The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-02-09
FOR THE COUNTY POST.

"'"6ly '--A@UttOf'
FOR THE COUNTY POST.
Mr.. SMITH,
The public attention in this State is again
called to the subject Of districtng the State
for the election of Senators and members of
Congress. 1t is an important subject, and
should be discussed, as well as decided, calm
ly and upon principle. | am sorry to perceive,
that in discussing this important question the
spirit Of investigation in many instances has
been laid aside, aad given place to a spirit OF
jealousy, recrimination aud abuse.
Whether the Republicans of the State for
merly advocated the measure, or the Fcdc-
raIists opposed it, is Irrelevant, and it is equal
~ so whether the Fedcra!ists now support it.;
1t IS not necessarily party question.
1t is matter Of regret that some editors
have considered it their duty to denounce all
who are suspected of unfricndiiness to distrc-
ting, as being Influenced by improper motives;
and TO suspect all whose opposition has been
directed against the details of the projects
NnlCn nave Deen heretofore submitted 10 tnc
Legislature.
That the State should be districted seems
generally admitted in the County, but the
manner of affecting this object, yet remains
questionable.
The system proposed to and discussed by
the last General Assembly and rejected, was
fn ifY,fo in h< {o%.
senatorial districts by a constitutional provis-
ion; giving to the counties of Hartford, New
Haven, New-London, Fairfield, Windham g.
Lltchfield each three senators, and to the
counties Of MiddIcsex and Tolland each two
senators. TO this system there were various
objections, as well in the public mind as in the
Legislature, and some of them not without
plausihiity at least.
Ii was objected among other things, that
the plan was unnecessarily unequal. Hartford
county with a population of 47,964 was by
that system entitled to but three senators or
one to every 1874 Of its inhabitants, while
Holland county with population of only H.
$50 not sufficient to entitle it to one senator
according to the foregoing proportion, was
as only one instance of inequality sanctioned
by the rejected resolution; Others may be
observed by an inspection Of the census ofthe
several counties.
1t was again objected that districts and par
ticularly such disproportioned districts ought
not to be created and perpetuatcd by con-
stitutional provision; but that the power
should be given to the Legislature to appor-
ton the senators, and limit the districts, as in
most other States from time to time, as the
relative population of districts should alter.
have submitted these remarks to you, sir,
not as indicative of opposition to the principle
of dstricting, but they have beSn elected by
an editorial remark in your paper few weeks
ago in which you suggested an ignorance on
your part of the particular provisions of the
resolution on this subject rejected by the
House OF Representatives last spring. And
although from being made acquainted with
these particulars you may not coincide in o.
pinion with that house, it is believed that YOU
will not perceive in its decision such an evil
dence of lofty or political depravity as some
of your brother editors have charged upon it.
1t is hoped that the next Legislature win en-
ter upon this subject calmly, and without re-
gard to party results, will devise system of
dis.ricting the State which will meet the APP
probation of the people TO whom it must be
submitted. A. b.
We most certainly do Justify the rejcc-
ton, by the Assembly, of the bill for dis
frlcting tho state. if It's features wcrc as a.