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

upon general principles, and tried fairly,
because there has been no picking of coun.
ties to do it. What is that result9 is
this that 60 sis men in seven large and
lpopuoulous counties, are made equal 10
89,858 in fourteen smaller counties. But
what matters that with certain men So
the advantage is on the side Of the large
counties, its all right. He had admitted
that special cases OF inequality attended the
two-thlrds system, but when generally ap-
piled, it was equal. But the plan of Mr..
Stone and Others, was unequal both general
" and specially. Its general inequality no
had already shown, not, however, in its
worst form, and he would now take a spe-
ctal case or two, and see how they would
go and to begin, he would commence right
here at home with Howard and Cooper.
Howard has 9,235, and Mr.. Stones plan
would give her two members Cooper has
8,446, and would get one member. Now
this looked very nice, indeed, and especially
when it is found in the system Of these
"whole NUMBER" whole hog gentry, who
bleat and below so loudly about equal rep
resentation. 1t might, however, all be right;
both the members from the Cooper district,
he believed, had voted for it, and they ought
to know the wishes Of their constituents
better than he did. He had not, however,
supposed before, that il required one hundred
and ninety men in Cooper TO be equal 10
one hundred in Howard. Again, take Coop
er and Cole; they would each have one MEM
Der under this system. Cooper has 9,446
Cole 4,446. Just 1000 difference, but Wha,
OF II It's done by whole numbers and mus,
be right, SO al least, say the friends Of the
system.
Mr. J. said he would not have said one
word about these special cases Of inequality
attending this system, had it not been ior tho
eternal cIamor of those opposed to the plan
IN the new constitution. Ere,y system
which adheres TO county representation has
more or less Of inequality about il; and the
very best tina, can he done is to adopt that
system which produces the least injustice in
It's general and practical operations. One
more comparison Of Mr.. Stones plan, and
he was done with it for the present. The
seven large counties which would elect four.
teen members have a population Of 6o,5l5.
Now take fourteen counties that would elect
the same number Of members, g. pick them,
and wha, is the result a! The counties OF
Clay, Cooper, Franklin, Green, Jackson.
Lafayette, Lincoln, Marion, Monroe, Perry,
Randolph, Ray, St. Charles and Washing
ton, have a population Of 1902 SEQ, and
would elect one member each. Here is an
advantage Of fifty per cent. in favor Of The
large counties, with the additional advan-
,age Of voting under the general ticket sys-
tenn, which, in bis opinion was little if any
less than fifty per cent. more. The advan-
,age of the general ticket system Of voting
was well understood in this state. The
question had been fully discussed ear or
two since when we changed our system of
elec.ing members TO Congress. 1t would
take but little time 10 show that voter liv-
ing IN county that elected ten members TO
the general assembly, under the general tick
ct system, might, IN given case, exercise
ten times the political power that the voter
would who lived IN county that elected
one member; but this principle was so well
understood by all, that it was unnecessary
for him to give them an example, 4 word
or two more, and he would be done with
this question, for he had already detained
them much longer Than he had expected to
have done. On page IA OF the journals,
would be found proposition submitted by
Uriel Wright. ESQ. of ST. Louis, one OF the
mos, talented and highly gifted members OF
The convention and one who understood
this question, in al! It's bearings, perhaps as
we'll as any man in the country. Mr..
Wright well understood the advantage Of
the general ticket system OF voting, and 10
secure it, was willing TO give every county
'now organized" representative for "haJ'
ratio. Here was Il man welded 10 the IN
terests OF the populous counties, proposing
to give the small counties member Tor
half q ratio. What have those TO say 10
This proposition, who are so noisy and clam
orous about tLree.ftIhs, and two.thlrds
Mr.. Wright was shrewd man and knew
we'll what lie was about. He knew the
small counties would have no advantage, tor
he was not the man 10 give il TO them.
There was one other objection made TO
this clause Of the constitution which he
would notice, and he would be done. He
had heard it said that the convention should
simply have declared that representation
should be equal and uniform," and leave il
TO the Legislature 10 settle the rest. For
one, he was opposed 10 all such loose and
idle declarations, and especially in making
constitutions. Every legislature at each
apportionng session, would quarrel for
weeks Gust Us the convention did, in deter
mining VIVA, was equal representation
what was "equal and unfair" and when 1t
was done, The defeated party would charge
the successful one with errymanderlng-
with taking advantage for party purposes
&c. &c. lie admired The plan in the eon-
sti,ullon, not only for lis equality and fair
ness, but because it was plain, pointed, spe.