Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-27
REPRESENTATION.

The convention has at last reached land,
and Representation" for the present, is
settled. A spirit of compromise and con.
cession has brought about the good work,
and the final vote on the question, showed
a degree of unanimty which reflected
honor on the liberality of all the various
fragments into which this subject had di.
vided the house.
On Saturday last, Mr.. Jones, Of Newton,
introduced proposition which, in sub
stance, declared that representation should
be apportioned by each apportioning ses-
sion of the Legislature, according to a
ratio to be ascertained by dividing the
whole number of white inhabitants of the
State by divisor to be determined by the
Legislature, and which should never exceed
the number one hundred. Each county
having three-fifths of the ratio, under the
proposition, is to be entitled to one repre-
sentative-a county possessing one full
ratio and two-thirds of ratio, to have
two, and so on in the same proportion. A
county having a city or a town with a
population sufficient to entiile il 10 more
than two representatives, is to be divided,
if such county, independent of the city or
town. has population enough to en,itle il
TO one representative. The city or town is
to be divided into compact districts by
the tribunal transactng county business,
and each district to elect one representa-
tive. Where county lies detached, and
is not contiguous 10 any other county, and
has not three-hfths, it is nevertheless en-
titled to independent representation. Where
several counties lie contiguous and do not
separately possess three-ffths of the ratio
they shall be attached until they possess
two-thirds of the ratio, ald shall be entitled
10 elect a representative.
When this proposition was introduced
a motion to reject it was voted down, and
on motion of DR.. Thomas, it was so
amended as TO require the hree-fflhs and
t,oo.thirds should cease and determine, after
the second enumeration, and become tao
thirds and three. fourths. However. on
Monday the vote adopting this amendment
was reconsidered, and the amendment was
rejected.
A motion was also made to reconsider
the vote adopting the proposition of Mr.
Jones of Newton, which failed, and on
Tuesday the whole subject was finally actec
on and settled. Mr.. Jones' proposition
being adopted, with an amendment, TO come
in as the fifth section, and offered by Mr.
Green. This amendment proposes that af
ter the second apportionment the tire,
ffths should cease and determine, and tux
thirds be adopted in lieu thereof
UThe foregoing is from the Jefferson
Inquirer, of last Friday. We must diffe
with the editor, and large majority of thu
Convention. Such Equalization of Rep
resentation as this measure will produce
will never satisfy the people. They woul'
prefer, and it would be better for them, t,
live under the constitution as it is, and re
sort to other means to remedy the evil. W.
hope the press and the people, will speal
out, and force the members Of the Conven
ton to accomplish the work for whicl
they were chosen. 1t is a plain and simpl
matter to Equalize Representatton--tht
people have demanded it--let them b
obeyed. If they are not obeyed, and tina
shortly, they will speak in manner tina
cannot be misunderstood. Why SHOULD
three.ffths Of man in a small county b
equal to whole man in large county,
Is there justice or honesty in it? Represen
ton MUST BE EQUAL.