The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-15
EQUALITY OF SUFFRAGE AND REP
OBSERVATIONS -------
The Union State Convention, among other
resolutions, passed the following: Anu2

line Union OJaIe ConVenIiOn, among OLner
resolutions, passed the following: HU2
Resotuea That the Constitution ofthe United States
should be SO amended as to secure equality and uni
formity OF the right of suffrage and representation of
the several States IN the National Convention,
We cannot better illustrate the practical
necessity and effect of such change as is con
templated in the above resolution, than by
comparing and contrasting two States-Maine
and South Carolina. Prior to the apportion-
ment based on the census of 1860, these two
States had the same powerin Congress, and in
their Electoral Colleges. Under the present
apportionnent, which continues in force till
1879, South Carolina loses two representatives
while Maine loses only one.
The population Of this State is 62S, 279, Civ
ing JsUe members in the House of Representa-
tives. The population of South Carolina
reckoning her entire free population and
three-ffths of her slaves, according to the last
census, if 522,7 40, giving tosu representatives
in the House. Nt1A We EA FA
1t is common with us to reckon the voting
population at one-6fth; this viii give in this
State 1856 voters, which is very near the
exact number; there being no classes excluded
from suffrage, and no property qualification re-
quired. aaal
In South Carolina suffrage is confined to the
unite population. This numbers POI $685.
There is qualification required in South
Carolina, unknown to our laws, under which
the voter must have a freehold of fifty acres of
land, or town lot, but as we have no means
of knowing to what extent this requirement
cuts down the voting list, we iIlmaka no ac-
count of il, but consider the elective franchise
as free and universal among the white popula-
ton as it is among the population of our own
State ii a88a iIi aW Ws 4
Adopting the rule we have used for this
State-one-fifth of the whole population to
which suffrage is made possibIe--there are in
South Carolina 5S,23S voters in all. 1t will be
seen, from the facts and figures already given
that 58,26S voters in South Carolina have four
fifths as much political power, in the affairs of
the nation, as 1866 voters in Mainei Who
wonders that, with such conceded advantages,
the chivalry were accustomed to boast that one
Southern man was match for two Yankees?
But let us look step further in ADVANCE
The slaves are now legally free men, and in
another apportionment not three but .fue
fifths are to be counted in making up the ba-
sis of political representation and power. How
will the matter then stand, allowing the popu-
lation of the States to be unchanged9 The
following figures win show. 80
Maine, as at present, viii have five members
in the House Of Representative adopting
the present apportionment of one member for
every 124,1S3 Of the gross population.
South Carolina has population of 7OS, 7Oe.
Allowing her one representative for a very
large majority fraction, reaching to nearly one
hundred thousand, and she would have sir
members in the House, or one more than Me-,
although the number of voters would not be
increased by a single until In other words
5S,26S ooters in South Carolina would have
tsOeaty per cent. more po1er and influence in
national affairs, than 125,656 voters in
Maiaei Or one South Carolinian would be
equal to about two and half Maine menl
Can any thing or consideration more clearly
demonstrate the unfairness, inequality and in
justice of the present systemp Can anything
more plainly exhibit the propriety of such a
resolution as that at the head of this article,
or the justice and Importance of the demand
it makes? I'll, - Is *
We insist that voter in Maine should count
just as much, and have just as much power,
as a voter in any other State-no more. We
refer to national affairs only; with domestic
or municipal regulations in the different States
we have nothing TODD. Base representation
on suffrage, and equality is secured; and more
than this, such regulation would present the
strongest motive to South Carolina and other
States to extend the right of suffrage to all tn
whom it1nay safely be entrusted. Let States
feel that by extending the right of suffrage
they increase their own power, and by restrict
ing it they limit their own power, and there is
little danger that any large classes of popula-
ton win be placed beyond the possibilities o.
exercising this great privilege-one of the
greatest known to free men. =