The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-11-29

them the power of providing the man
ner in which those electors shall he cho-
sen. What, then, is cumulative voting?
1t is that where more than one officer is
to be chosen the elector in the first place
shall possess as many votes as there are
persons to be chosen, and next he may
hestow those votes at his discretion up
on the whole number of persons to be
chosen, giving one vote TO each. or up
on any less number, cumulating his
votes upon one, two, three, or any other
number less than the whole. That is
simple in its statement, although its
effect, the practical character ofthe pro-
position, requires some inquiry and pro-
longed experience to its entire compre-
hension. What is the result? 1t Is that
any polical interest in n community,
whether in u State or in Il division Of u
state, If it can ascertain about the rela-
tive proportion which its strength bears
to the whole mass of the vote, or TO the
vote ofan opposing interest, may cast the
suilrages of its members in such manner
that they Willtell upon the result; and it
will happen that every man, or about
every man who votes shall vote fOracandi
date who shall be chosen, and there will be
in such thingas sunrcprcscntedm dminOritiea
left. They will be wiped out of the sys-
tenn; they will no longer exist. 70
speak ofthis as plan for thereprcscnta-
ton OF minorities, is an abuse Of terms,
because ii conveys no idea which attach
Is to the plan. Far be il from Us to arm
u minority with power which we know
even maiorities abuse! The proposition
now submitted to us is not that there
shall be maiorities and minoritios
known in election returns, but that the
men who vote shall vote for those who
will be chosen, and who will in point Of
fact represent them.
| cannot better illustrate the scheme
than by the case Of Vermont, which
have used on another occasion. There
are 6O,00D voters in Vermont, Of
whom 10000 are members of the Re-
publican party, and 10000 Of the
Democratic party. | speak in round
numbers. BY law that State is cntitlcd d
to three Representatives in Congress,
because her population, under the Con
.titution Of the United States, author
izcs the allotment ofthat numberto her.
Now what ought to take place there ?
The majority should elect two Repre-
scntatives, having 10000 votes, and the
minority should elect one, having 2J,-
600 votes but is that SO in point OF
fact at present? If the electors Of that
State vote for three Representatives, by
general ticket, the majority would elect
the whole three. If the State be livi-
dcd up into single districts, ii is mat
ter of chance how the result will be,
whether all three districts will have
majorities of the same political COM
pleyion or not. Il say it is a matter OF
| chance-nay, more than that, it Is n
matter of honesty in the Legislature OF
the State, and any political mojority
that has control of the Legislature will
very likely frame the districts to suit its
own interests. We know that these
things occur everywhere. BY cumu
lative voting, by authorizing the 10000
minority electors of that State to give
each three votes to one candidate, that
candidate would receive 10000 votes
and the majority cannot defeat him. The
majority voting for two representatives
can elect them, but they cannot elect tn,
third. Suppose they attempt to vot'
for three candidates, they can only Civ,
each of them 40 900 votes, and the mi
nority candidate has 10000. If they at
tempt to vote for two, as they ought I,
do, that being the number they are en-
titled to, they can give them G0,0O
votes each, the same number that tn
minority candidate has. Ifthey attempt
cd to vote for one, they would give tina
one candidate 100 900, but of course the
, would not throw away their votes i
) that foolish manner. The practical r,
suit would be that the 10000 maiOrit
= electors in that State would vote for tw
, candidates and elect them, and the 20
= 900 minority electors would vote for on
and elect him and results analogous
4 this would occur all over the Unite
I | II l.
o every State the freemen, each posses
= ing an equal right with his nCighbo
S would each vote for IL representative
S congress who would speak his voice AZ
|, obey his will and thus you would obta
throughout the country, in each stat
i an actual representation of the who
J. mass of people on both sidCS-honC
h representation instead of sham
s. government by the majority in point
= fact in Congress instead Of0n accident
= result, which may be one way or t
/. other, and is just us likely to be mino
Is ty rule as anything else, and alWa,
It and under ali circumstances, unit
J. rules.
J. on! gentlemen, what would hupp
/, then? Some little people in the Sli
If Legislatures, destitute Of honor, h
i greedy Of gain and of personal oblec
= would no longer gcrrymandcr SO
/ States Applause would no longer
II there in quiet chambers, cOncocting
: justice by law, studying how they c
d rcvcnt their ncighbors from being rC
r resented in he gOVcrnmentand getanu
Is due share fpublicpOwer for thimselN
e and fOrfriends. That iniquity would be
t. dCdand would no more heard OfamOn:
l. Us. Why, gentlemen, at this nIume
/ iT,,I In i'll II
Is northeast to the Golden Gate of the !
? citic, there is probably not one hon,
Is appOrtionment law Tor members Of c.
$ gress, and you will scarcely ever In
one, unless in an exceptional case, ,WhC
J. one political Interest shall have cont
RI of the upper branch OF LcgislatuI
.- and another Of The lower, holding ca
l. other in check, ana compelling some {
d gree of fairness in the formation OF [
=. laW.
RI do not desire to speak on any tOl
g which may bear partisan complexion
ii am almost afraid TO cite cases lest sh
le he thought to have m object or purp,
:, not openly aVOWCd. Let me tell "
t, the difficulty in this ease is in hum
e. nature, and you mast frame your =
e. TEN 50 that mischief will not result.
Al is necessary" said a great and W
Id man, "thut by the very constitution
L things power should be Il check to pc
| cr." What said DR.. Priestly. 9TH
lc is no earthly power that ha, no. grJN
le CXOrbitant when it has met with noe
as troll" Take these words of men W
to thought wisely and profoundly, 81
f. then look AT your cXlstiu. political
- tlOn and see whether II i not -truE
a tor pOwerinstcad Otu struggle lur just