Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-12-19

Ing aggregate majority of voters. The large
majority of Radicals who will take seats in
the Congress of 1867, is cited by Radical
journals as proof of the popular endorse
ments of the Radical Disunion policy, when
in reality, this result is almost entirely due
to skillful management of districts. Were
it not for this the Radicals in the Lower
House would not, with 4O8, 900 aggregate
majority of votes, be more than fifteen or
twenty in majority Instead of the House
standing l27 Radicals to 80 Conservatives,
it would be 81 Radicals against 66 Conse.va-
tives or thereabouts.
We allude to this subject now for the pur-
pose of suggesting change in the method
of electing members of Congress. We see
that, by the present method, representatives
secure position in many instances through
partisan manipulation of election districts by
which the popular viii is nullifed or defeat
ed. When, as in this State, it requires 49,
600 Democratic votes to elect Democratic
member of Congress, and only 16, 900 Rad
ical votes to elect Radical member, it be-
comes manifest that the Representative sys-
TEN is Objectionable because it does not al
low each party an equal chance. When, for
an excess of IL ,382 votes one party has
twelve members, lone for each 948 votes
representing an aggregate population of only
80, ,9l0-estimating five persons to one voter;
and when six Conservative members repre-
sent an aggregate of l, ,455, 900 of a popula-
-
bers-the unfairness of the plan now pur-
sued becomes glaringly apparent to the most
obtuse mind.
There is another objection to the present
district system-or, rather want of system.
1t is popularity supposed that the Pennsyl
yania members of Congress have constitu-
encies with whom they enjoy social and bu
siness reletions and with whose interests
they are individually conversant or in which
they are partakers. The districts are pre-
sumed to be compact agglomerations of
counties, containing the home and compris-
ing the business and social range Of the
Representatives. 1t is also believed that
there is a geographical and productive as
similationi a community of interests, and
natural or artificial means Of intercourse be
tween the several counties so united. Such
however, is not the case. Schuylkill and
Lebanon forming the 10th district merely
touch two of their sharp points and stretch
away-one to the North; the other to the
South. Luzerne and Susqaehanna (I2th)
do the same thing-stretching from the
Al II g IL
Bradford, Wyoming, Sullivan, Montour and
Columbia, (l3th) look like an attenuated
hour glass Erie, Warren, M'Kean, For
est, Elk, Jefferson, Clearfcld and Cameron,
(19th) describe sort of dilapidated worm
fence from the northwest corner of the
State to nearly the centre. And so on Of
the rest of the districts. They take the
form of hour glasses, belts, zig-zags and
every other shape except compact masses.
Besides this, they are intersected by IN
bridged streams mountain ranges cut them
in twain, and other circumstances conspire
to separate counties in the same district as
though some were in Maine and others in
Texas The member is known to his con
stituents" only through the accident OF his
nomination and election. As general thing
he knows nothing of the people of the dis
tant counties of his district and they know
nothing Of him. When he talks about
watching the interest of his constituents, he
speaks only in igurative sense, or from
hearsay. These facts make it apparent that
constituencies are myth. The fact, also,
that no Federal legislation takes a county or
district form in Congress makes it manifest
that our Congressman represent the State at
large, if at all, and that each is presumed to
be guardian over the rights Of all the peo-
pie of his State, in an undivided sense.
Then why have districts? That is what we
want to get at
Pennsylvania is entitled to twenty-four
Representatives in Congress. Suppose that
instead of casting the counties into twenty
four districts and electing one in each, the
full delegation be elected by the State at
large, in this wise: Each political party
shall select or nominate twenty-four candi-
dates Tor less number)-each set to be
voted for as one ticket After the election
let the votes be aggregated and divided by
twenty-tour to get the average number en-
titling to a Representative. Suppose the
average be 24,O00; then divide each party S
poll by that number and award to it as many
members as q, coo is contained in its total
poll of votes. Say the Radical party should
poll 3I2, 900 votes; award to it thirteen mem
bers. Say the Democratic party should poll
26S,OOO votes; award to it eleven members
Then every man in the State woGld be rep
reseated-and represented, too, By Con-
gresham whose views would correspond with
his own Each party would thus have rep