The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-27
Minority Representation.


providing for minority representation,
came up for consideration in The Senate
on Saturday. and was rejected. We did
not hear the debate. except part of the
speech of the Senator from Kershaw,
Cardozo-who strongly urged the adop-
ton OF the resolution-but feel free to
assert. from the very nature of the ques-
ton. that the only plea that could have
been urged against the engrafting OF
such wholesome provision upon tho
organic law OF the State was, us Carlozo
charged, the sham, unjust, puerile and
contemplate whine, that the Democrats
would not accord such justice to the Re-
publicans. if they (the Democrats) were
majority in South Carolina. In the
first place, there is one instance known
to us-and, doubtless, there are others
of which VIC have not heurd-that De-
mocrats, while in the ascendancy. have
80 altered their election laws. We refer
to the town in Pennsylvania-the name
of which, at this moment, escapes us
where Senator Buckalew, distinguished
member of the Democratic party of that
State, lives, and through whose counsel
and urgent advice the principle of mi
nority representation was put in opera
ton, and the Republicans, who previous
~ had no voice in the management of
municipal affairs, elected over a third of
the aldermen. Iu the second place, it
is unqucstionably true. that the absolute
rule of bare numerical majority is con-
trary alike to the professed principles of
the Republican md Of the Democratic
party. 1t is. indeed, in direct repug-
nanco to u free Republican form of 60
vernmont, which buses it's authority
upon the consent of the governed, ns
ours claims to do.
There is no sensible reason that can
bo assigned why fifty-onc votes out of
hundred in community should have
absolute, unconditional and despotic
rule over the remaining forty .nino, who
are. in oil probability, AS worthy nnd in
telligent rs tho fifty-one. aud perhaps
more SO. The thing is SO plain, that it
cannot be made palmer. It will hold
good. aud prove beneficial! every whore
In oil countries, States and communities.
But there is q special demand, nccessi-
ty, indeed, for tho adoption of minority
representation in South Carolina. In
other States and communities, diversity
OF political doctrines anu beliefs alone
gives rise to different party organiza-
tions. Each represents inir share of
the property and intelligence of the
country. In this State. however. we
find nine-tenths of the property and the
bulk OF the intelligence, or education, at
any rate, represented by one party, and
that party in the minority. What is the
consequence? Twist and listort the
matter az our opponents may, it ia
manifest to any one who has the brains
and inclination to reflect n moment,
that the property holders tax-pay-
ers-are without representation. The
great grievance of which the American
NOiooieo Cotuiihiucl, uuO WHICH lCu TO
the revolution and our independence
from tho Government of Great Britain.
was taxation without representation.
The down-trodden people Of South Ca.
rolina arc now suffering from this wrong,
thnt stirred the patriotic hearts Of our
common ancestors, North aud South, to
resist such oppression with their blood.
and cngnge i'll u terrible war with the
mightiest nation tion on tho globe. 1t
makes not IL particle of difference how
the evil is brought about-whethcr by
an actual denial OF representation, us
was tho case with our fore fnthcrs, or
through the workings CT universal and
unqualified suffrage, which clfectually
deprives us of that right now. Minority
representation should go hand and glove
with universal suffrage, or else the latter
breeds greater evil than TINT which it is
designed to remedy. Equal rights to
oil mon, boastfully cry Republicans, is