The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-25
THE OHIO APpoRTIoNMENr BILL

article upbrading the Democrats Of Ohio for
persisting in their apporonment bill, with an
extract from the address of the retiring and re-
signing Wing revoutionsts. The extract al
luded to contains copy of the districts as laid
off by the majority, aud the Wings complain
that they have but seven and the Democrats
twelve of the districts; yet in their own ac-
count they mark nine Cnstead of seven) as be-
ling Wing. The next complaint is that in the
Wing districts the majorities are very heavy,
while in the Democratic they are small. So far
from this being true, the 18th district, formed Of
the county of Hamilton alone, with popula-
ton of 80, l45, has the smallest majority of the
whole, and it is Wing. The majority here is
but twenty-one. But there are seven Demo
cratic districts under the bill, in which the av-
erage majority is only 231 Now how much
easier it will be to change 231 votes, or rather
half that number, and thus carry all the seven
Democratic districts for the Wings. The best
political spectators always rejoice when the
majority is small, because there is more prob
ability OF succeeding in changing a sufficient
number of votes to carry it, twas one of the
EXPLANATIONS of one Of the founders of the
| Wing party, s'thal he would rather be elected by
a majority of one, than 10000, for then he would
be at liberty to do for both parties but if elect
ed by sweeD, he would be compelled to a
sweeping administration in favor of the party
placing him in power"
| Even the nine Wing districts of Ohio do not
satisfy the resigning revolutonsts, and of this
VOW onlo in Tho, -
ject to these too simply because the majority
is so small? Thus they complained, and re-
| sign, because some OF their own districts have
too large majority, and others too small.
| Yet what is the fact with regard to these re-
signations? Simply that the Wings had re-
solved to resign, and had written their resigna-
tons five days before they were offered and it
is certified that the dates were altered "sixth"
being erased, and eleventh" day of August, in
serted. Thus were they prepared to resign as
soon as the proper moment arrived, because
they could not have majority Of the districts,
and an equal popular majority in each.
One bill was offered giving the Wings Is
and the Democrats only districts. Another
making the same division in the number Of dis
tricts Yet another, giving the Wings IL, and
the Democrats districts In all these bills, the
popular maj critics varied about much as the bill
under which they resigned but the boot was
On the other foot, and still they wanted more.
They had contrived to destroy, in their bills,
no less than 356,87l Democratic votes, and
raised the cry of oppression.
The fact is simply that the Democrats yield
ed all they possibly could to factious minority,
and that minority resigned because more was
not given them. But they defeat any appor-
tionment by their resignation and appeal to the
People. Appeal to the People for what? For
reelection? 1t is not probable that all will be
reelected. Some may be defeated by Demo-
cratic candidates, and in any event they can
have no more members than previous to their
nonsensical appeal TO the People to sustain them
in their domestic revolution. Thus they gain
nothing if all be reelected. But what do they
lose? Their standing in society, as the conse-
quence of their leaving their posts.
First. The apportioning of the State is great
ly delayed.
Secondly. The most bitter feelings are en-
gendered by their act.
Thirdly They trample the Constitution of
the United States and the laws of Congress un
der foot-the latter made by their own majo-
rity.
Fourthly. They cause great expense to the
State in new elections, and the per diem Of
members who do not resign.
Filthy. They set the example of minority
determined to rule the majority, thus subvert-
ing the great democratic principle which holds
together the confederacy
Sxthly They set at utter defiance the will Of
the People, who sent them to Columbus to APP
portion the State knoloing that the Democrats
were in the majority.
They appeal to the People, but our word for it,
the People will not sustain them in their high
handed and revolutionary enpalete. We cannot
conclude this article without giving a sublime
extract from their address, which, of ITSELF is
quite sufficient to wind up volume, gilt letters,
morocco binding and all.
"The iron decree had gone forth from the mid
night caucus from the dark recesses of the tin pan
and to tire poor Loco-focos who, from sense Of
justice, any other motive, should dare to oppose
its execution Should he break the party lock-sep,
ment) he might well throw himself from the
peak of TeneriHe, or into the crater of Etna."
The " iron decree" is borrowed from US, SO
far that thunder is our own. The "mdnight
caucus also belongs to us. We have scored
the majority of Congress about both those artl-
cIes. 'The dark recesses of the TIM pdn" be-
longs TO the writers of the address exclusively,
or perhaps to the editors of the Intelligencer.-
We 90 for Washngtonan temperance, and
have therefore no need Of tin pans. The lock
<yo,,LJo cb,,Hye arc tho Droperfv of the