William Porcher Miles Quotes
“Vote early and vote often,” the advice openly displayed on the election banners in one of our northern cities.
For a later version of this “advice” see Josh Billings {594820}
William Porcher Miles, 1822-1899, President, South Carolina College, Secessionist, U.S. Representative, 1857-1860, Speech, House of Representatives, March 31, 1858
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Henry Wheeler Shaw. Billings is not the originator of this adage, but seems to be recalling it. See William Porcher Miles {607439}
Historically, there has been a tendency to make it difficult for the poor to vote and having election day during working hours on a weekday was a very effective day of doing that. In modern times voting hours have been extended to 9 PM in some states so that working people could more easily vote. However, in modern times calls for weekend voting or Internet voting has been difficult to produce bipartisan support as increasing turnout tends to favor one party—the Democrats—over the other.
Madison was right on most things, but got this one wrong. Of course he did not anticipate the era of mass communication which makes demagoguery in large areas possible.
Bruce was the first Black to complete a full term in the Senate
The voting problems we have had are managerially and technology solvable but politically each solution is perceived as favoring one of the political parties in the particular jurisdiction and therefore there is resistance to the change.
- Born: July 4, 1822
- Died: May 11, 1899
- Nationality: American
- Profession:
William Porcher Miles was among the ardent states' rights advocates, supporters of slavery, and Southern secessionists who came to be known as the "Fire-Eaters." He is notable for having designed the most popular variant of the Confederate flag, originally rejected as the national flag in 1861 but adopted as a battle flag by the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee before it was reincorporated.
