The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-25
COLUMBIA, n S. g.
Thursday Morning. E:yy IS. 1871;

Tho Now Principle The Cumulative
Ryste1a Of votinH Viewed la Another
Aspect. .i.#. 4
This ayatem has been generally looked
upon more especially as giving proper
tional representation to the political d.
visions OF parties that may exist in
voting community. It does this fairly
and admirably, but it does more. Under
its operation, INTERESTS as well as mere
NUMBERS may be secured in proper rep
resentation. For instance, If the mer-
camille, the mechanical, or tile agrioultu-
raj interest in any community should
deem it important to 'piace in position
special advocate, it could generally be
accomplished by the system OF oumulat-
ing votes upon q certain candidate. For
instance, the merchants Of Columbis de-
sire to send q merchant, to the Legisla-
ture to represent their specific intsrosts.
They, arrange to .cumulate their votes
to concentrate their strength a
certain man, and the result would be his
election. In the same way, ills possible
for the mechanical element. or the farm
ing element, or any other considerable
elemeet to secure representation at one
and the same time. Thus, in ,Riohland,
it would be possible for this County to
be represented in the Legislature by
merchant. a mechanic, a farmer and o
professional man all at the same time.
Let, now. such "a system as this prevail
all over this countfy. We mean such
system as will give due REPRESENTATION to
NUMBERS and also, to INTERESTS. Aud
who can fail to SEQ what q aiohanga would
be produced in the tone and character Of
opr Legislature by the delegations in our
representative bodies being the genuine
aud intelligent exponents OF all the ele-
mems that make up the body politio.
Incur Judgment. the. cumulative sys-
tenn of voting, is destined, sooner or
later. to work q revolution in our public
affairs. It is yet in its infancy. The
system is NOT very generally understood.
# may be, and no doubt is, susceptible
OF modification. or Improvement, or
amendment 1T must frat be adopted
and tested before its merits or short
comings can be fully exhibited. But Of
one thing we may be assured: THE PRN-
o1PLR IS TRUE. nor do wo hesits.s &c
say that it comes to us OF critical
period in our experiment of self-govern-
ment, under the auspices OF unlimited
suffrage. OF course. we do not mean to
affirm. that any system OF voting can
prevent the decline of people, or the
destruction of government when COR
RUPTIoN has laid hold Of the vitals of o
.oountry-when the MORAL FORCES of the
people fail to keep life in the body
politic. A condition like this no GO
. vesnmental principle. however wise or
just. can remedy. But assuming that
the public virtue and the public intelli-
gence are exerting their just share Of
influence, and are strong enough to pre-.
vent an organic disease from fastening
itself on the political body, oonserv-
ing element, like that involved in pro.
portional representation; both OF num-
bers and interests. must play most i'm
portant part In the solution of the yet
untEied problem Of self governments.
On the authority OF the London o.
seroer, it is said that Napoleon does not
consider that tho present Assembly rep
resents the will OF the French people,
and that when the disorders have subsid-
ed, it will be necessary to institute mea.
sures to ascertain the popular wish. It
is safe to say that Monsieur ,Bonaparte
will never be quite satisfied that any AS
sembly which is opposed to his recall to
the Imperial throne can possibly reflect
the popular will. He has peculiar ideas
concerning popular government in
France, and one of these is that he is
the only man whom the people prefer to
rule them. This idiosyncrasy OF his
seems to have followed him into exile.
and it is probable, nay, most likely, that