Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-12-26

Intelligent any rejecting men long ago
came 10 the conclusion that tho present
system of representation, 80 far as il ex>
cludcs the minority from participation In
government affairs, and conc des an unrc-
stricted power to the majority. Is cssen>,
tally anu radically defective. The onl
truly representative government is tina.
which reflects the voice Of the whole people,
giving to each opinion in due weight 10 the
enactment Of laws. The feet IL generally
conceded. The only matter IN question 10
how to carry the right theory into actual
practice. In the discussion Of this subject,
provoked BY the fact that more than one
half the whole people Of the United States
are now practically disfranchised IN the
Congress Of the United States, the old plan
Of an English author 10 revived BY DR..
Buchanan Of Louisville This plan Il thus
stated:
The State oeing entitled In tbs supposed
case 70 ten representatives, lin Congrses)
each party viii nominate that number. If
the Democratic nominees receive 10000
votes, and the anti Democratic 4O.Uy, tie
former would be morally entitled 10 ak
repre- sen,atives, and the latter 10 four. How
con We arrive Mt that just result practically
Simply by enacting that the votes Of each
party shall bc given TO its candidates IN the
order OF the relative rank, rs determined
by the party. Thus, the first ten thousand
Democratic votes shall bc credited 10 Mr.. A.,
and shall elect HIM, the second ten thou
sand shall elect Mr.. D., and SO on. the last
ten thousand electing Mr.. r., the sixth can,
.idatr. In like manner, the 10000 votes
of the other party shalt elect their Mcssss.
A., b., c and d. Thus, Messrs. t., f., g.,
H., l.. j., Of the Radical party, and Mcssrs.
a., H., l., J., Of the Democratic party, will
De defeated, and the election will exactly
represent the strength Of parties with a far
ness that is salts actorv to all.
In case there shall DC no general ticket
nominated by the contesting parties. each
voter will make his own ticket. placing the
candidates in the order which he prefers, as
first, second or third choice. The frat
choice might be indicated by the Lowest
number, one.
The votes being exsmincd and recorueo
\, . nr..cr;hea order. shs candidates who
have received the full number Of ten thou
sand votes ss the first choice Of their vo>
tiers, shall be declared elected, and their lists
Of voters separated from the remainder -
The names Of tho elected shall then be re-
moved from the votes CT tho remaining 70
tiers, leaving their second choice TO stand a!
the first.
These suggc tons are worthy Of serioa
consideration. If the plan proposed is no
altogether adapted to the circumstances Q
the case, the agitation Of the subject ma!
dcyclopc such modification Is will ultimate
~ relieve the country from the TYRANNY ant
unccrta mites incident TO the unrestraine
domination Of partisan majorilics. Unde
the present system neither congress nor gu
state Legislature fairly rcprcs cn,s the wi
Of tho constituencies supposed to 10 repre-
scented. or about four million votes cas-
ard to DO cast by the so.called loyal State
for members Of tho fortieth congress, tn,
radicals can claim but about fifty five pc
cent. That congress, however, will b.
made up exclusively Of radical representa-
tivcs Mt least forty I've per cent. of tht
northern vote will be practically withon
representation in that body. a similar dis
proportion exists at this time as to every
legislature in the Northern States. Tn
minority ot the pcople-numboring ncar
one half the wholc-arc comparatively with
out Influence in every instance. AS rcsu
of tins system. king caucus rules Mt Wash
ington regardless of law or equity, and
rcAl majority Of the American people hay
iiun