, 1873-02-14
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
Address of the Hon. Joseph Me-
dill at Springfield, I'll.

Wednesday evening, tho Hon. Joseph Mediu
delivered M address On the subject OF Minority
Representation, in the Hall Of tho House ot
Representatives at Springfield, the address being,
in part, q rop1y to the late speech OF Senato1
Canfeld in support OF his proposed amendment
to the Constitution striking out the minority
representation clause.
Mr. Medill, after having been introduced to the
large audience Of members and citizens by the
Hon. s. II. Cullom, Speaker OF the House, Us
the porson who know more Of tho subject in
question than my other man in Illinois, address
ed them IS follows:
The public press has notified tho people that q
movement has beon inaugurated il the Senate
to abolish tho constitutional provision securing
proportional representation to the people.
IT SHOULD NOT START IN THE SENATE.
Why has this movement its inception IN the
Senate That body is elected upon the single
district plhn, in which the plurality rules. II SEN
ators are satisfied with the system under which
they aro elected, why are they not content
Herewith? It is hardly respectful to
the House for tho Senate to -, take
composition Of the other brunch, and to attempt
to break up its constituencies. The members OF
the House have q right to feel that it is q
Eratultous interference, for movement OF this
kind should commence in tho House itself,
whose members are manifestly the best Judges
OF the workings OF the new system.
THE HousE HAS THE LARGEST CONSTITUENCY.
The members Of the House hold their seats by
tho votes Of 407,582 constituents. The mem
bors Of the Senate hold their seats by the votes
$4,000 Totars who exercised the franchise at tho
last election, unrepresontod in the House by
members Of their own free choice, whereasthere
are 792 voters un1epresented on the floor OF tho
Senate. The House, therefore, has 160, 300 moro
constituents behind them thar the Senate In
three Senatorial Districts the members we're elect
cd only by plu1alities, a majority OF the people
having voted against them. Which, then, is The
most democratic body, that which represents q
part. or that which represents the whole? And
publican government to reduce the House to the
limited representation of tho Senate7 Do Sena-
tors ask for this change upon the ground that
the House ia an inferior body in political, moral.
mental educational, or legal qualifications?
the previous House consisted OF q superior body
of men TO the present one, and in such marked
degree as to require a constitutional amend
ment2 Are the Senators, as q body, 80 vastly
superior to those OF the House in ali qualities
dangerous longer to elect members OF the latter
upon the totality system Of representation The
members Of the House would, perhaps, resent
an imputation Of this kind Il avowed on the floor
Of the Senate. They would be hardly likely to
confess to this disgracefu inferiority Of ability,
honesty, and fidelity to duty. and 1t would BE-
difficult for the Senate to prove it.
The proposition in the Senate is equivalent to
an attempt to exclude from seats in the House
of Representatives 81 members, who we're sent
tribute them among 240,o0 voters who have
sent 102 members to the House. The majority
party on the floor OF the House have one repre-
sentative for every {, 400 votes that they cast,
for every {, 400 rotes they cast. The PROPOSE
lion, then, is to take from those constituencies
Of 3,400 the privilege Of electing
. representative, and give it to those constitu-
encies Of only 400 persons, and who are repro
,ented now, which would be an Outrage upon
rec government and equal rights in every as
oect in which it can be viewed.
WHO ASKS IT'S REPEAL?
Have the masses OF the people petitioned the
General Assembly or either branch for q return
,fthe voters? How many thousands Of petitions
lare been sent to the Senate, demanding the
Ibontion Of the free vote and proportional
representation have heard Of none.
The press has reported none. No member OF
'ither House has stated that his constituents
rave asked for this change. Was return to
he old system an issue uf the late political cam
'aign? Was majority Of either branch Of the
legislature elected upon that Issue? What
county or District Conventions resolved in favor
tate Conventions OF either Of tho great par
ies !? Did the primary caucusos Have the |
'eople, in any capacity, asked for it7 No; no
uch demand has been made.
THE COURT HousE POLITICIANS.
This nnyement in the Senate to change thu
rcanio law hss bean initiated bv a member of
ne branch. uninstructed. unadyise1. and nnre-
uegted by The people. Proyisions Of Constitn- |
ons shon1d MT he chanred fnr 1icht reasnns
or unless there is q fleusand from the neonie |
hemae1ves What ie at the hottnTo of this cnn.
1Tacv sr.;net nonninr Tirhts7 Who A.. tha
rneasy sn;rits dfssatiaflad With tha free vnie |
nd tots1Stv renresentst;on rraca hac1- the I
'nramant to It's cansa to tha anr;nr
+ action that nrot,uces Il an5
viii ha Tonnd to bara ia
,nrce among the o1sss known Az conntv conrt
[ouse politicians, and not among the masses Of
rerE "a srete ,vbct, ra3,cas tba;r notics ;nn-
ace over the ~ people. Thew desire and seek
3solute control q monopoly Of power. and are
% ttar1v onnosed to anv division Of fhat power
tn their political opponents.
GIVE TT 4 rAm TRIAL.
The pew avstem should have fair triaI No
an is qualified to pronounce it failure until