The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-06-28
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
Mr. Mcdiu Rrplyito Mr.. Cromwell.

Mr.. Mcdiu Rcplyito Mr.. Cromwell.
To the Editor Of the Chicago Evening journal.
Ny notice has been directed 10 letter
in your paper from Mr.. II. =. ii. Brom-
well, of Coles County, member of the
He says cha, i, JS+slvc every caitif who
sells his vote on election day three votes
| 10 dispose of for one candidate
This is the stock argument used by the
| opponents Of totally representation, and
| on which they largely rely TO defeat the
amendment but which its friends are JUS
tilted in pronouncing pure humbug.
The caittfs cannot sell their votes unless
! the candidates buy them, but which they
are peremptorily forbidden 10 do. re-
specially refer Mr.. B. and those likely TO
be prejudiced against the amendment 10
Section 8 Of the Legislative Article,
wherein they will discover II is provided
that members Of the General Assembly,
before they can enter upon their official
duties must take and subscribe solemn
oath tina, 'thcy have not paid or contribu-
ted anything or made any promises in the
nature of u bride, directly or indirectly,
to influence any vote at the election at
which they were chosen" This oath must
be administered by n Judge of the Su-
lrcIiic OF NlTCuit SouTt pe suDsCTlDcu Nv
| the member, and recorded and filed. If
member refuse to take tho oath, or shall be
convicted Of having sworn falsely, he
forfeits his office, and Is disqualified there
after from holding any Office Of profit or
trust in this State.
lie must be very reckless candidate
| who will seek for 'caitiffs' 10 purchase in
| the face Of this oath and its penalties. To
| do IL no must first commit bribery; second,
| perjury; third, expose himself 10 detection,
exposure, expulsion, and infamy forever.
| II requires considerable stretch Of the i'm.
aginaton to suppose that such cases can
| often occur.
10 .
Mr.. Cromwell depreciates the zone great
curse of the old legislative system Of group
ing counties together for tho election OF
several Representatives. but admits tina,
"if Gil tho counties were populous enough
to furnish three members, minority repro.
scntation might answer quite we'll" a
good many will DO populous enough fol
that purpose. Cook county will constitute
not less than six or seven districts, with
three House members each. In Sale
| Adams, Sangamon, Mclean, Peoria, Full
ton, Knox, Will, Madison, Kane and per
haps others, will each DO Senatorial
Districts and therefore, would cleo
three members, Here then Is one
third of the State which CORE
spends with MrB's. conditions. And In
two-thirds Of the remaining counties oacl
Senatorial District can be formed Of tw,
counties which will always give the ma
iority party one member from each, an
swcring in practice TO the single distrc
system, and thereby avoiding the "tradin,
and cross-hiting,' which Is objected to b,
Mr.. Cromwell. But at best this objection
amounts 20 but very little when wcighc
against the justice, equity and advantage
of the system Of totally representation
And right here let me correct misrcprc
scntation that is constantly being made b,
the enemies of this great reform. Tn
majority, they say, should rulc, and mi
norty representation they declare Is u Gun
ming scheme 10 give control Of tho Lcgisla
turc To the minority party But this Is i'm
possible. Tho majority party must cleo
two of the three candidates in any distrc
, unless II wilfully or factiously throw
away it, power and opportunity. TIL
minority party can elect but one. Tn
perfect rule of the majority Is thus pro
served unimpairod, while tho minority o
tho people Of the district who may const
Il
| u,,nr,y aNsi.isi, ooiii .ne"ro n representa-
/, | tive TO onablo thcm 10 DO heard ON u
! | questions that effect their rights and IN
tercsts. Thissystem of proportional repre-
+ scnta,ion can never jeopardizo or Over
throw the rule of the stronger party in III
State. IL tho Democrats gain member
under il in Northern Illinois, Republican
will gain equally NJ may IN Southern Ill
nois. |, must be borne in mind tina
nearly sixty counties, of the one hundrc
= and two, are Democratic, or so close tina
: the Republicans cannot count ON carryin
them hereafter. II is not safe or prudcn
10 reckon, in the futg are, upon Grants ml
jority in Illinois. lie that docs is doomc
TO be- greviosly disappointed.
. Tho adoption of proportional rcpresen
tation will do much toward abating til
bancful spirit Of partisan animosity, an
removing the temptations which III
! "grab-alp system offers for the corrup
Q use Of money at elections. 1t will tend /
, relieve the voter from the despotism q
party caucuses, and at the same time con
strain ward politicians To exercise NOR
caro- in selecting candidates for law-maker,
| There is nothing that will more eficctuall
! | put an end 10 the Infamous practice G
, | packing conventions than arming the vote
with his "throo ahOoter' or cumulative bal
lot power, whereby he may concentrate hi
votes on worthy candidate, and let u seal
{ swsg on the ticket severely alone. twill
thus increase the usefulness Of the Legisla
,ure by improving Its membership, and /
will enable the honest and virtuous voter
10 cleo, the ablest and purest men in thei
midst, and secure 10 legislative councils
higher grade Of talent and integrity, and |
larger measure Of public confidence an,
respect than has been possible under the
grab-all system which gives the majorit,
in district monopoly Of representation
and depriyes the minority party Of al
voice in the halls Of legislation. Respect
fully, JOSEPH MRDILL.