The workingman's advocate., 1870-05-14


n,w member of the senatesof Pennsyfya'
ma. apd has secured ths aes6cl mode
of reptssentatiea. il the local elections
Of his own town, and in mano Of the Dor
oughs Of ehas SUITE 8 Aad under this plan
they have bssp this spripg (yOqps. and
slsctinG sbSf aldsssAeAi AnA A'dAlPai ON
cors, with entire satiskotiOn TO al partaz
and classes of people, d I have been in
formed BY the Senator himself
Tia proposed to submit tAa plsn OF re-
presentation to the voters as distinct pro-
position. II they wish ID adoption they
will vote for It: II they are not ready fot
it, they viii reject It. The matter will be
with them. II can certainly do no harm
to submit. Our constituents will be al
lowed an opportunity to express their ssl:
timents on this important matter Why
should they not haya chance to vote upon
it2 There are thousands Of young men
and progressive nen snxiOus 20 have this
question submitAed for the purpose ct tax
ing the public ssnse on it and duriug ID
discussion, it will enable its advocates Il
edncats the popular mind mp 70 . higher
and juster conception Of true representative
government
would like, Mr.. President, if had
time, to speak on this subje at full length,
and consider its great merits fpllys II is
one I feel adeep interest ius Perhaps no
proposition has come before this Convention
that has more fully taken possession OF my
mind, because I believe IL is one Of The
greatest and most valuable improvements
in q free government ever devised BY the
wisdom Of man, or since representative
government has been established. be
lieve it is only question Of time whether
the principle Of minority representation will
be applied to all Legislative elections, in
Europe and America, from parliament OF
congress down to village aldermen, and IN
all other oases, where twe,G more oficsts
are to be voted upon at the same time, fcr
the same office. BY this plan, and this
only, can the democratic quality of the citi
Esn be asserted and carried into practice and
public liis. As4l# 8R4ks
When the people shall consider thic
question, and canvass and study it, they
will discover that il Is the only true demo
cratic plan Of repFesentati0n-that it puts
in practice ss nearly az human wisdom Can
devise, the true ideas of representative gov
ernment-the equal representation Of all
and by no other method can we have equal
representation. It brings this whole people
Of all parties and classes, into the legisla.
tive balls, through the agents OF thoir own
choice. The whole people, instead of q
plurality, or majority, will be represented
by this plan, and it is much superior tC
the old method Of representation as the
whole is greater than the half.
II does not attempt to take away any o.
the rights of the majority. The majority
under this system, will still rule, having
full and ample control, and still being res
ponsible for the laws made but t doe:
give the disfranchised minority, who may
amount to almost one-half of the commun
ity, some vOice-some representation in
government-some chance to be heard. Il
secures representation Aith taxation, which
the existing One-sided system does not il
gives the minority some opportunity to pre-
sent their views and defend their principle.
and interests in the halls Of legislation
What can be more Just than that, or more
cerrect in principles
do hope that this proposition may bt
submitted to the people Of Illinois, by thu
unanimous vote Of this Convention. / d.
not ask gentlemen of this Convention, who
do not believe in the principle of equal re
presentation, to endorse it, but simply tc
give it to the people, and let them vote on
it and dispose Of It a. they sec proper
believe It's 1resentation in this form
will largely contribute towards the adop-
ton Of this Constitution.
There are are thousands Of young men
and advanced minds in this State who think
mora higkis 81 this ptopSstioH than cf any:
thing else we will have to offer them. Eve
rything else will seem 10 them dry and un
important in comparison with this great idea
Of equal representation Of the whole people
against exclusive representation Of a part
The disfanchieed and down-trodde min
critics will everywhere rally to its support
and secure to the new Constitution, for its
sake, triumphant ratification. This great
measure Ofrsform viii carry out pure de-
mocrstic equality and equal rights for al
men in the legislative halls; it will secure
the equal representation Of every citizen
the minority with the majority, man fol
man. It will allay partisan strife. 1t viii
reform Legislative corruption. twill puri
fy the elective system it will inspire good
and quiet citizens to attend the polls. II
will enable virtuous citizens to elect pure
and able representatives, and to defeat bad
aspirants. 1t will give contentment to al
classes ofvoters. Il will secure represen
tatives for our hopelessly beaten republican
friends in democratic Egypt, and it will
give the swallowed up and buried-undel
democrats Of northern Illinois, chance
also, of being heard in our legislative halls,
by men Of their own selection. This plar
works no harm or prejudice to either Of the
great parties but viii put in the Legislature
democrats from norther Illinois, republicans
in equal numbers, from southern Illinois
and secure to both parties representation
from all parts of the State. Is not thi.
right, just, polite and advisable ?
Gentlemen, I am afraid l may be be
trayed into making a speech, instead Of I
few introductory remarks therefore will
cut short the thread of my discourse al
though can talk with greater pleasure OF
no other topic now before the public. The
pamphlet copy Of the report Of the com
mittee contains my views and arguments Of
this subject at greater length, and in les
desultory form, and to that l refer you fol
the remainder Of what'I would say, if
held the floor at greater length.
How Pat Dug the Well.
Not a great while ago, an Irishman wa,
employed in a village where he was vel
known, to dig a we'll, pro bono pu5lsco
The contract was made that he was to bt
Maid oor%aiu ox,un v,ar Got nn1