Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-04-25

would now proceed with the counties entitled Il
two or more members each, which were as fol
lows:
| Boone 1O.o99 Jackson 8Oe6
| Buchanan 1884 Marion 1869
| Galloway OTIS Monroe 1877
c. Girardeau 1894 Pike 8,9o5
Cooper 8.4i6 Platte 1874
franklin $3.50 Raw 1926
Green 7,7O9 ST. Charles 1872
Howard 1895
These fifteen counties have a population oil
1889 II, and would elect thirty one members
Platte eecting three and all the others tive
each. Each one Of these members would rep
resent an average population of 1897, anc
would fall below the ratio 72 to each member
Saint Louis, the only remaining county has a
population Of 2,483 and would elect nine mem
bers each member representing an average
population Of 4,720 or an average over the RAJ
ito Of 35 to each member. This large fraction
over the ratio grows out Of the fact that Saint
Louis is almost entitled TO len members SO
large indeed was her fraction that the conven
ton gave her ten members in the appor.on>
ment made by that body.
Such said Mr.. J. would be the practical work
ings Of the system contained in the constitution
That there were some special cases Of Unequal
ity every one could see, and lheso special cases
would be found in any system that preserved
county representation; but he thought that the
general equality the plan presented would re-
commend it to the favor of all unpreiudiced
minds. The members from the small counties
thrown into districts would represent each an
average population Of 4,322 those from the
counties each entitled TO one member would
represent 1866, and those from the large coun-
tles->such as Boone, Howard, Cooper &c. would
represent 1897 Facts and figures are Stub
born things, and yet in the face Of them we
hear it said every day that the large counties
have been 'robbed" Of their representation, and
that it had been transferred over TO the IS rolf
scalp" counties. Now said Mr.. ]. how much
truth was there in this charge? lie had heard
men who ought TO know better, and who, he had
supposed, had more respect for truth and can
dor, tina, "bargain" had been made by Saint
Louis and the 4" aOolfscalp" counties TO cheat
such counties as Howard, Boone and Cooper
out Of their just and equitable rights. He mus,
confess his establishment at this decla ration, not
only for its want Of truth, but that it should
have been made by the men VINO utte ed it,
Boone has a population Of lO,998. The ratio
is 1850. She has two members and fraction
over but can you give her any more? How
ard has 1886. She has two members and
small fraction over. How much has Howard
been ''chealed" out Of? Can you by any fair
and honest rule give her more than two mem
bers? Cooper has population OF 8,446, and
under the benefits OF the "0di0us" two-thrds
system she has two members, What outrage
has been inflicted upon Cooper county, that she
should be "cuting up or "uader cutting" so
much against the constitution? But this odlous,
outrageous two. thirds rule was insupportable,
say the ,riSe men o! Howard and Cooper. No
honest man can conntenance such principle.
and yet without It, Cooper county, the seat, and
head quarters Of the opposition in the Boon's
Lick country, to the constitution, would be left
with but one solitary member.
And mark me said Mr.. J, mark The prediction
--no,e it down in your memorandum books,
that at the very first apportionment which will
be made under the new consliIutlon-the APP
portionment of 1913, if Howard county gets
two members at all it will be by he operation
and under the benefits, arising from this - obi
Gus, and abonlinable" tw o thirds rule. He wish
ed those gentlemen who complained SO loudly
and bitterly 10 note it down--to write il in a
strong legible hand, and when The day comes,
we should see who it was that had "cheated"
and wronged Old Howard out of her rights -
lie had as much cause for standing by the just
rights OF Old Howard, as any son she had, and
whenever he should prove recreant to her lrue
interests and just rights, he hoped he might re
ceive the universal condemnation Of every cil-
zen within her limits. But he had not wrong
her why should he do it ? lie had came to
Howard county when bu. a boy, without friend 5
or wealth TO sustain him. 1t was here, he could
almost say, he had been raised it was here
he had been supported and sustained in every
trial. When he should forget the people OF
Howard county the manner in which they
have sustained him, the oft and repeated ev>
dences OF their regard and confidence, he would
deserve the excavations OF all mankind. He
had taken his seat in the convention with a
settled dete termination 10 do Howard county JUS
tice-fuH handed justice, but he had not gone
to Jefferson with view Of doing injustice TO
any other portions Of the state. He did not be-
lieve the people Of Howard required it a, his
hands. With this DEPRESSION, he would pro-
coed with his comparisons oil the relative ad-
van,ages possessed by the different classes OF
counties. There are exceptions TO all general
RI les, and these exceptions attended the princi-
pie Of equallzlng representation, as we'll as all
other general rules. In the thirty eight coun-
lies thrown into eighteen districts, and which
would elect eighteen members, the greatest
amount Of population in any one district is in
the Bates and ST. Clair district, which has s,
4l6. The smallest number is in the district
composed Of Grundy and Mercer, which is 3,
462. The variation in the extremes is about
fifty per cent. In the forly,wo counties which
eject one member each, the variation is much
greater. Laying aside the Two counties Of Au-
drain aud Jasper, which come in under the ex
cep,ion to the general rule, the variation will
| ha found 10 ha over nne huudred nor ceni -