The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-02

sundsyMorains, March q, 1873.

S1ndsyEAornin4, March q. 1873.
Flsn OF q New Mode or Representation.
In considering the new method OF rep.
resentation devised by DR.. Clarke, OF
New York, We found him maintaining,
asiss germ, the idea that tho suffrage is
comparatively pure in small constituent
eies. Upon THE fnot. he bases the ne.
eessity that large ones should be sub
divided; and further, that the small
constituencies thus established shall not
be subjeot to the manipulation or impro.
per influence OF the office seeker or poll
tioian. This. he thinks, can be effected
by determining them by lot. Thsse con-
s!!.:sacies ere to choose. each, ;:s repre-
sentative elector, who must be debarred
the privilege of declining TO serve. The
plan further contenplates that they shall
not be limited in their choice to their
own members, bat have the range OF the
town or ward in which it may be includ-
ed. Voting should be by ballot or piua
DOCS. The body OF representatives so
chosen in any ward or town will oonsti-
tute college of electors for such ward
or town, and appoint in public session,
Dioa pocs. its varions functionaries. They
will also appoint one or more electors of
higher class, to represent them and the
people for whom they act in higher
college for the selection Of County Of
fcers, members Of Assembly, &c. In
like manner, this secondary college in
every County should choose still higher
grade OF electors, to represent it in
higher electoral college, in the appoint
ment of the executive fnnctionaries of
the State and the Judiciary. The vote
OF an elector in any grade should have
weight in his college, according to the
number OF registered voters that he
might represent. Our theorist insists
that this gradation would not fail to ee-
cure in the higher colleges Of electors
men picked out, not only for their high
and established character, but also for
their understanding of the exigenoies of
the public service. and for their acquaint.
ance with the men best fitted to meet
them. Nomination by such u body
would be presumptiye of merit, and
battle combinations of politicians and
devices of party.
The special merit, claimed for this sys.
tenn is that it promiees to purify the
structure OF civil government at It's base.
and. to exclude from it the blighting
presence Of political management.
Through it We are promised for the
foundation stone of our new fabric q
body OF representative electors possessed
OF character and standing in their COM
nunities, presumably impervious to all
the evil influences which politicians
could bring against them. The higher
grades Of electoral bodies would natu.
rally be. composed Of still more promi-
nent and more truly represent ative oiti.
zens. At every step, motive would
exist for selecting the best men instead
OF the vorst.as 40 6ten' happ ems under
the present system. sppposing the
scheme to be faithfully oarri ed out. it
would put Bu end to- all sorts Of election
frauds, to fraudulent naturalization, to
repeating; to psrsonation. to false regis
tration, to false counting and false re-
turns, and all kindred devices by which
treeman are robbed of their bir th-right,
PoliticaEpasties and political trnaohinery
would come to All end. and wi til them
would go politicians and Offices eckers,
who do not wait to be called into their
service, by the people, but by wire.pnll-
ing and other such influences really elect
themselves. Rotation in Office would
be the next to fall, and tho high and
complex functions OF legislation be saved
from falling into inexperienced and un-
tried hands. show reaching and
disastrous this evil is. what waste it
breeds and what proatless trouble; how
it retards the amelioration OF all social
evils, and how truly 1t has taken from
the science Of legislation all the faou lty
OF progress, We shall never know. and