The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-12
Eax,Rsyex1. 1.!Ceaxsas.an.
THIRD DAY.

The Convention met alta M.'!?Presi.
dent w: u. Porter prdsiding. The mi.
nQtes,Q ,Qt Wednesday's proceedings were
gead and confirmed.
The Executive Committed repptorted
upon q resolution calling UPON! eanlt
membert to deposit SIS. with the seora.
saTy, to defFy the expenses OF the Con-
ysnticn. Adopted. Also, reported upon
the resolution Of Judge Aldrich in re-
gard to taxation without Representation,
which was read and confirmed. .',l77 =
Ihe report of the Executive: Commit,
tee on the resolution. of Mr.. Chamber,
lain, in regard to violence in certain
Counties of the State, was read and
adopted? Also, the report of the same
committee, OIL giving power to the Exc
cutlve Coiamltteo to, re-assemble the
Convention at such time as they may
deem e1pedient. Also, the report of the
same, committee with regard to taxation !:
also. as to the objects of the Convention.
Mr. Chesnut, for the Executive Com
nls.eG' ASKED to be discharged from the
consideration OF certain resolutions bv
MIR. Smart and Mr.. Ohamherlnin. ia 70.
gard to the finances Of the Steta. ;nas.
much as the subject matter llad Been nj.
ready reported upon. tiois.T s
Mr. Screven, for. the Committee on
Suffrage and Election, made a lenpthu
and interesting report, and asked that
The subject be referred to the Executive
Committee, which is permanent BODY.
SO ordered. 40.
I Mr. w. X Greenfield. offered the fol-
lowing, which was referred to the Exc.
cutive Committee: 'it-'' n
Whereas joint committee of the Se
nate and House of Representatives had
been appointed for the purpose of inves-
t!gating irregularities in q certain com
mittee appointed to take testimony in
regard to the election III the Third Con
gress1ohal District in 1868; and whereas
It ia believed that larger amount has
been drawn from. the Treasury than has
been properly accounted for; therefore.
Resolved. That tie Executive Com
nlttes be instructed to inquire into the
matter, with u view Of determining what
action. If any,, should be taken in tho
matter. 60 r'-'
Tie COMMITTEES to. whom was referred
the question of the expediencV of Che
ioumutativeiisystem OF voting, orRanch
:aystem as will protect, the rights. of
m11llnorllt!iee, e oak leave to; make the follow-
ing report: 'i -a' 1-'l An ','17Ff'
The means Of protecting the rights Of
mlnoritdess in Representative forms of
government; has 'for a long period en-
gagged the attention Of thoughtful minds.
In Europe, as Yell as in this, country.
sh!s question hss hAAen fc!!y a:saoo:s25 :ss4a.
and "a satisfactory. solution anxionsly
Sought. SO defective is the system. Of
mere 2 malorltX Tnlss-;ao e p taagrant are the
abuses g. to which. it is liable, that ihs
necessity Tor its modification strikes with
force every impartial observers It is
obvious that the needs of. good govern.
menu require that some effective organ
ISM Pc Devised for the protection Of
unnecessary to enter upon an analysis Of
the several schemes OF ran.
resentation that have been snpoested.
Enough to say that. in our Judgment. the
plan OF cumulative voting best accom-
piishes the end in 'view-bcst, makes
representation 'co-extensive; with The
whole body Of electors. This plan OBJ
ta1ns, wherever there is more than one
officer to be elected. Il gives the eiector
rs many votes as there are persons to be
chosen, and allows him to bestow his
votes upon the whole number, or to
cnmulate them upon any number less
than the whole. The effect of this sys.
tenn is to give to each political interest in
community representation propor-
tlonate to it's numerical strength. Under
lts operation, the true Office OF suffrage.
which is to collect the sense of the whole
community, will be subserved. There
is efeotsd neither exclusive representa-
tion Of the majority, nor exclusive rep
resentatlon OF the minority; but propor.
tional representation. The proposition
is that the cumulative system secures
thorough and general representation of
all the interests in the political BODY.
To illustrate the system: Under tho pre-.
sent electoral system of the State in a
community of 200 voters, 1O1 elect
rlepresentatives-say four-for the entire
body. That is, out of 200 voters. lO1
impose their representatives upon the
SO. The % have no representatives.
are virtually DISTINGUISHED. Now. under
the operation Of. the cumulative system
Of voting. assuming that, in the same
community, the 200 are equally divided
politically. the, representation would be
equally divided 1t may be matheina-
tica!ly stated thus: 1000 voters 500
voters :: 2:1, Under the operation of
such system, each party would of ne
cesslty calculate its strength. in advance,
and Heok To elnct 0nlv tha nup,bo. 49,