Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-08
Iro pE CONTINUED I
RICHMOND WING.
THURSDAY MORNING. SEPT. 3.
THE DISTRICT QUESTION.

1 IL
THE DISTRICT QUESTION.
| IL will be borne in mind, that the ApporiHnme
Bill, passed by Congress, contained a clause re.
curing that the States should be laid Off into Dis
trlcts and each District should elect but a single
Representative. This bill was signed by the Pre-.
sidcnt-bul that officer adopted the novel; ex,raor.
binary and unconstitutional cxpedient Of fling his
objections to the bill in State D,partmeut-objec
tons, which il admitted to have any force, nullfy
! the very law, which he had approved and placed
upon the statute book. He stated, tina, he under
stood the bill as merely recommending the Dstric,
system to the adoption of the Sta,es-and that the
requisiton could no, be mandatory because it was
unconstitutional. This understandable proceeding
on the part Of the Chief Executive officer was an
invitation to violation and disregard of the su
preme law Of the land-and confusion and disorga-
nizaton were TO be apprehended from il. Congress,
in view Of the apprehended consequences from
this profiga,e conduct, in framing bill to prevent
the repetition of the New Jersey outrage, took oc
cason to introduce clause so as to remove oil
difficulty and doubt about the District system.-
That bill fell beneath the veio-and at the opening
of the new Congress, in December, is43, we may
expect a renewal of the New Jersey scenes. When
they come, let it be remembered by whose instru
mentality they are brought about.
Butte return to the District system. It seems to
US impossible, that any good Republican can OBJ
ject TO this system. 1t is the system, mos. congo.
NAL to the character Of our institutions, and by
which alone the sentiments OF every portion OF the
People can be represented. But the arguments in
favour Of most ably condensed ip a letter from
Mr. Campbell, OF South Carolinu,-a Democra,
hmself-and by whose strenuous exertons main.
y, the District clause incorporated in the bill
We annex an extract from that letter, and COM
mend it 10 the eonsid Grafton of the Southern peo
ple
"Whether under existing circumstances the sin
gle district system is the best that can be adop;od
or not It appears TO me that all gentlemen OF intel
lisence, whose opinions are uninfiuenced by preju
dice, must admit that some action on the part oil
Congress was proper-lst. To restore uniformity
in elections ID. To preserve the influence of the
small States from the danger OF being overwhelm
ed IN the UNIVERSAL adoption of the general ticket
Sd. 10 protect mnorities throughout the Union.
4Ih. To protect the minority section of the Union
9TH. To preserve the Democratic features Of the
Government from humiliation.
THE practical operation OF the different systems
that now prevail in the elections Of different States
has been TO destroy equality in representation il
proportion TO numbers; and, IN this way, TO as5ai
the fundamental principles of our Government il
populh' 0tauCn OF It's Legislature. The grea
State OF New York, for example, with her forJ
members IN the present House OF Representatives
IS outvoted upon every question Of importance b,
the little State Of New Jersey, with six members
by majority OF three TO one Virginia, with he
twenty one members, is outyoted by the little ST At
OF New Hampshire, having but Eve all told
4 fennsvlSanla with more than three times the mum
some oil my fnenos 1aa| J>p -G4osSis Sc
Tor having, as they say, through the agitation of thi
question, reused sleeping lion; and, by shown!
the large States their real power, have produced
danger which did not before exist. But il poss b
10 suppose that the glazing inequality which havi
pointed at can Ion. exist, when the States now cleo
ting by districts could remove il at any time by IN,
adoption Of the general ticket Indeed in addition
TO the seven States eleciing by general ticket
another (making eight has prescribed that her cleo
tor for the next Congress shall take place according
TO that system; and in several OF the other States
among them, the great State Of Pennsylvania-th
question was publicly agiiated Immediately befor
the passage OF the districng clause of the apportion
meni law. However inapplicaLe TO soma of tbt
large States the general ticket may be- the sxistin,
state OF things, II permitted 10 continue, would com
pei them, IN their own defence, TO adopt IL. TIT
hrst example would be followed by all the res,
Members elected by general ticket would naturall,
be partial 10 that system; and If Congress had no
acted at this session, doubt If the time would eve
have occurred again, when il would have been Nos.
sIoie 10 DO so. The distrcling OF any State is at
tended with more or less Inconvenience Under q
new npportonmeni, the temptation is strong with
the nTst election shall
be by general ticket. The election being held in
this way, the system obtains advocates. The Sc
como election IS also held by general ticket; and Sc
the system becomes established. This, you sec, il
consideration Of convenience, operating in con
junction With the natural and proper desire 10 hayt
as much Influence as other States, in proportion I,
numbers, in the House OF Representatives.
The violent opposition which this measure ho
encountered from Southern members of Conoress
and Governors oil some Of the Southern States. ba
N ma L l.
Wings or Democrats-wholher elected by district
or by Siates--lhe members from the South presen
an unoroken phnlanX upon certain great questions
thought 10 os essential TO her prosperity. One o
ihese qpes'lons-io wit, protective tariff-wi al
ways command majority in almost every North
ern and Western State. II elected bv oen,r,
ticket the vote OF these States would be oyerwheln
J ing In each one OF them, however there are lnro
, mnouuss who think rs we do. Eecting by the dis
trct system, we arc enabled 10 nyail o1rseves N
considerable extent, Of these unorilies; and thus
IN some measure, coun,eract that inequality in 30
pu'atlon which every census shows 10 be gettin,
. greater and greater against us.
1--WE have hitherto looked to the Senate rs th
conservative body Of our National Legislature
' But look at the map Of the United States Florid
Is the last card we have TO throw Wisconsin an,
iowa Wi! both be ready 10 come in as soon as she Il
LOOK sui further west, beyond our Organized Ter
2 rNones, and you will see en- immense region, nov
ready Tor the axe OF the pioneer, out Of which, be
slaveholdng States may have their Senators II
I Congress. Suppose that majority Of each. o
even oil most Of these States (not very imnrooa
bic suppo5iiion) should be disposed 10 enter into
crusade against our peculiar institution, 80 NJ
Adams calls it,-whore would be our protection
with Senate IN which We are thus outnumbsred
and House OF Representatives elected from eacl
State by general ticket We would have none. No
not even shadow Of protection, except dissolu
lion Of the Union.
"lndopenden however, Of all sectional considera
uons, that representation IS certainly most congeni
al with liberty, which most nearly reflects the light
and shades Of political opinions entertained bv IN,
consutuenl body. BY the general ticket the voie.
Of the minority in State, let IL opproach ever :,
near nm equality in number with tho majority Ia en-
tiroiy suppressed. So much 90, indeed, that the,
have NOT even the poor privilege Of remonstratins
against the passage Of measures 70 which thew ar,
opposed, but must remain dumb under the mos
aggravated misrepresentation Of their motives. nnd
quiet under tho greatest injustice r. in an nppsa
TO the ballot box what was lately the minority be.
comes tho majority, the tables arc turned. and m,
la'e majority, being now the minority, ars subjected
70 the same evils that they, when in power. iSaiet.
co. mus the abOVonnmed abuses arc shown 10 n.
inherent IN tho system, and cannot be eradica,ed
while Il remains.
The single district system does not. il /, true
insure The representation Of minorities in prone,
proporuonsj but Il npproximsles ss near 10 the pro
oaoiity OF such result any that can convenient
| ly be adopted
MANY have already expressed determination IN
tfeat NC dis,reIing clause Of the apporlonmept law
ae oead letter, and, Il they are returned 10 Con
gress, 70 vote for the admission of nen,bers nn,
fIfU.rI 10. H.. -.