Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-07-19

He would, of course, retain the votes Of oil
those who would not otherwise be represent
ed; and for the remainder, drawing lots, in
fault Of better, would be an unoblectionahle
expedient. The voting papers would be
conveyed in a central Office, where the votes
would be counted, the number of first, sec
ond, third and other votes given for eaeh
candidate ascertained, and the quota would be
allotted to every one who could make II up
until the number of the House was complete;
first votes being preferred to second, second
to third. and SO forth. The voting papers,
and all the elements Of the calculation, would
be placed in public repositories, accessible to
ell whom they concerned.
This scheme, stripped Of its details, gives
to every shade OF political opinion its pro-
portionate representation, provided always
that it is held by sufficient number of cleo
tors to entitle it to one or more representa-
tives.
Such a plan, if once put in successful,
practical operation, would, doubtless, either
greatly ameliorate, or entirely obViate many
sore evils IN our present political system.
The incentives to bribery and corruption,
now frequently resorted to IN doubtful dis
tricts, in order to obtain the votes OF cllques
that happen to hold the balance Of power
by controlling enough votes to decide the
contest for whichever side they are thrown,
would be entirely removed.
The chief incentive to demagogism would
also be removed, and we would be enabled
to send honest, outspoken, independent
men to our legislative halls, instead of the
fawning, sycophantic, toadying, purchase
bic demagogues, that now so often disgrace
our legislative assemblies.
The prospect of obtaining these, II no
other advantages, would be sufficient IN
ducement to justify trial of the plan by
some of our own State governments.
''The Tyranny of the Majority, against
which this scheme was first devised as
bulwark, we believe to be a myth, fig
ent of the distorted imagination Of an hered-
itary aristocracy at finding the source Of its
power falling, and the reins Of government
gradually but surely passing into the hands
of the people, and of it we have no fear.
Whence its origin, or what the motive that
first called forth the plan, is not the ques-
ton we are considering. Inasmuch as 1t
gives promise of making the representative
system more complete and symmetrical, and
of giving all shades and varieties Of opinion
their proper proportionate representation
in our Congresses and Legislatures, as well
as of eradicating some of the worst evils of
our present representative system, it de-
mands of every earnest student of political
philosophy, of every one aspiring to deal
with affairs of State, careful and impartial
examination, and if found practicable, fair
trial of its merits at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
We call attention to this subject in view of
the demand in our State for Constitution
al Convention, at an early day, believing as
we do, that if such convention is called, the
question of representation will be one ofthe
most important presented for its considera-
ton. In the meantime we shall watch with
no small amount of interest the discussion
of this subject by the New York Constitu-
tional Convention now in session.
Que,aes-Might not this plan be advan-
applied to the nomination Of party
candidates? Might not the Crawford Coun-
ty system be modified so as to approximate
very nearly to this2