The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-08-25

Williams Henry Pauding Vau-
vert Putnam Hancock Allen
and Hardin $500
9th do Huron Seneca Crawford and Marion 69,97s
7h do Delawar Franklin Madison q Clark 73OI6
9th do Ross PickaHay Fayete and Clinton 1883
9Th do Clermont Brown and Highland 6S090
10Th do Adams Pike Scioto Jackson Law
renee GallIa and Hooking 74,66S
llth Monroe Washington Athens and Meigs SO 9O5
lSih do Morgan Perry and Fairfield 72,12O
18th do Muskngum and Licking T3s45
l4th do Richland and Knox 74J1I
10Th do Wayne Holmes and Coshocton 754e6
10th DO Tuscarawas Harrison and Guernsey 70 475
18th do Carol Jefferson and Belmont 74,O39
18th do Columbiana and Stark 749Sl
18th do Summit Medina Loran and Erie 7I,97S
both do Portage Geauga and Cuyahoga 65,76S
2lst do Ashtabula Trumbul and Lake, 75550
This measure is so carefully aid arnlly arranged as
10 preserve the same relative political strength upon the
Governors and the Presidential vote-making upon
each fourteen feceoal and seuen democratic districts
heng in one instance three and in the other
Of two members more than the federasts might rght-
fully claim by their own rule. And yet with these
things staring them in the face, with recorded vote in
each House upon Spanger's bill, and two recorded
votes in the Senate, upon Barnetts in which the party
voted in solid phaanX, they come before the people,
and talk of their desires for honest political apport.
onment-of their efforts promote such an end and
justify their secession from the Houses-her annhila-
ton of the Legislature authority upon the mere en-,
grossment in ono House, ofa bill, which by their own
Standard worked no greater injustice to the wings than
they sought to work to the democracy Of the State,
And this, let be borne in mind is all based upon the
rule which they have laid down the calculations arc
all predcaed upon the vote ofl64O. which the demo-
cracy 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 averment the lederalists admit for thea are not
willing to trust even the vote for Governor, in forming
congressional districts for the State. What is ;he result
n nm toft hate
whg strength, for the frauds by which they so largely
increased it, you proximae the democra,ic bill more
nearly to tho standard and increase the disparity the
exec IS clamedin all the federal propositions. And
that reduction, when honestly and fairly made, will
bring the bill ofhe House near TO political equity as
it is practicable to arrive in the process of grouping 70
counties into II congressional districts.
And now in view of all these facts, calmly and can,
didly presented what truth there in the allegations
thatare made BY the minority as to the political Injustice
and tyranny Practiced upon them by the ma jory1
What justification in it for The act of secession from the
Legislative Hasl What reason for the asperslon of
our motives in which the recusants have so freely in-
dugedf Every candid mah must answer, "none atall"
And yet tits with full knowledge,of them all that the
address has been promulgated in the vain hope that
they might deceive and delude the people. To the
great sovereign power who 10 decide this question:
we hold up the record. and abide their decision.
Ihe next point that we come to notice, is the allot.
ment of fractions above and below the ratio of re2resen&
Oo''S'USo
to the task Of forming res of districts and he will
better understand the difficulties of avoiding or arranging
these fractions than by any explanation we can give
And when he has done this if he has not a sufficient
commentary upon the complaints of the minority, he
can turn to their plans, which we have here pres
senled, when he will find how perfectly consistent they
have been IN charging upon what they have prnctis>
ed themselves. For instance, in the bill of Mr. Sill he
Will hnd Tx districts with population of 476, ,455-
and six other districts with population of 1888 947--
nal inn noc0 A n pnn
over congressional district From that let him turn
to the bill Of Mr. Spanger for which all the (edeaists
voted, and he will find six districts containing popu-
aton of 463 349whiIst six other districts contain but
7759S-making difference of los 757; little rising
district and half 1t will also be found that seven
districts in this bill comprise population sufficient for
the formation Of eight-owhlst six other districts are
made up Of the population that under the ratio should
constitute but five. 1t will also be found that in Mr.
Slls bill, which gives the federasts Two more mem.
berS than by their own rule they had right to claim
the eight democratic districts contain population Of
579 65l--whls eight Thg districts contain but 545 233
thus adding to the assumption Of Two members this
fractional difference Of 81 4l9 making according to
their own manner of estimating, swallowing up and
dslfanchsement of ia 1852 of the democratic popua>
ton. Even IN the bill of Mr. Barnett, of the equality
Of which so much is said, and which appears to have
been greatly labored this point there are six districts
with population of 454 $50; and six others which
contain only 4OS, 455i making difference of 46334
Add three extra districts aken ard this bill annihiates
1885, ,S7l ofthe democratic strength.
The third point taken against this bill Of the House,
is, that the districts wore INST constructed according to
the law ofCongress, of contiguous territory" We're.
mark in the outset that repe at once, as arbitrary
and unconstitutional, the power attempted to be exer-
cised on the part of Congress of debating the States
the manner in which their congressional districts shall be
formed. This point we do not intend to discussi
yet whilst holding firmly 10 our position we have not
sought to form districts IN mere spirit ofoppostion to
the law of Congress- to attach counties not in fact
contiguous to each other. Again we ask any man 10
make The experiment Of Turning districts, keeping in
view this point as well the ratio of representation,
and he will experience the difficulties that have
lain in our path, The bill which passed its engrosss
msnt in tbe House, makng unnatural alliance Of teri
tory neither does associate any counties that do not
so bound each other to make the territory all con-
tiguous. The construction which the federasls put
upon this term is, that means compact1ess" and be-
cause 'ccntiguous" districts are not Compact
ones, they that have departed from the con.
gresSiona enactment. Even if We were disposed to |
acknowledge the binding force of that law, we find in
such obligation the federass by their favore
rule of fconsIruction, now seek TO impose upon us
But SUPPOSE we again les: the professions of these
recusants by their own acts. They complanof what |
is termed The steamboat District extending along the
Ohm river from, Ecioto A,