The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-12-27

Meeting IN FAVOR OF MINORITY REPRESENTA-
TIoN-Pursuant to a call, the Committee of Ar
rangements, consisting of Messrs. Dawson Law
renee of Howard county; Jervis Spencer, VIM.
Webster and DR.. Merryman, of Baltimore CO.,
a meeting was held on Friday morning OF last
week, in Raine's Hall, Baltimore, to take steps
to secure minority representation. On motion,
Mr.. Jervis Spencer was called to the chair, and
made a few remarks, thanking the meeting for
the honor conferred upon him. He then ex-
planned the object of the meeting, and said they
had met to consider very important subject,
that of securing honest, faithf and upright
Office holders. In his opinion, TIL could only
be effected by minority representation, as by
it. he asseverated, wholesale moral sentiment
would be established in the community, which
would cause itself to be felt incidentally IN
Congress.
Mr. Dawson Lawrence read lengthy report
on the practical results of minority represen-
tatiOn. He referred to the Constitution of Hi
nois, which provides that each voter may cast
-s.otes- for one candidate Gs there are
representatives to be elected, or may distribute
the same or parts thereof among the candidates
as he may see fit. In the Presidential election
of 1872 this plan was tried with satisfactory re
suits Mr.. Lawrence said in the course of his
remarks that powerful wealthy taxpaying
minority is entitled to at least voice cut of in
those representative bodies which deliberate
upon their interests, and spend their money
The measure, he said, mad also the principle OF
Justice to recommend it, and the interests Of the
majority would be better protected by having
at least one representative ready to sound the
alarm in case Of corruption.
In conclusion, the speaker said the adoption
of the proposed plan would have tendency to
secure that honest administration of public af-
fairs, SO dear to the good and true men of all
parties, and the punishment of official fraud,
whether the perpetrator thereof belongs to our
own party, or that of our opponents. Mr.. Law
renee submitted resolutions, which were unan-
imously adopted, calling the attention of the
people of Maryland to Mr.. Jervis Spencer's ad-
dress upon the question of minority represen-
tation. Also that committee be appointed to
prepare an address to the people of Maryland
and to the Legislature upon the subject matter
of the meeting. The Chair appointed the fol-
lowing Committee D. Lawrence. DR.. Merry
man, B. McLane Hardesty, VIM. Webster, Cap
tain Thos. Love and Thos Gorsuch. On mo-
ton, Mr.. Spencer's name was added to the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Lawrence moved that the meeting be
formed into the Maryland Minority Republi-
can Association. The motion was adopted, and
the Chair appointed committee on permanent
organization. The committee nominated Jer-
Wis Spencer, President, VIM. Webster, Secreta-
ry and DR.. NJ. Merryman, Treasurer, who were
elected On motion of Mr.. Lawrence a COM
mittee of five was appointed to draft consti-
tuition and bylaws, and to report at the next
meeting of the association, which will be held
the third Friday in January. The meeting
then adjourned.