The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-20
miporIty. HspDosensation,

0SiS OOubbItUtlOGss IOIs! s!Sabso4 .! SSuu-
sylvanis, nov. met, for its conclusions
respecting minority Representation.
Hon. T. R;Buckalew, late Democratic
candidate for Governorta gentleman OF
fue abilities and high culture. who has
made the subject study for several
years and of experiment on small scale,
will. it is expected, bring it before the
Convention. He has long been of the
opinion that this is the most salutary
mode for the correction of evils under
which minorities, which are practically
deberred representation, sntfer in this
country.
A large experiment. to test the virtue
of this mode of representation, hos re-
Gently been instituted in Illinois. At
the adoption of their Constitution, in
1870, clause Incorporating this iunda.
mental change was submitted to the
popular vote and adopted by large ma.
jority. According to this provision, at
the recent election for members of the
lower braach Of the Legislature, they
were chosen upon this principle. It is
now in foil force in that State, and, if
We are to Judge hy She tone Of the pccss
OF both parties. 80 far, gives entire
satisfaction. They point to seve-
raj good results produced by it. A
better class Of nominations, repre-.
sentation o: parties in the Assembly,
corresponding to their proportionate
strength on general ballot in the State,
Democratic Counties sending proper
tion OF Republicans. and rics cersa, aud
the excision OF Ill schemes of fraud
likely to affect the election, these results
are Chained for il. and are certainly great
benefits. This experiment, on 80 large
scale, is one OF nnwonted consequence;
and if it should be successful, and prove
Of practical advantage, as it theoretically
seems SO just and reasonable. it will be
commended to more general and hearty
acceptance Now that Constitutions,
both State and national, one of whose
chief offices is to protect minoritiee by
imposing restraints upon the will OF nu-
merical majorities, are broken down and
disregarded in large measure, and great
popular majorities are carrying every
thing before them, it will be indeed
valuable discovery-that of finding
substitute equally strong and fit. by
which .minorities may be upheld in their
rights, and all the beneHts Of full,
complete and perfectly fair representa-
ton secured to every community.
We take from contemporary brief
explanation of the mode by which this
novelty in voting may he applied:
Tie method suggosted-a mode whiuh
will operate as check upon popular
passion or excitement. while affording
just method of securing minority rep
rescntation known as cumulative vot-
ing. This is as follows: The voter exer-
oises the power at will. where three Rep
resentatives are to be voted for. to cast
three ballots for one Representative, or
one and one-half ballots for two. or two
ballots for one and one ballot for an
other, or single ballot for each of the
three. Take as an illustration the fol-
lowing forms:
l. For Representative Doe, 8
votes.
2. For Representatives-John Doe, "a
votes; Richard Roe, l Il votes.
8. For Representatives Doe, 2
votes; Richard Roe, vote.
4. For Representatives Doc,
vote; Richard Roe, vote; John Smith,
vote.
By this method any party controlling
one.third OF all the votes Of County is
sure to elect one candidate, and the
same in district, the districts peing SO
distributed that no party could have
more than two-thirds.
KNIGHTS OF PYrH1As.-. Supreme Scribe
Q. NJ. Barton, Of the Knights Of Py:hias,
in response to an inquiry, received O
telegram from James s. Harrington,
Esq, Grand Chancellor of the Knights
OF Pyth1s ofMassachusetts. stating that
no knights OF Pythias Lodges were burnt
out at the recent fire in Boston. Many
of tho members lose heavily-some Of
them oil. No aid needed ut present.
Arrangements had been previously made
by the Supreme Chancellor of knights
of Pythias, residing in Chicago, to fur
nish aid to the Boston sufferers if need.
ad