The Litchfield County post., 1827-05-31


 mendment was to limit the Legislature, but a general bill was as bad as the present law; that he wished to have the question submitted to the people and submitted in such manner as would meet their appro- bation-that the difference between IS and 24 Districts would be latitude enough, that now they might put counties together that lawyers might be acquainted with the qualifications of persons in other counties but the greater part of the people could not be that some counties would have ted- eralists exclusively & some republicans ex- clusively-that the object of the amendment was togive every part of the community fair and equal representation in the Sen ate, and that the measure was just and honorable.
 Mr. Benedict said the amendment con- tained in it principle, which the House ought not to except-that if the amend ment prevailed it would acquire only plu- rality for the choice of a Senat6r-when the Senate ;s chosen by general ticket plu- rality can only he required, but it would be contrary to all practice for single Senator to be chosen by plurality; he noticed the
  nor, representatives &c. who were all to be chosen by majority-shat if a plurality enly was required they might throw in man, who was not agreeable to a majority of his District-he thought in strong party times 1t would leave great room for the ex- crcise of intrigue in the division of Districts and would in the end lead to worse ronse- quences than were apprehended-that by the amendment the districts must be com posed of contiguous territory, but might be in different counties. in large counties there will be more difficulty in making conten- tions than in small ones, because there will be more steadiness of action. The great object is to give the Senate more strength and durability as at present constituted it is very fuctuating, the members are con- stantly changing-it is coordinate to be sure, but it ought to be also iudependant, so that they may check any sudden acts of this House, and not fear for their own safe- ty.-If the decision of particular Senator was not liked in his own District, his elec- ton might be dependant upon it; but it would not change the whole body-that time would be left for reflection and the cooling of passion, and the same Senators would be more likely to be returned again that steady member would have much more influence in the Senate, than mere passenger, who was expecting to be in that body but one year and consequently would not feel confidence in himself nor acquire influence over others. He said his object was to give the Senate more influence, ,bur if the amendme mt prevailed the evils of change would come upon us with more violence, and that party feeling excited, which was now dying away.
 MT. Shepard explained about majorities &c. The question, was then put upon the amendment and about 15 or 16 voted in favour of it.
 MT. Rider thought no bill ought to pass until it provided that the State should be districted by counties, he therefore moved an amendment to the 2d section to pro- vide districting by counties. He said that in 1925 bill passed by large vote allow ing 6 counties Senators each, ,and coun- ties 2 each. He thought it extraordinary if man weighing 300 pounds should bear more weight in the House than smaller one, and he thought there was no danger of the small counties trampling up- 1 on the larger ones
 MT. Boardman said that the bill alluded 1 to by the gentleman from Wilmington (Mr. Rider) was rejected last year by great majority. The Legislature have right to alter counties and if the amendment prevailed counties cannot be altered or greater inequality will be made; that it was desirable as far as practicable that the limits of counties should be preserved but it was better to make an amendment that would last forever, than one tha: would want to be changcd-if we amend the bill at all we ought to make an amendment that will meet the minds of the people.
 MT. s Raymond said the lines are nsw marked out and we know what to do; that the representation in the House was une- qual, and he noticed the inequality in that respect between the counties of Fairfield and Litchdeld. That the large States were frittering away their power by dis trictng for the choice of members of Con- gress, and he never should consent to dis trict the State for that purpose.
 MT. Warren said he thought they were getting the cart before the horse, that he used to be member of this house, and they then did not manage bushes as at present; inSfnoA If hoO tho had %I,o,, x,~a.o