The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-09
Tho Annor,ionn,cn, Law.

Not single state, we believe, has yet complied
with the provisions of this law; for, although the
apporlionment BIN that recently passed the legis
lature of Pennsylvania was ia accordance with The
provisions of tho act Of congress, Gov. Porter has
signifed hs determination 10 veto the bill, and il
witt not BECOME Il law. In 6hio it is known the
wings defeated an apporonment in compliance
with the act of congress, by lcsening and leaving
the legislature without a quorum. New liamp-
shire, Georgia, Missouri, and Louisiana have sig
niied their determination to disregard the act Of
congress, and the latter two states have already
elected their members regardless OF it, provisions.
These states taken together have an aggregate re-
presentation Of CO in tho next congress-
Should the bill which has passed the lower
house of congress and is now before the senate, for
regulating contested elections, by which the seats
of all the members except those elected under the
single district system to be considered contes-
ted and the members claiming them can take them
only by consent Of the members elected under the
single district system, become law, there Is fair
chance for right nice little row at the commence
mcnt Of the next congress. The states refusing
to clectthoir members BY the single district system
under the "maudamus clause" of the new sppsr.
iionment law, look upon that clause as unconsti-
tntional, or, at the most as merely recommended
~, and will therefore never consent to have the
election Of their members SC, aside, or the VALIDITY
OF such election passed upon by congress. Be
sides, nearly all the members elected regardless Of
the single disirc, clause Of the superintendent law
will be democrats. !, Is highly probable that By
admitting them to their seats the democrats will
have large majority in congress, but l,y eKclud-
ing them the wings wiilhave a majority. Under
such circumstances is il at all likely that the de-
mocrats would yoIdl They would have rgh,
and majority of the people on their sidc and the
wings would be fortified by the somhance Of
law. In con,cs. between the two, who that
remembers tho decision in the case where il was
attempted by "broad SEAL to defeat the will Of
the people Of New Jersey can for moment Doubt
which party would be compelled to yield
One Of the gravest duties Of our next legislature
will be to pass law under which to elect mem.
bcrs Of congress in this state. We will not take
it upon ourselves TO say whether tho ''nandamus
clause OF the apportionment law is constitutional
or not, but tina, ia question upon which we think
our Legislature should pass, and il they deem
il unconstitutional they should legislate without
having any regard whatever to il. This ia an
important question Of state rights, and the states
considering their rights encroaehcd upon should
never yield an inch for the mere sake Of accom-.
mediation. The precedent would be too danger
ous.--Should our legislature deem the amanda.
mus clause" not binding upon them, it will be an
important question for them to decide whether we
shall elect congressman by the single district sys.
tenn or by general ticket. Without wshing to
express ourselves in favor Of either mode, we
will merely submit, whether, by the former plan,
tbe w1oL people Of this state would DO likely &C.
Morally to have their views and feelings represen-
ted ia ccngrsss1 undcrthc now apportionmcn,
thissists il entitled W representatives. Oftbesc
what nov composes the frat district would be en-.