New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-18
The Ohio LesisIature.

for ten years to come-no matter if for every one
of those ten years she should give 10000 majority
| for the Wings at every recurring election. The
measure was, to be sure, an extreme step; but
before it be utterly condemned, justice requires
that all the circumstances Of the case should De
| strictly examined. The bill for aistricting the
State upon which the Loco Focos finally agreed,
after weeks of wrangling and quarreling among
| themselves, gave, at the most, seven members to
| the Whigs-out of the twenty one; thus securing
| fourteen members Of Congress from Ohio to the
Loco Focos for ten years-no matter what might
be the political complexion of the State. The
districts should be composed of contiguous terri
tory, as the most superficial examination OF the
bill and the map will show was utterly disregard
ed; attention was paid solely to the partlzan
character of the several districts: every county
which in 1910 gave Loco Foco majority, was
thrown into a Loco Foco district-while nineteen
counties which then gave Wing majorities were,
| by this bill, swallowed Up in Loco Foce Districts
The secen Districts which they gave the Wings
gave Wing majority of 2l,734, while trefse OF
those thew secured to themselves gave Loco Fo-
co majority of only 1894, thus DISTINGUISHING ut
terly more than $4,000 electors of the State. Ra-
ties adopted moreover. to suit their purposes
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000; and the bill was
thus, and in various other ways rendered an abom-
ination in the sight of every honest man. 1t was
concocted on the principle avowed, openly and
shamelessly, by Loco Foco Senator, that his
party, having majority in the Legislature, would
be fools not te district the State for their own
benefit. Many of the Loco Focos themselves
were at heart opposed to the atrocious outrage
into its support by their dictators-and it was
to become law, in spite of their own consclen-
tious scruples, in utter defiance of justice anu
right, as we'll as against the loudest remonStran-
ces of the minority.
Now, the American must admit that this was
an extreme case; it not an ordinary act OF
legislation, which might be repealed at the will OF
the people if the bill had become a law, law 1t
must have remained for ten years-binding upon
the people, and compelling them, with Wing ma
jority even of more than 10000, to send fourteen
Locofocos, out of twenty-one representatives, to
Congress. The American says the appeal should
have been the ballot boxes and that is precise
y the tribunal to which the appeal has been taken
and taken too, in the only effectual way in which
their seats and the bill had thus become law by
their connivance: no appeal could have been had
to the slightest purpose till 1852, and Ohio must Till
that late day, be msrepresented in the national
councils. But, instead of this, they came forward
and said to the people" You have chosen us se
defend your rights; have sought to do so to the
best Of our abilities but here poweress to
ward of this burning wrong an unprincipled party
seeks to inAict; we have no choice but to keep
our seats, and become accessory to the fraud-or,
to resign them and appeal to you We cannot con-
sent to the first: we embrace the only alternative
that is left. -
The american should sec, it seems to US,
clear distinction between this case and that of the
factious Loco-Focos in Tennessee. There the
cause of the complaint was that they would not
resign, and abide by the decision Of the People
They still held their seats, but refused to obey the
Constitution and so into joint ballot elect
Senator The Wings in the Senate tried their
best to induce them to resign, offering TO 10 so
themselves, and that the members of the House
should do the same, if they would only consent to
submit the case to the People Of the State. This
they refused to do, abiding by their own wrong,
and refusing to allow the People to rectify it
The Wings of Ohio sought earnestly and zealously
to induce the Loco-Focos to consent to reasona-
bic division of the Stats and when they saw that
this was impossible, instead of stunning the deci-
sion Of the People, they made their appeal d.
recdy to that decision. We are as sternly opposed
confusion; but, though we may be in error, we
can see in this step nothing which should subject
it comparison with that Of the minority in the
Tennessee Legislature.
The effect of this movement will be barely this
that the People will have an opportunity, before
the State is divided into districts, to give express
sion to their wishes concerning it. The Ohio
representation will not be rendered vacant for an
hour, since the members who would have been
elected to Congress under this bill would not have
taken their seats until after the election of 1S43.
There was throughout the State strong opposition
to the convocation of the Extra Session, on the
ground that it was wholly unnecessary; but it
was resolved upon oy Inc desperate majority, who
could not resist the temptation to clutch at this
las; chance to perpetua,e their power. Members
Cor new Legislature now to be elested; and
the People can say expressly whether they viii
approve this bill or not. If they do, it may De-
come a law then just as well as if now allowed to
pass if they do not, no republican will say that it
should have been fastened upon them.
i WONDERFUL EscAPE.-The Montreal Courier
of TIA stl, rnent;ans ons &c 4ho .sas. o,..-s.1.