Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1868 — Are Small Majorities Best? [ARTICLE]

Are Small Majorities Best?

tsume cor tend, anti perhaps the j principle may be plausible, that it i were better for the country ami the Repnblican party-had the - victory been less decisive—that it would have been better U> bate liadmvorc Democratic ropresentaii ves iii both branches ©fthe National legislature. ; The argument is, that a minority j •troty; enough to command respect, j net* as a check upon the arbitrary i of majorities, keeping: alive tire prudence, vigilance and honesty of those they oppose, and arc the only natural and safe guardians of the virtues they onn not di- ' rcct Bat to us the matter apjrears in an altogether different light, Like all general rules this theory has its exceptions. And although Jojjx IiaKOOLFii said that the most efficient majority a party can havo in a legislative body is a majority of ope, yet there is fallacy in the statement, ns the record of .our National affairs for the lasi four years amply show. Had there been leas than a cwo-tlurds, Republican vote in Congress how laws have bpen caaclcd ? That these laws mart necessary, the condition of the country at the time of their enactment fully That they were

'plow. Unless there is two-thirds'! : dt Congress ot owe |i.'uO> haw can au J i amendment to bij for the wPonifciftße Stpes f j > That such emergences nrifie tre* 1 have only to read our history for the j | hist four years to pro\e. That Presitlcnt’s do not always decide for the t well-being of tlft; people, Mr. Jonx- ( siyfj e.ytfqcf'is evidence. That uii--1 uoritica sometimes fail to be the de- , posUorfes and guardian* of moral • and political virtue is shown by the ' course pf fin; Democracy since the | administration ot Mr. Push**. Thtm the argmnents arc not wholly in lav of of strong minorities! IVc 1 art* well satisfied with the Befmbii* 'can majority in Congress a* it is; j We do not complain because it is 1 I not largtr. If our Democratic 1 ! friend* rejoice that they have suececdrd iu vlocUng-a-fbw able men to J present their views in the councils oi the Nation, we certainly <h» not envy their happiness, nor wish to , deprive them of their pleasure. But: we do contend that it is not abso- j j lately requisite to national prosperj ity, nor pablie good, nor social hap* f ptness ihatTho Republican majority ! should be Jos. The Democratic minorities iu the Legislatures of the j 3SiSS of maine, Vermont and Mas*! laseiuisetts have been growing small i : and pcrupeelively less for eight vears 1 pa*t, y«t the people of those States , happy, prosptißßus and con-: I tented as are those of ’States where j , tlie virtues ot majorities are given I into the c.yre of “re.-pectable rnir.m-. * iliis,” | , Although wc do not advocate ithc j i total Extinction of party lines, yet * we <i j not believe if the whole power J of the general • and State govern- > 1 ments, throughout its various ram- i , ideations to the minutest details was j all given into tlie hands of the Re- ! ■ publican party, and all check minor-; ities ceased to exist, that the rights ' of individuals would be in the least impaired or endangered. Wo have ' , too much confidence in its devotion An freedom to believe the party that has destroyed" biavery in America : would attempt to curtail the consti- ( tutianal libertie's of the people; and j we fail to see the consistency of the ; argument which advocates the elec- j lion of minorities to have charge* ; over and preserve virtues they neither j : possess hot respect.