Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-08-23

Il.
upon the mereenqFossment in one House
Of bill, Which by her standard. worked
no greater Injustice TO the whigs than
they sought % work to the democracy of
the state. And this, let it be born. in
mind, is all based upon the rule which
they have laid down; the calculations ara
all predicated upon the vote of lS4O.
which the democracy averred then, as
they contend now, was so coupled with
pipe laying and fraud, as to furnish no
fair criterion Of the political character of
the State. This aVsrmSnI the (ederalists
admit, for they are not willing 10 trust
even the vote tor Governor, 10 forming
congressional districts for the Stata.-
What is The result Of an ahaadonment Of
that test? Why, Os you reduce the wbis
strength, Tor the frauds by wsIch they so
largely increased it, you approximate the
democratic bill more nearly 10 the stand
ard, and increase the dispality-lhe ex>
cess claimed-in all the federal PROPOSE.
tons. And that reduction, vhen hon.
sstIy and fairly made, will bring the bill
OF the House as near 10 political equity
"a il is practicable 10 arrive, in the pro.
cess CT grouping 70 counties into 81 con.
cressional districts.
And now in view of all these facts.
calmly and canddly presented, what
truth is there in the allegations that are
made by the minority, as 10 the political
injustice ahd tyranny pISctised upon them
by TIE majority? What justification in
it for the act of secession from the Leg.
isative Halls? What reason for the ass
perCion of our motives, in which tho res
cusants have so freely ind uIgcd? Every
candid man must answer, "not at all."-
And yet it is with full knowledge of
them all that the address of the minority
has been promulgated, in the vain hone
that they might deceive and delude the
people. II the great sovereign power
who are to deciGs this question, we
hold up the record, ana abide their de-
csion.
The next point that we come 10 nos
tiCc, is the allotment offractions above
and below the ratio Of representation fix
eddy Congress. Let any reader set hims
soIf down to the task of forming series
of districts, and he will better under.
stand the difficulties of avoiding or arrang.
ing these fractions, than by any explana.
ton we can give. And when he has done
This, ii ne has not sufficient commenta-
ry upon the complaints ofthe minority,he
can turn TO their own plans, which we
have here presented. when he will find
how perfectly consistant they have been
in charging upon US what they have prac>
iIscd themselves, For instance, in the
bill Of MIR. Sill, be will find six districts
with population of 479,455-and six
other districts with population Of 3s3..
making difference of 94 ,5Os-a
fraction of21 1929, over a congressional
district. From that let him turn 10 lbe
bill ofMr. Spaugler, for which all the led
eralisIs voted, aud he will find six dis
tricts containing population of4S3,340
whilst SIX other districts contain bnt 377..
592-making a difference of los, 5,757:s
Ilttio risinglone district and half. Il win
also be found that seven districts in this
bill comprise population sufficient for
the formation of eight-whilst six other
districts are made upof the population
that under that ratio should constitute but
five. 1t will also be found that in Mr..
Sill's bill, which gives the federalists two
more members than BY their own rule thew
had right to claim, the eight democrat.
Ic districts contain population of SIC.
j5l-whilst eight wing districts contain
lut545, ,233; thus adding to the assnmp.
hon oftwo members this fractional dir,
ference OF 34,4 IS, making, according ID
.helr own manncrof estimating,a swallow.
ng up and disfranchisemcnt Of I74. .7o2
ot the democratic population. Even in
he bill Of Mr.. Barnett, of The equity Of
Which SO much is said, ard which an.
'oars TO have been greatly labored on this
'oint, there are six districts with popu-
alton of 454,sS9; and six others which
oniain only 4OS, ,555; making difference
+ AZ, ,334. Add three extra districts IA.
en-, and this bill annihilates 256,S7I Of
he democratic strength.
The third point taken against the bill
I the House is, that the districts were
ot constructed according to The law Of
congress, os"coniiguous territory.'' We
smark in the outset, that we repel at
nee, as arbitrary and unconstitutional,
le power attempted TO be exercised on
le part Of Congress, OF debating 10 tho
taIes the manner in which their congres.
onal districts shall be formed. This
pint we do not now intend to discuss:
ot whilst holding firmly TO our position,
c have not sought to form districts in
ere spirit of opposition 10 the law of
ongross, nor 10 attach counties not in
ct contiguous TO each other. Again
ask any man to make the experiment
forming districts, keeping in view this
lint, as we'll as the ratio of representa-
IN, and he will soon experience tho dif.
,nIiia, tb6. Lo,,o la, Il, onr nath M