Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-09-13
For The Wdtchmdn.

A new subject will have to he discussed and dis
posed of by the next General Assembly. 1t will
probably excite some feeling, Tor all parts of the
state are interested in greater or less degree, aud
the decision will he conclusive upon the rights of
all for the next ten years The subject, to which
allude, is the apportionment OF Stale Senators 10
the several counties under the provisions OF the
constitution as amended in 1886.
Some difference of opinion has already been
elected from supposed vagucness of the rule Of
apportionment and from the fact that the first az
portonment made by the Council of Censors
seems to have been the result Of different rule.
The manner in which the Council proceeded is
somewhat uncertain. Their journal is silent on
this point, and their address gives only the follow
ing information. ain alolting the Senators to the
several counties, we assume as basis one Sena-
tor 10 every 10000 inhabitants, On the Census of
$780, having regard to the greatest fraction. THIS
principle carried out, produces the result as pro-
posed" Page a. | hive gone through tie pro-
cess taking the census returns from the Vermont
Register of 1882, and find this to he impossible
The principle, " carried out, without any cxcep-
ton or modification, gives to Orleans County ttyo
Senators and TO Grand Isle none.
Whether the Council intended to fix all future
appointments upon similar basis, does not very
clearly appear; that they accomplished such a
purpose no one will assert. Their basis of ap-
portionment is simple one, to wit, population -
that presented in the constitution is compound,
made up of counties, as civil corporations, and
population combined, giving each county one with
out reference to the number of its inhabitants, and
the remainder of the Senator's only, distributed on
the simple basis Of population.
The rule is thus expressed. each county
shall be entitled to Senator at leasts and the
remainder of the Senators shall be apportoned to
the several counties according their population,
as the same ascerained by the last census, ia
ken under the authority of the United States-
regard being always had in such apporonment,
to the counties having the greatest fraction"
In applying this rule, three distinct steps are to
be taken. l. Assign 10 each county one Senator.
Thus fourteen are apportioned aud sirieen remain
for the operation of the next step Of the process
g Apporton I" The remainder Of the Senator
"to the several counties according TO their popu-
lntion," ascertaned by the census Of lS40 This
is done by dividing the aggregate population Of
the state by Is, giving the true ratio of represen-
tation in the Senate, the number which will Ell.
title the several counties respectively to another
Senator. In applying this ratio to the population
of the several counties, dispose OF ten Scna
tors more and leave sir TO be assigned to the six
counties which have the greatest fractions.
3. The third step is simply TO compare the frac
tons of the several counties and ascertain which
are the largest. This being done, we have the
materials for the following table, which exhibit
the results of the whole process
Table shotoing the apporiionment Of Senators 10 h'
seperoL counties accOrdnp 10 The Census of 1870