Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-01-02
NEW COUNTIES.

We have purposely refrained from saying any
thing having reference to the arbitraryan despoic
exercise of power not authorized by law justice
nor requisite for the purposes of government, that
have been and are likely to be perpetrated by the
dominant party in our Legislature We have for
borne 10 do so because Of our belief that Mr. Benton
visited Jefferson for the purpose of issuing his im
perial mandates, and knowledge that among sue h
time-serving material as constitute the majority OF
both houses, but few could be found who have indie
pendence enough 70 cast vote in consonance with
their own views Of right and wrong. We prefer
to let them alone, and make them answer to their
constituents in another canvass for their many
glazing and fragrant misdeeds. We. have an abiding
they have retribution in store for the men who
are CO ntemning their wishes and insulting their
intelligence, that will teach such panderers to pow
err in this State as it has in others, that "truth
is omnpotent and public justice certain" We
copy the following remarks from the letter of
correspondent Of the Republican, on the subject
Of new counties,--not with the hope that their
cogency or justice will have any effect on the De.
mocracy Of the Legislature, but for the purpose Of
keeping the country advised of the monstrOus char
acter OF the matter it refers to:
Il furnished you with 4 list of thirteen new
counties, in favor Of the organization of which,
the joint committee on new counties had agreed
except as to the names Of some of them They
are ii taken from fourteen present counties, con
tanning an aggregate population of II, 533; so that
when the organization takes place, this population
will be distributed among twenty seven counties
propose TO give the subject Of new county organi
cation, with the apportonment dependant there
| upon, brief considcration.-I wish was capable
OF doing the subject that justice which its import.
ance merits
The census of all the counties has been received
but three which furnish an aggregate population
of 1863, 436 The three counties yet to hear from
Platte, Ray and Shelby, will increase this aggre-
gate to a5OUe 3SO,OO0. Assuming this as the act
ual population, then win $500 inhabitants be the
equitable, democratic average constituency of
member Of the House Of Representatives. Of the
seyenty-hVe counties, old and new there are thirty
river, the most populous Of which, falls short of
this number; and the aggregate Of which only
amounts To S7,413. This population being emit
tied to thirty-nne members of the House Of Rep
resentatIves as the representatives of Counties
their average constituency is Just 2,i99. By de-
duction the balance of the population Of the State
is found to be 232 527, in hrty-Six counties enti-
tied to siXty-One Representatives, which is av-
erage constituency Of 463l inhabitants to each:
or 2 1872 over, land almost double,) the average
Of the above thirty-nine representatives. of so
many counties Were these thirty nine counties
to be represented according to the fair equitable,
| truly democratic basis, or POPULATION, insteud of
thirty-nine, they would be entitled to only twenty
l six representatives. and the thirty-six counties in
stead of but sixty-one, they would be entitled to
seVenty-four representatives.-Such is the unfair,
unjust operation of the apportionment now in p-o-
gress of being brought about, solely for the pur-
pose Of oliecting temporary political object
But as there are seveAty-hve counties, each Of
which, a county, is entitled to representatives
ana there is still surplus of twenty-five members
to be disposed of among the more popslous coun-
ties; by what system Of distribution are these to be
disposed of! There is no more rational way that
can imagine, than the adoption of The average
constituency of the thirty-sx popuOus countless
| (l,63l,) as basis of apportionment within the
same. But by adopting this system, certain twenty
four counties are bjected to the nolerable hard
ship Of being allowed but one member to average
ssh souls No county is strictly entitled to
more than one member, the population of which is
less than double the above average, or contains at
east 1852 inhabitants; and above mentioned
there are twenty-fOur counties whose population
range between $500, the democratic average of
the whole State, and 9,262, the number emitting
county to an additional member. These twenty
four counties, containing population OF no, 0l0,
and being entitled to but one member to acoun-
lty--heir average constituency is, ssh, while
only 2409 is-the average Of the thirty-nine coun-
ties first above mentioned The twcnty-fOur least
populous counties Of the first thrty-nine, contain
ing population Of only $685. furnishing an av-