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

III the mastery Speecn lDaue Uy CSudCOr
Buckalew, of this State, says the Clinton
Democrat, in February last, in the Senate of
the United States, in opposition to the then
pending joint resolution proposing to amend
the Constitution, he took occasion TO dis
cuss representation. The vice of our pres
ent system, in the overmastering preponder-
ance it gives to the six New England States
in the Senate, and the influence of this un-
natural strength upon the legislation of the
country, was laid bare with trenchant truth.
As remedy for this evil, Senator Bucka-
lew proposed that States containing less
than one million of inhabitants should have
one Senator; States containing more than
one million and less than three millions, two
Senators; and States containing more than
three millions, three Senators. Whatever
merit there may be in this suggestion it is
not likely to be ever acted upon, as the jeal-
ousy Of the smaller States will forever pre-
vent an acquiescence on their part in any
loss of power in that body which, more than
any other, represents the equality and SOW
ereignty of all the members of our Confed-
Grafton. The true balance for Eastern pre-
dominance and antidote for Yankee fanati-
cism lies in the re-admission to Congress Of
the Senators and Representatives from the
Southern States. We are anxious to see
the day when the farmers are made even
handed with the traders and spinners, and
when the reins Of government again revert
to the hands of steady men,
The evils of the majority rule adopted
in our popular elections, have been long ad-
mitted and deplored as the bane of our pol
itics Says Mr. Buckalew: THE candi-
date receiving the greatest number of votes
in any case is elected and all votes given to
other candidates are dropped or lost. Our
Government, therefore, instead of being
Government of the people is, in fact, a
Government of but a part Of the people
and our fundamental principle, accepted in
theory by all, is imperfectly applied. =
Again: ''That the majority shall govern is
not our fundamental principle but . rule,
and is used by us along with other rules, to
accomplish our purpose of government by
the people. We use the majority rule, the
two-thirds rule, and the three-fourths rule,
according to circumstances, and upon con-
siderations of convenience and expediency.
Unquestionably if but a part Of The people
are TO bear rule and to act their pleasure in
affairs of government, it is better that the
majority should bear such rule than that
the minority should But why should
part of the people monopolize all power
and is rule which produces such resull
wise, salutary and just?''
As one means of giving the minority
more equable representation, he suggested
that in all elections for President of the
United States, the second highest in the
electoral votes should become President of
the Senate, with the power of objecting to
bills, liable, however, to have his objections
overUled by two-thirds vote. ("
But the Improvements in oar system upon
which the Honorable Senator laid greatest
stress, and which seems to US to deserve
general attention and discussion, was in the
manner of selecting our representatives
According to the view of the best authori-
ties on questions of this kind, system may
be elaborated which viii secure what is call
ed personal representation Mr. Buck |
alew- denominates the most just, equal,
complete and perfect plan of representation
ever proposed for free State. 1t is moth
ing more nor less than the representation of
the whole people.
To make any change in the manner OF
electing Congressman which is likely to dis
turb the preponderance of the party in pow
CT, is more than can be expected. The Re
publican Party have not the virtue to discuss
such change in their present temper, and
while they are urging an amendment to the
Constitution In direct violation Of the great
fundamental principle upon which both tax
alton and representation in this country are
based. But any genuine amendment in our
politics must strike the good sense of the
people, and with that view we reprint the |
following article from the Patriot and In
ION, which, though written with a strong
Democratic bias, nevertheless conveys a good |
idea of one plan of representation which |
approximates to fairness:
THE EVILS or THE ''REPREsENTATIvE
SYSTEM AND PROPOSED REMEDY.-The |
Radical press claim an aggregate majority at |
the late elections in the Northern States of |
40S. .00O Taking this at present for granted,
without the official figures from many of the
States, what does it prove? There were
l27 Radical Congressman three of a gain |
elected this fall, and 35 Democrats and Con-
servatives three of loss.) This shows
that there were 90 Radicals elected upon
this aggregate majority of 4OS,OO0 Divide
this number by the Radical Congressional