The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-13

moderation has drawn the fanSs from tne op-
position who have been anxiously awaiting
the development OF a vulnerable point OF at
tack. Republicans express surprise and grail
fcation at the temperate character Of the few
speeches that have been made, and concede
the Justice Of the measures which so lar nave
been adopted.
The following is the text OF the reports
which thus far have been adopted by the con-
vention, and will go to the country as an ex-
preston of the taxpayers Of South Carolina:
MINORITY Observation-Disclosures OF TIE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. j. P. Thomas, Of Richland, on behalf Of
the executive committee, to whom was re-
ferred the question Of the expediency Of the
cumulative system OF voting, or such system
as will protect the right Of minorites, asked
leave To make the following report:
The means OF. protecting the rights OF minor.
ties in representative forms Of government has.
for long period, engaged the attent!on OF
thoughtful minds. In Europe, as well as IN THIS
country, this question has been luHy discussed,
and a satisfactory solution anXiously s!ugnt; 80
defective Is tile system OF mere majority rule, SO
lagrant ave tile abuses 10 which II Is larie, tnat
the necessity for lis modification Strikes WIN
force every impartial observer. IL IS OBVIOUS tnat
the needs Of good government require that some
effective organism he devised for the protection OF
minorlt1eS.
upou an analysis Of the several schemes OF pro-
portnnal representation that have been suggest.
ed. Enough 10 say that, IN their Judgment, tlle
plan Of cumulative vo,ing best acconpilShes Tile
end in vIew-best makes representation co-eXten-
siye with the Whole body uf the electors. THIS
pIan obtains wherever there is more than one
officer TO he selected. II gives the e!ector as
many votes as there are persons TO be CHOSEN,
and allows him 10 Desiow his votes upon Inc
whole number, or TO concentrate them upon any
numbsr less than the whole. The effect OF TINS
system is 10 give to each political Interest In
community representation proPortonale 10 us
numerical streng h. Under It's operation Inc
true oDlce OF suffrage, which Is TO c;llect the
sense OF the whole community, Will be subserVrd.
There is effected neither exclusive representation
Of the majority nor exclusive repre- entaton OF
the minority; but proportional representation.
The proposition is, That the cumulative system
secures through q general representation, Oil the
Interests In the political body. TO Illustrate tue
system under the prcseni ELECTORAL St stem oil The
state, In community OF two hundred voters. one
hundred ami one elect representatives, say four,
for the entire body. That 49, out OF two hunured
voters. one hundred and one impose their repre-
sentatlves upon the minority OF ninety'line: Inc
uiuety-n mine have no representatives. are Frlual-
ly disirauchiSed.
Now. under The operation OF the cumulative
system pf voting, assuming that tile same COM
iiticaliy, the representation would be equally
divided. 1t may be mathematcally stated mus
1000 voters are to 500 voters as TWO one. under
the operation OF such system, eacn party Won!a,
OF necessity, calculate lis strength IN advance,
and seek to elect only the number proportlonate
to Its numerical strength. For instance, IN
certain community, let u. a. sumo tllat tnere are
5000 Democrats and 9G0O Republican Vo;ers, and
that there are three persons to DC elected. The
5000 Democrats have 15,o0O votes. The 5000 Re-
publirans have 1000 votes. II the Democrats
were To attempt TO elect all their representatives,
they could give each only 5000 votes, winch
would result in their securing no representative,
as the Republicans being able 10 give each OF telr
candidates 9000 votes, would elect them ALL On
The other hand, II the Republicans were TO at
tempt to elect all their representatives, they
could give each only 5000 votes, which would re.
suit In the defeat OF one as the Democrats could
cumuate their 1000 votes upon one candidate,
and thus elect him: The effect Woa!d be That
each party would. OF necessity, calculate ltS
strength, and there would result proportional
representation. In the case stated the 1000 Dem
ocrats would secure one representative, and the
5000 Republicans two representatives. MS is
the principle OF proportional representation by
inca Of the cumulative system.
Your ommittee. desiring to conGne themselves
10 general propositions. propose TO refrain from
further details.
system Of cumulative ;oling, Thich1s destined 10
play 80 importat part IN the Development OF
popular rule, has already been put IN operation,
ins aucc by James Garth Marshall. 81 subject o. the
crown ol Great Britain. This plan has been
championel by ex-senator Buckalew vi this coun-
try has been Incorporated in the revised .conStl
tuition OF Illinois. and has beea put upon It's trial
m q PENNSYLVANIA town. Recently the subject
has attracted uni' ersal interest IN he Soutn. IN
our own State IL has been received Win great
favor, and lifted above the plain OF political par
tyism.
stractly considered, proportional representation
is great governmental principle, wise, just
measure OF reform, and one aosolutelr necessary
10 make unlimited suffrage consistent WIN
peace orler and security. IL enters the political
body Us saving. aconserving clement. It comes
to leaven the lump OF democracy, and 10 give es
senCe OF genuine repubicanism, which Is orleny
stated, thorough andgenuine representation. Bus
if proportional representation De an admlraoLe
system In any government founded upon the pop.
ular will, your codnmttee holds that the plan Is
ueculiary applicable to such condition Of society
as this Stale aaw presents. -
Your committee. do Aot alfrm tEat this would
cure ali the disease of.lhe body polite. But they
may, without extravaganza suggest tnat tne
system OF proportional Representations II adopted
by those who WELD the numerical power, would
alleviate many OF the evils ncideGt to our present
abnormal condition. would. to large extent
tranqulllize public apprehensions, wOulu moueTa.e
the spirit or political convulsloIs, and tend 10
bring about in this State all the peace that we can
reasonably hope to attain.
Your coInmitlee are aware OF The fact that this
measure Of electoral reform, If 1t shall be prompt.
ly realized by us, must come from the dominant
narty Of the State. Whether 1t will come or not
we cannot deciie. In either event, the minority
In South Carolina put forth their claim IN tlls
behalf
it is their right Should 1t be denied the re-
SponsIbility must rest upon those who use thus
the power that the present gives. Should II oe
rendered, 1t will doubtless produce the fruits OF
Justice and widen The circle Of peace. This much
we may add Since 1t Is the nature ul majorltles
TO change it, may be well for the dominant purity
to CONSIDER whether the adoption OF proportional
rrDreS en- alton may not fur them be The best
policy for the future as well as The highest wis.
uUm for The present.
THE TAXPAYERS PLATFORM.
The executive committee, 10 which was refer
red The paper presented by the Hon. G. w. Dud-
lev, Of Marlboro, beg leave respectfully to report,
that the paper has received :he careful conSldera-
,iou of tile committee, that IL has been amended,
and In It's amended form, is now reported 10 the
convention, with the recommendation mat II DO
pass.
The following is the paper amended, refer
red to by the committee:
The lfgates 10 the Taxpayers Convention now
mel and sitting in Columbia. Sonth Carolina ut'
Sring 10 be fully understood by their fellow cti-
zaus of the STATE, anu OF the United states. de-
clare: .
i. Tha, they mediate no resistance whatever TO
The Government Of The Unitel States, and intend,
IN respect thereof to conduct themselves as
peac2Gul and law abidiuL clizens.
That We regald The reconstruction meas
ures as tlual!lieS ami recognize them rs 4 por.
ton vi Tie established laws Of the land.
3. That we louk ~ time and peacelul agencies
o.jv for the solution Of any GiIlcuilics That now
or may hereafter exit in the administration ol
| ,,i aud ant n a m