The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-04-07


not understand how plan of reformed
voting could be applied to the choice of
fifty.one Senators, and to the choice OF
one hundred and fifty three Representa-
tives. He was at that time lab0ring un-
der the same doubts which occurred to
the Senator from Greene Mr.. PURMAN
NOW, sir, that same gentleman went
down to the convention In Springfield
shortly afterwards, and made a motion
to appoint committee on electoral
and representative reform, of which he
was made chairman and he was the
leading man concerned in putting into
the Constitution of the State the very
provision in reference to the choice OF
representatives to which have referred,
and also other important provisions
applying the same plan to the election
OF directors OF incorporated companies,
and to the election of judges in the city
OF Chicago. This supposed difficulty of
districting State for the purpose of ap.
plying a reformed plan of voting in leg
islative elections Is quite illusory. Dis
tricts to which this plan shall be appli-
cableare more easily made than districts
In ordinary apportionment laws, and If
we were compelled, under the Consti-
tuition, to so district our State that all
the people should have representation
by this plan of voting, we would not
have as much difficulty as we have now
under our present system of gerryman.
dering and isfranchisement. Let me
say to the Senator that we get rid of the
great difficulty and evil of gerrymander.
ing by the free vote; we cut it up by
the roots, or, at least, we reduce it to
it's smallest dimensions.
The Senator says the majority should
rule. Well, that is true. Mr.. Jefferson
said so-that absolute acquiescence in
the will OF the majority, fairly pro.
nounced, was a vital principle of our
applied and carried out constantly. or
our experiment of free government
would end in failure. To that assent
most fully. But Mr.. Mill long ago
pointed out the fact that the majority
vote, as heretofore existing in Great
Britain and in the United States. does
not secure the will of the majority
that, in point of fact, the rule which
we get from 1t, as we apply it, is a rule
of the majority of the majority, or often
of small portion only of the people.
In the first place, at the popular cleo
tions you count out all the minority
voters you count or allow only major.
ity votes and put aside the rest. A large
part of the people, then, are virtually
DISTINGUISHED they have no further
voice in the government beyond the
giving OF fruitless votes, which, after
being scored down, are in effect scored
out again. Then the representatives
so chosen, meet in legislative body,
ana when any measure of policy Is to be
voted upon, the majority rule is applied
again, and the minority of the legisla-
tive body ignored; so that the majority
of the legislative body pronouuces the
rule of law for the citizen.
Besides, in practice in this country
Legislative majorities, upon all measures
OF political character at least, and
many others, act under system of con
sultation-that is, under what we cal
the caucus rule. The representatives O
the majority in the representative body
meet together, and subject their wills L
the decision ola majority ofthemselyes
and that caucus decision, concocted ant
settled in secret, becomes the law of tht
State. The caucus is in the third de
gree removed from the people, and there
are three examinations of popular power
before the law Is enacted. Therefore l
say you do not necessarily secure the
rule of the majority. under your major
| ity vote, because the majority of the
legislative body, made up as have de.
scribed it, and acting as it does, may
very likely represent only minority
| OF the people out of doors, and such, in
point of fact, is frequently the case.
Under reformed voting what do you
get? You do not destroy votes given at
the popular elections you count them
| all you take them and then respect
| them you consider them rs sacred and
| inviolate and give to them full and com
plete effect. And what is the result p
Substantially that all the electors are
represented and obtain due voice and
influence in the enactment of the laws
Then, in the legislative body you have
all the people represented. Each voter,
except in rare cases, has his representa-
tive in place on whose attention he has
Il claim and to whom he can speak as to
friend. There is thorough representa-,
tion; all your people are heard. How
widely different is the case now? and
because it is different this evil of local
or private legislation is beginning to be
| exclaimed against all over the State
and If you do not take steps to correct
1t, there will be move nent of popular
power that will reach over you and be
yond you, and through change of the
fundamental law will ei,ectually correct
the evil.
The rule of the majority l agree tC
the principle we propose to apply it in
this bill: We take the vote in the leg
is!ative body, and there, the will of the
majority Is appropriately pronounced
and it can be properly pronounced no
where else. 1t will take effect with q
sanction that it does not now possess
because when all the people have beer
heard in the enactment of law or reg
ulation, they will very likely be salts
fled with il and besides, there will bt
greater security for the fairness and
wisdom OF such law or regulation in the
fuller consideration to which it will bt
subjected.
| The Senator says that under this plar
OF voting all the little side parties of tn,
country would be represented and heard
AS 1t Is now under the old majority
vote they are kept out of Congress, ou
OF Legislatures and out of other posi-
tions In the Government. Because they
are small number in any given con
stituency you apply to them the MAORI
ty vote, and you eXtinguish them o
push them away from the high place
of power, and do not allow their voice
to be heard there. The Senator seems tC
| think this is an ADVANTAGE. n n Saan1s n