Speech on Personal Representation, with an Appendix (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ...condemnation of the whole Law as being, in point of practical legislation, a complete failure. I shall, therefore, proceed to exemplify clearly the arguments with which this charge is supported, by a problem that has been elaborately prepared, and triumphantly put forward by the most intelligent and energetic of Mr. Anctoe's political opponents. This problem, indeed, concentrates in very close compass, and illustrates in very plausible form, the whole gist of objection. Let us suppose (it is said) that, in conformity with Mr. Andrse's system, three representatives are to be elected by a constituency of 600 voters. This may be supposed to be the case, for instance, in the district of Lolland-Falster.f Let it be further supposed that the candidates are five in number, viz., A, B, C, D, and E, representing, of course, different political parties. Again, let it be supposed that, out of the whole body of electors (consisting of 600) 299 voters record their votes in favour of A, B, and D, in the order here given; that 200 voters record their votes in favour See the " Landsthing Tidende," account of the Debate of June 5, 1853. f See the Note giving the electoral districts. S of A, C, and B, in the order here riven, and 101 voters in favour of A, O, and E, in the order here given. The voting lists will then be composed as follows: --The President now opens the elections by dividing the total number of the electors by the total number of members to be elected, and, the quotient having been found to be 200, he proceeds to draw the votes from the urn. A appears first on the first list as the candidate most approved by the concurrent choice of 299 voters. Consequently A, being found in possession of 99 votes in excess of the necessary quotient, is declared dul...