Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-01-03

Representatives, it must have population
equal TO one and two.thirds of the given
quotient--or twenty-five fifteenths. The
rule for the iwo-member counties, that
every twenty-five persons in said counties
shall have the same weight as eighteen in
the three.fifth countes--a discrimination of
eighteen,hs in favor of the latter.
This discrimination goes on increasing
against the next class of large counties.
There is no fixed ratio in reality, except for
the three. fifths counties--,he other coun-
ties being represented according to the slid
ing scale adopted.
This can be illustrated by figures Sup.
pose the white population of the State to
be 45O,00O--the quotient by 100, is $500.
A county having 270O white inhabitants
would have one Representative; a county
having $500, would have no more; nor
would county having 1899. A county
with white population of $500 will be
entitled to two members-that is $3.50
white inhabitants in such county will
have the same weight as 2,7OO in the three
ffths counties, and as $500 in those coun-
ties having population equal to the given
quotient.
But as the unrepresented fraction cannot
he properly regarded in a calculation of
this kind. the working of the new rule may
be briefly stated as follows:
l. All isolated counties. not having ION
the supposition that the white population
of the State is 45O,OOO) 2,7OO white inhab-
itants, shall have one Representative.
2. All counties not having 2,7OO white
inhabitants, shall, if contiguous to similar
counties, be united to form election districts.
Said districts receiving a representation
according to the rule of apportionment for
single counties.
8. Every county having 2,7OO white in.
habitants, shall have one Representative.
4. Every county having less than 1900
white inhabitants, but 2,7OO and upwards
shall have one Representative, and only
one.
5. Every county having $500 white in
habitants, but less than $4,000 shall have
two Representatives and no more.
6. Every county having $4,000 inhabi-
tants, but less than l6,50O, shall have three
Representatives.
7. And so on, giving an additional repre-
sentative for every additional $500 white
inhabitants.
ST. Louis will have eight or nine mem.
bers with a large unrepresented fraction.
and the city and county will vote separ-
ately.
The counties which will suffer. most, in
proportion, by the new plan, are those be-
longing to the fourth class.
In its present application the new plan
is far preferable to the old one, but it is too
complicated for insertion in the organic
law of the State. 1t will not 60 into oper.
alton until the fourth general election from
the present time. 1t would have been bet.
ter to have stricken out the I'd section of
the third Article altogether, and to have
left representation to be ad iusted according
to the correct rule laid down in the fourth
section of the same article in the old con.
s,tution. The Convention could then have
adjusted the frs: appor,ionment for inser.
ton in the schedule. But, as the matter
now stands, the schedule in providing for
the first organization of the State Govern.
ment under the new constitution, should
apportion representation among the coun-
ties according to the new rule, and order
that, if the constitution shall be ratified, by
the people next August, the Governor OF
President Of the Convention, shall issue a
proclamation for general election in &C.
cordance with its provisions, in ls47
There is no propriety in deferring for
seven or eight years the practical reforms
called for. The new constitution should
go into operation, as soon as practi
cable after its ratifcation,--for it will then
be in theory, and should be in reality, the
organic law of the State, and the only one
based on the "assent of the governed" OF
the sovereignty of the people.