The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-09
LJJMBIA. IS. &c.
Friday i morning, 81 September 8. 1870
The Minority systom-Progresa or tho
Movement FOR Proportional Represen-

Movement ZOE proportional RepreGen-
q aation.
In these columns we have not unfre-
quently called attention to the need and
the'wisdom of such u governmental re-
form as would secure minority, or rather
prop ortional representation. Desiring
to keep the subject before tho people,
we append, some extracts to show the
progress of the idea. The New York
Times, of September 4, says:
at the Minority Convention, Mt Read
ing, Penn, on. Wednesday, the follow
ing resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed: S' tI
Resoluea, That we can conceive of no
other remedy for such wrong and op-
preston except i'll n system which will
secure to each local minority, as near MS
can be, it's proportional share of local
representation.
ReSolved. That such minority reprcsen-
tation will not only remedy the wrongs
of which wo more especially complain,
but viii also tend to lessen unjust, illibe-
'ralpaTtisanship, aud to promote greater
lpurity Id legislation.
representation of minorities by districts
is not only lust, but is in accord with tho
spirit of all our. State political systems,
which provide for the election of Legis-
lators by districtsin ,ogderto protect the
minority at largefEom the unjust domina-
zion of the majority us well as to guard
pthe interests of LOCALITIES, and which we
propose now TO- Supplement- by placing
Athe local. minority beyond the unjust
domination of the local majority.
Resolred, That in view of the taking
of the present census and the approach
ing legislative re-apportionmcnt of tho
sState, we recommend the passage Of acts
,of assembly by the next Legislature, en-
0odying the principles Of minority repre-
sentation in reference to the Legislature,
Boards of County Commissioners, Direc-
tors of the Poor and County Auditors,
as we'll as township and other offices.
Resol0ed, That we recommend tho pas
Constitutional Convention, to be com
posed of members elected on the minori-
ty principle, and to such Convention, in
making the many Constitutional reforms
so loudly demanded for years, we re-
spectfully recommend that the princi-
pal of minority representation be en-
bodied in the new Constitution of our
Commonwealth.
Resolvsd, That we tender our hearty
congratulations to the people of Illinois
for their great and salutary advance in
the act of self govern ment, by adopting
che plan OF. the free vote for the election
aof representatives in their Legislature,
and for the. choice of directors and
managers of all Incorporated companies
in their State; aud that we pledge to
them our best Efforts to extend this
wholesome :; reform which they have
4, on fryu nj an "a,
may extend, to Federal, State and mu-
nicipal elections, confident that thereby
we shall promote the best interests of
our whole people, joined together in
union Of free institutions.
ReSolced, That the people of Pennsyl-
vania, of.eyery political party, be invited
ito unite in promoting the important OBJ
jeots embodied in the foregoing resolu-
tions. tj
Resolued, That the chairman of this
Convention rshnll appoint an executive
committee of twenty -one persons, to
serve during the coming year, whose
duty it shall be to nse all proper measures
to promote the objects and purposes of
the above resolutions.
Resolued, That committee of five be
appointed, who shall lay the proceedings
of this convention before the next Lie
by means of an address, and by personal
intercourse, to enforce upon the mem
bers of the two Houses the objects con
templated in the resolutions passed by
this convention.
Speeches were then made by Hon.
Charles Il. Buckalew, who was present
by invitation, E. J. Moore, Benjamin
Bannan, j. s. Richards and by Mr.
Lear. the President of the Convention.
The Convention, shortly after p. H.,
adjourned sine die.
And our contemporary, u Republican
Journal. thus comments upon the snb-
ject-which does indeed address itself to
men, irrespective of creed or color:
Minority representation" is an infc-
licitous term with which to describe the
object sought by those who would re-
form fundamentally the representative
system; and we arc not surprised ut Mr.
Buckalew's desire to find better. The
theory of party government comedies
everything to majorities = minoritics
have only the rights which constitutions
throw around them, and among these