Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-09

court, but upon the main question, the con.
stituionality of the act of Congress prohibit
ing 9olygamous marriages, there was perfect
unanimity. ~-' ~
Minority Representation In Congress.
= A scheme is now on foot. the effect. Of
which, if carried out, will be to break up the
"solid South" in Congress. A bill is in pro.
cess of preparation having for its object mi.
nority representation in Congress, and will
probably be introduced in the House soon af-
ter the reassemblage of Congress. The pro-
visions Of the bill and its effect, should it be-
come law, are thus given by a correspon-
dent: i"
It proposes to have the Legislature Of each
State, after the apportionment of the next
census, to re.district the State, that the mi.
nority as we'll as the majority may be entitled
to representation. The plan proposed is an
ingenious one, and if in force at the last elec-
tiou, would have secured from the South over
thirty Republican members, twenty of whom
would have been colored men; while, on the
other hand, the Democrats would have gained
corresponding number in the North. By
this plan, if carried out at the next election,
the Democrats will have small majority,
but all parts of the country alike will be rep
resented by Republicans as we'll as Demo
Gratis. The plan is to so divide each State
into districts that the districts may, as far as
possible, be entitled to elect either three or
i've members each, thus permitting the ma.
iority of voters to elect two out of three or
three out of FIVE. In case the district is en-.
titled to three representatives each, the elect.
ors can vote for two candidates, and no more.
In case the district is entitled to five repre-.
sentatives each, the elector can vote for three
candidates. and no more. Where the State
is entitled to two representatives only, it is to
be divided into two districts, each electing one
member, as at present. as in this case ma.
jority and minority representation would be
impossible. In all cases where there is no
odd representative, after the State has been
divided as nearly as possible into districts to
be represented by three or five members, a
separate district is to be set apart for this
representative, who is elected as at present.
The effect of this bill will to break up the
solid South and secure to the colored people
a representation in Congress. It is argued
that if it we're passed it would remove the Oh.
jections raised BY Senator Blaine to the pres.
ent unequal representation Of the colored
population of the South. 1t is not expected
that the bill will pass at the present session
Of Congress, but it will be introduced to at.
tract public attention and excite public dis.
cussion on the subject, preparatory to its re-
introduction at the next Congress.
Denominational Progress In 1878. '...
- The New York Times thus sketches
the progress of religious revivals and acces.
sions to the churches of different denomina-
tions during the year just closed:
The fever of revivalism which ran over the
country after the great meetings opened in
Brooklyn, some years ago, by Moody and
Sankey, has been dying out, year by year, un-
til almost every trace Of it disappeared the
past year. The evangelists worked more
quietly in New England towns last winter,
though not fruitlessly, while for the present
winter they have separated. The churches,
however, have not been idle, and the results
of the year in the accession of new members
are, perhaps, not surpassed by those of any of
the previous four years. The Protestant Epis-
.copal Church has been unusually prosperous,
and ihas had such an increase, rs to .raaab and
overrun by 10000 the very respectable mum
ber of 100000 communicants. Of the most
populous denominations the Methodist Epis-
copal Church has had about the usual increase,
and so with the Presbyterians and Baptists.
The Lutherans, as a German community,
have been adding rapidly to their numbers in
the past few years. The highest estimate Of
their present strength is over 100000. There
is scarcely an exception among the various de-.
nominations. large and small, to the rule Of
increase of communicates. The efforts ut
paying off long standing and oppressive church
debts have been continued, too, and many
congregations have been freed from trouble
some bondage. There has, perhaps, been less
of church building than in former years, but
there are good reasons for regarding this as
indicative of prudence and heathful progress,
and not of decline of church enterprise. The
disposition to build large and snowy churches
upon credit is, happily, passing away, but the
erection Of plain and cheap buildings in the
far West and in neglected communities fur
nishes opportunity for a practical benevolence
which several UNCONVENTIONAL societies are
busy in dispensing. s........I