Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-03-21


their future interests and welfare.
From the Fulton Telegraph.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION AND
THE REPUBLICAN.
The Republican comes down upon us
with all its force, in commenting upon an
answer which we gave to an article ad-
dressed to us in the Missouri Journal some
weeks ago, in reference to the subject of
representation, as provided for in the New
Constitution. We had forgotten the cir.
cumstance--but since we are reminded of
it, and as the subject is one which should
be we'll studied and fully investigated by
every citizen Of the State, who is in any
way competent to the task, before the
coming election, we will attend to the prin.
cipal argument, and, we believe, almost the
only one urged by the Republican, in favor
of the New Constitution. We feel that
we have, 10 some extent, discharged the
duty which we owed to the community, in
common with our contemporaries. as senti-
nels upon the watch tower, at least in re.
gard to the subject Of representation, as
the same is provided for in the New Con.
s,itution; and but for the comments of our
respected contemporary, who takes US to
task, we should probably have now been
paying our respects TO the subject of the
judiciary. The Republican gives US credit
for sincerity in language at least, and
thinks it quality which is well calculated
to impress the public mind, and perhaps to
mislead it. We never doubted that sincere
language was best calculated 10 impress the
puh1;c mind and h,v E,,lo h.
none at ally the best 10 prevent it from be.
ing msled. We hope that the Republican
will agree with US in this sentiment; but
the Republican is altogether mistaken in
supposing that it has given our entire rea.
sons for the position which we occupy.
We summed up various objections to the
New Constitution, which we stated would
prevent US from supporting it. Our CO.
temporary supposes that the only reason of
our opposition is, that we can never con.
sent 10 trample the first great principle of
republican government under our feet, and
while standing upon its ruins, coolly and
deliberately enter into a comparison be.
tween the merits of constitution which
recognizes the destruction of that princ.
pie. and one from which that inequality has
arisen by accident, or casualty. Well, in
all conscience, this would seem to be suffi.
cient reason, standing by itself-yet we
stated others. But the Republican thinks
that ours is not fair statement of the
question, and that the real question is
choice between the New Constitution,
which gives us an approximation, "and a
near approximation too" to equal represen-
tation, and almost an entire humiliation Of
that principle, by falling back upon the old
one. Now in all candor we ask whether
this is fair statement Of the question? If
it is, why then all controversy about the
subject of equal representation is at an end.
If the new Constitution makes near ap-
Proclamation TO equal representation, il is
all that any reasonable man can ask, for
exact equality can hardly be expected to be
attained. But how does this near approx
nation accord with the admission of the
Republican, that under the provisions of
the new Constitution, the power is left in
the hands of the minority? Ii devolves on
US to show to the Republican. that il has
Jumped to the conclusion, that representa-.
ton approximates nearly to equality, by
the provisions of that instrument; how ii
has made the leap il is not for US TO know
but we do know that most of our cotem.
poraries who are in favor of the new Con.
silu,ion asser, the same thing. We will
settle the question by matter Of fact state
ments and calculations, which will most
clearly show who is in the right, we, or
those who oppose US. And first, the new
Constitution expressly provides that any
county having three.fifths Of the ratio
which entities to representation. shall have
one representative. Here 10 an approxima.
ton which stands as three to FIVE; in other
words. three thousand men in one county
are to have equal weight in the Legislature
with five thousand in another county. In
few years this difference 10 to stand as
two TO three. and SO stand forever, so far
as the constitution provides; and we are
told that two thousand to three thousand
is near approximation 10 equality. This
hugo deformity stops not here, for it is
further provided, that if a county which