Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-02-20
NEW SERIES--V0L. 8, NO. 30.

Then how ought the pooplo of tho
United States, whom we represent
here, to be heard here How ought
their voices TO be pronounced in the
Senate, not upon this measure only
but upon all measures which come be.
fore us ! According TO n principle OF
numbers, according to rule of equal
ity based upon numbers, the majority
in this Chamber out to have twenty
eight members and the minority
twenty-six that is, upon this and
upon all othor political questions which
are voted upon here, if the voice of
the people were represented exactly
as 1t has been spoken in the latest and
most authentic form, the vote ought
to be twenty-six to twenty-eight and
that allows the ma iority the advantage
Of a member upon fraction of only
three-fOurths Of ratio.
Is that not soy But ] need not
answer the question. Every one
knows that the fact should be so. The
actual constitution of this body at
present is this it is composed of
fiily-three members, there being a
vacancy in the representation of the
State Of Maryland and of those fifty
three members lorty-three belong to
the political majority, and ten only TO
the minority, the latter being compos-
ed Of member from the State OF Con
nectcut, one from Pennsylvania, two
from Delaware, one from Maryland,
two from Kentucky, one from Indiana,
one from Wisconsin, and one from
Minnesota. That is, all the members
who are classed either as Democrats
or Conservatives, combined together,
count but ten, while the majority
party counts torty-throe, or more than
tour to one
Such, sir, is the political compost
tion of the Senate ofthe United States
at a time when the people Of the
United States, whose voice ought 10
be pronounced here, are about equally
divided, as the returns of the elections
show. The majority have, therefore,
al unjust power if it be measured by a
principle Of equality, based upon
numbers, amounting to fifteen voices
in this body, the difference between
forty-eight and forty-thrce, and that
fifteen is taken from one side and add
ed to tho other, the result is in effect
an unjust voice and vote on political
questions in the Senate amounting to
thirty. Thus, it is almost impossible
that any subject which shall approach
party complexion in this body can
be determined otherwise than in con-
iormity with the most radical and ex-
IRENE opinions which may prevail
among the majority mombers f; for we
know how n political party acts, or
rather, how tits directed. IL is con.
trolled almost uniformly by the most
violent, by the most ardent members
among those who compose it. They
are triumphant in caucus--in the pri-
vate consultations where the action
of the party is determined upon. In
debate they apply the lash to their
more moderate colleagues, and drag
them forward to support .ho most ex-
treme and radical measure which they
may propose. When, therefore, n ma
jority in this or any other body OF
similar constitution is so large as four
to one, you, may take it for granted
that the extreme and violent men in
the majority will rule the action of
that majority in the first instance,
and in the next the action of the rep.
rcsentative body, and thus dictate the
Legislative policy Of the Government.