates to seats from counties
which have no organized existence, and We
confess the total exhibit does not show well
for practical good sense of the Central
Committee, or for the probable harmony of
the State Convention.