The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-03-01
LETTERS FROM s'TGpIA.-NN. ,.
MoREyILl.E. UTOPIA,
February &c, 1888.

MoREvILLE. UTOPIA,
February &c, 1893.
SIR THOMAS MORE:
My Dear i'ncls-This letter will be
supplementary to my last, in which !
gave you an outline of our new method
Of choosing the President. | should
have said that, in the proceedings Of the
Electoral College, every Elector is cnti.
tied to only Que vote, and all the voting
is riru roe.
will now explain our pan oi con-
Quoting all other elections. You know
that our government owes its very exist
ence to the spirit Of righteous opposition
to taxation without representation. 1t
was this spirit that filled Boston harbor
with ten, that inspired the whole Utopia
people with irresistible enthusiasm, and
gave to tho world its finest specimen Of
true republic. The idea of universal
equal suffrage was supposed to be essen
tial to the existence of Democratic gov
crnment; and, though, in some respects,
its practical operation was not altogether
satisfactory, yet it WAS regarded US too
sacred n thing 10 be disturbed by the
merclcss hand Of innovation.
AS time wore on, the thoughtful
classes could not fail to feel that there
WAS danger OF increasing evil from this
source. Men who had the least possible
intelligence and interest in the govern
mcnt, who were not tied down by owner
ship Of the soil, and who contributed
nothing in character or means to the
support of our institutions, could, by the
mere fact of their superior number, actu-
ally control the policy of the State on
questions involving the highest interests
Of ALL Occasional outcroppings Of
agrarian spirit gave rise to serious fear
of communistic anarchy and ruin.
Just in the nick Of time, it was dis.
covered and declared that universal
equal suffrage was inconsistent with the
fundamental spirit Of our whole fabric.
If the great wrong of our colonial condi-
tion consisted in taxation without repre-.
sentation,-if taxation and representa-
tion ought to go together, it would seem
that they ought to be proportional. If
A pays one dollar tax, and B pays two
dollars, it seems fair that B's double tax
should entitle him to double representa-
tion:-if not, his extra dollar is mani.
testify an instance of taxation without
representation.
1t was observed also that this princi-
pie had always been recognized and car
ried out in tho proceedings of joint. stock
companies in our own country. Men
who contributed their money to build
railroads or factories were allowed to
exert influence in their management in
precise proportion to the amount of their
stock; and no one ever thought of doubt.
ing the equity of the plan.
Fortunately for us, it was agreed to
apply the came principle to our govern.
mental affairs; and now we have sys.
tenn which challenges the admiration of
the civilized universe. It is this:-..
A citizen proposing to vote presents 10
the Inspector of the polls his tax receipt
for the year, which shows exactly how
much he has contributed to the support
of the government. He is entitled to
one vote for every dollar of that amount.
He is required to decldl in audible voice
in whose favor his vote or votes shall be
recorded; and the clerks make the
record accordingly. His tax receipt 10
then indelibly stamped with the name of
the precinct and the date Of the election,
BID that he can not vote again that day.
Besides it's manifest justice, the plan
is q constant premium on industry,
economy, and thrift, and thus exerts in.
calculable influence in the development
ofthe dormant resources of our Heaven.
blessed land.
I should add that, when this plan was
introduced, it was confined to the elec.
tion of State Senators, and our members
of the Lower House were chosen on the
universal equal suffrage basis; but, sfter
q trial of some years, the manifest supe-
riority of the now plan induced ils uni.
versal adoption. ~
I should add further that person w..o
holds property IN different counties Is
entitled to vote, either in person or by
written proxy, wherever his taxes are: !:
paid. \. 't7,
Hoping 70 heas from You 5000, I re.
main. as ever, s. s4e.j. 1
!, Is. tsa Your nephew, II
81 .iaB 7. MORE, Jr. ~
S ~ Sts------ --------
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