The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-23
MINORITY CONVENTION.

several counties of the State of Pennsyl-
vania of such persons only as are favorable
to the movement to secure minority repres-
entation, will be held at the city of
Reading, on Wednesday, the 3lst day OF
August, next, at l l o'clock, A: NJ.
The convention will consist ot two
delegates for each representative in the
lower House of the State Legislature,
provided that each county shall be repres-
ented by at least one delegate.
BY Order OF the Committee.
j. W. WooD, Sec'y. E. j. MORE, Chm.
ALLENTOWN, Pa, July II, 1870.
To the Republicans of Pennsylvania:
In calling the attention of the Republi-
cans OF Pennsy ylvauia to the convention to
meet at the city OF Reading on the 3lst of
August, next, we desire to present the
following consideration concerning its
purpose
The Republicans of Pennsylvania who
live in counties in which they are in the
minority, number one hundred and twenty
five thousand voters, more than one-third
OF the whole republican vote. They own
and control very large and varied material
interests, requiring the care and protection
afforded by wise and salutary laws.
That these people are wholly excluded
from participation in the management and
control of their respective county govern
ments does not in the least es TRANCE their
devotion to republican principles or cause
them to debate their efforts in behalf Of the
success of the republican party. They
have Just cause of complaint, however, il
the fact that, while their political bretherr
are and for many years have been in the
asceudency in the State Legislature, they
are entirely unrepresented, and by ar
unjust rule established by a republican
majority, they are continually subjected t.
unjust and oppressive laws, while they arr
persistently denied such legislation as thei
material interests require.
That SO large body of the people shoulc
find themselves unrepresented in the Law
making power is evidence of u deiectiv
fundamental organization. A republican
or democratic form Of government must o
necessity be representative, and to tul6
the requirements Of Representative
government it should be so framed that al
the people, as nearly az practically can be
should have voice in the enactment @
the laws whioh govern them. If tn
government is so shaped that a majorit
of the people on ly aIe to be represented
then it cannot be free and republica
state, but mere despotism OF one porto
of the people over the other, Such
government is despotic in principle as We
as in practice, for it can be of very littl
consequence to the minoritieS whether th
laws which govern them are made by
particular class of men or by sing
potentate, the minorites, who are exclude
from ali voice or hearing in the Law
making branch of the government, bearin
about the same relation to the majorities ;
do subjects to an absolute monarchy.
According to the mode of representatio
J as established by the Constitution and Law
: Of pennsy ylvania, more than one-third
her voting and tax-payiDg citizens al
. excluded from any voice OF power in ii
aw-making department of the State, al
tue sauIH REMARK VIII Holu tIuc Us to u
0 general government.
. We most respectfully and earnestl
present this subject TO the candid al
$ consderate attention of the voters
t Pennsylvania, confidently relying on the
S intelligence and sense of justice for a I
> form in the matter so vital to the welfa
and prosperity Of the whole and the safe
and perpetuity of the government.
1t is gratifying to observe that tn
S movement ls not without precedent In O.
a own country; for the people Of Illinois ha
quite recently amended the organic law
that state SO that minorities will hereaft
be fairly represented, not only in the Sta
Legislature but also in all corporatio
! authorized by law. In other states Il
! question mas been favorably entertaine
and even in some of the European Cover
E ments it is discussed by the people and,
lone instance, partially adopted, VIII