The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-06-08
ANDERSON Els MORNING. JUNE g. 1871

We AAs, Ne Sss
The Plan OF Cumulative Voting and 0ppo-
=. sitlOn Thereto
The Marion Greseent is the only newspaper,
we believe, that has raised its voice against the
introduction Of cumulative voting into our sys-
tenn of suffrage in this State. Our cotempor'
airy looks toward to other measures Of relief,
when the State will be controlled by intelli-
gent white men, and the political millenian
will be reached. As we want our readers to
see both sides of this question of proportional
representation, we give the remarks Of the
Crescent: -. s,i ~ -.
GAS the question of cumulative voting or MI
nority representation will be prominent fea-
ture in the local politics of this State, we pro-
pose, in this issue of our paper, to discuss the
subject at length. It will be reeollected by our
readers that the, Payers Convention which
recently sat in Columbia gave this subject an
early and deliberate consideration, and after
discussing 1t through its branches declared in
its favor by an overwhelming majority. The
Governor and Attorney General not only advo-
Gated the doctrine, but pledged their influence
with the Legislature to have it adopted. This
is new principle that is sought to be ingrafted
on the election laws of this State, and has been
tried to q very limited extent on this continent.
It has been tried in Illinois only, of the States
as q general thing, and to very limited extent
in Pennsylvania. Where the electors COM
prising the body polite and the different po-
fitical parties are of the same race, and OF equal
capacity to govern, there can be no question as
to the Justice and propriety of the adoption of
this principle of representation, and where the
minority of electors is composed OF the most
intelligent, experienced and wealthy citizens,
the good of society imperatively demands some
provision in the laws of representation whereby
the State would have the benefit of their ad-
vice and direction. 1T is claimed by the friends
of this measure that the Democrats OF this
State would have forty or fifty representatives
in the Legislature, whereas they now have not
half that number, and that great check would
be put upon the extrayagant and reckless Leg
islature of the irresponsible. majority now rul-
ing the commonwealth to its ruin: Whatever
would be the general result should the plan OF
minority representation be carried into effect,
the Democrats of this County would lose one
or more of. their representatives and the Radi-
Gals would reap q corresponding benefit, and
this would be the result in all the Counties OF
the State where the Democracy have majorities
A nv "The question
now now IS whether the people Of this State will
sustain the action Of their representatives In
the late Columbia Convention, and commit
themselves for all time to come to this new doc
trine of cumulative voting.
seThe leaders of the Radical party, by prompt
ly endorsing the measure, have shown mag
nanimity and disinterested patriotism to which
they have heretofore been strangers; are pgr-
suing deep laid scheme to lull into repose the
excited passion of the Taxpayers, and to post
,pone to q more distant day the e1terminatlon
of their power which this excitement seemed to
threaten in the near future.
"But, however this may be, it behooves the
taxpayers and property-holders Of this State
to weigh we'll this matter, and consider whether
owning as they do nearly all the land in the
State, and possessing as they do the capacity
within given and limited time, BY pursuing
an intelligent and common sense policy, TO con-
troll the State and government, it would be bet,
ter to compromise their entire future control
for limited and minor present influence We
opine that the 10000 negro majority Claimed
by the Radicals will disappear as soon as we
have a fair and impartial election law, and We
incline to the belief that in this will be found
the secret of the extreme anxiety of the Radi-
cal leaders for the adoption of minority repre-
sentation. 'fs',9 go 'i'2s,.sa ,s45,l ~
In reply to the foregoing article Of the Ma
rion Crescent, we find clear and able exposi:
tion of the merits of cumulative voting, as .
Just and equitable system Of suffrage, in the
last number of the Reoscee Cotrier, which 10
herewith copied for the benefit Of our readers:
a
The question whether the tax payers of this
State will sustain the action of their delegates
in this matter is very important one, and
merits serious consideration. After thorough
discussion of the system, the convention, with
but few dissenting votes, expressed its approval
of the scheme, and appointed committee TO
press upon the attention OF the Legislature the
passage of such law, so that it might operate
In the next general election. According to the
relative strength of the two parties in this
county, as gathered from the last election, we
would lose one member, and such would be the
result in nearly sl the counties, polling DEM
ocratic naiorities, On the other hand, 1t is
equally sure that in many Radical counties we
Wonld gain one or more members, and by proper
management in the State, We could at once put
.fifty members in the lower House, against
twenty under the majority principle. But the
Crescent says, il would behoove the taxpayers
to consider whether, with fair prospect of an
entire future control, they are willing to COM
promise this for o present minor influence
We would be willing TO accept the system from
its intrinsic merits, without regard to its prom
ises Of present or future influence for or against
us. It is fair, just and equitable that every de-
partment of industry, and every class OF citl-
zens should obtain representation in the law
making body. 1t is moro, for such system
would promote general good feeling, wise laws
and universal prosperity. Many regulations
essential to the development of important in, !.
dustrial pursuits arc neglected for the want OF
some one to present the claims and necessities
of such laws. Nor do we claim that perfect
honesty and perfect wisdom is the heritage
solely Of Democrats We may, an and even wen ol 40
pressed by such errors, if represented, could
1;,,oI ,,ro;ud;ca and nreyent the bod cOnBe-