Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-29


Clay and Ray district would have less population
than five other districts, and the Platte District
would have more population than nine other dis
tricts, in the bill OF the majority; and when it is
remembered in connection with this, that the
county of Platte is populating, perhaps, with
more rapidly than any other county in the State,
we are at loss for any justification for doubling
this district.
The Thirteenth District is composed OF the
counties OF Galloway, Montgomery, Cole, Mil.
Ter, and Morgan, and has population OF 13,446
free white males This district extends from
one extremity TO the other, more than 100 miles,
and crosses the Missouri river, throwing persons
having little or no intercourse, or community Of
interest, into the same district. If this had been
divided. and the counties of Galloway and Mont
gomery, both OF which lie upon the north side of
the Missouri and are adjoining, had been made
one district, il would contain free white male
population of 6,8l9, and the district Of the
south side OF the Missouri river, composed OF the
counties OF Cole, Miller and Morgan, would
have population OF free white males of 6,62S.
This injustice to the people OF the district cannot
be justified upon the ground of the small amount
Of population in either district, for, by the bill
reported by the majority, there are nine other
single districts containing less population than the
smallest of these On what ground OF just pol.
icy and right, are men thus remote from each
other, whose business pursuits, and local interest,
are so widely separated-who are kept separate
by the natural division Of the Missouri river
placed in the same district, when as separate dis
trics they have an equal population with many
other districts, and more than several others
formed by the bill brought in by the majority?
| The Twenty-fourth is doubled, and is COM
posed OF the counties of Jackson, Van Bnren,
Johnson and Lafayette. and contains popua
ton Of free white males of 1896. Formerly
the counties Of Johnson and Lafayette composed
one Senatorial district, and if they had been con.
tinued as one district, the population would now
be 6,335, being GIL below the ratio, and the
district composed OF Jackson and Van Buren,
6,99l, only fifteen less than the ratio. Upon
what principle, then, OF JUSTICE right or political
consideration, is a district, which is only fifteen
less than the ratio attached to another district?
Have not the people OF this district Just cause of
complaint, that they are denied separate repre-.
sentaion, when they approximate in population
so near the ratio, and nearer to it than thirteen
other districts reported by the majority each OF
which, by the BILL has separate representation.
Again-the population in the district composed
Of Johnson and Lafayette, would exceed the
population Of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighteenth, Nine.
teenth, Twenty. and Twenty eighth Dis.
tricts--larger than the Nineteenth by 605 and
larger than the Fifth by 1882 free white males
If there be force or binding effect in the 4th
section Of the Sd article of the State Constitution,
that "the Legislature, at the first session after
each enumeration, shall apportion the number Of
Representatives and Senators among The several
counties according to the free aohae male inhabi.
tantS thereof" we are unable to find a compi
ance with the requirement in the bill reported
We had understood it to be the Democratic doc
trne, proteSSed at least, to bring the represen
tative as near to the people as possibe-to give
every portion OF the people an quail representa-.
ton and an equal voice in the Legislature, and
that no portion of the citizens OF the land should
be denied their equal and just rights, because OF
an honest difference OF opinion upon political
subjects. Whether the bill reported by the
ma ority has been framed in particular with tho
purpose OF snothering, Or in effect, denying to
a minority their just political rights, we leave 10
a majority Of the committee, and the Senate to
determine. There are several other unjust pro,
visions in the bill reported by the majority
which we have not the time to notice at large
The formation OF the Fifth and Eleventh Dis
tricts, however, deserves notice. The Elev.
enth District is composed of Macon, Adar,
SnelDy, ana handolpn, ana mas population oil
1858, or an excess over the ratio of l,547;
whilst the Fifth District, which Adair county
adoins, and might we'll be made part of, has
only population Of 5,103--being less than the
ratio 1908. Now, if Adair had been taken
from the Eleventh District, and no sufficient rea.
son can be assigned why it should not, the Elsv.
enth would contain 1857 free white males, or
35l over the proper ratio-and if Adar was
added to the Fifth District, it would contain 6, 299
free white males, or only 707, instead Of 1908.
less than the ratio: This great inequality in
contiguous districts, for which no Justification can
be offered upon the score of public policy or
right, we trust will not be sanctioned by the
Leg stature
All Of which, the minority Of your committee
respectfully submit to the consideration and iudg
ment Of the Senate.
JOSHUA GENTRY, )c
JORDAN O,PpVAN SENATE.