Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-20
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REPRESENTATION.
REMARKS OF Mr.. CAMPBELL. OF Sr. Lo

REMARKS OF MR. CAMPBELL, OF ST. LOUIS.
Mr.. Campbell stated that he would vote to sub.
nit this proposition to the people, not because he
approved or sanctioned it, for he considered il
sttl grossly unjust and unequal, and he did not
wish TO be considered as recommending il: but
he voted for it because he considered it desirable
that some proposition on this Subject should go
before the people, and as all other propositions
that were more Just, equal and liberal had failed,
and they were about TO adjourn, he thought ii bet
Ter 10 submit this, bad as it was, rather than
do nothing. He thought that representation ought
TO be equal; that every county should have repre-
senlatives in proportion TO her white population,
and that my departure from that equality was a
violation Of the fundamental doctrines OF republ.
can government Ia this respect this amendment
was Objectionable; it was unjust 10 The larger
counties, and especially so TO St. Louis county,
and the very fact that this unequal proposition
was tie only one that could find favor ia the
General Assembly, was a strong poof OF the per-
ncious influence Of unequal representation. II
he people themselves could be heard on this sub
iect, an overwhelming majority OF them would
declare for fair and equal representation accor>
ding TO population; but the voice OF the fteemen
Of the country was stihed by the existing Unequal
ity. and 1! any proposition to change the relative
representation Of the counties is to be obtained
it necessarily stops far short Of Justice and equal
iIy. 1t is very unjust that this should be so, but
still it is so. From necessity, then, we are for
ced 10 propose that which is unequal to pro.
pose nothing, and leave the reform 10 be effected
by hioodshed and revolution. 1t is not to De ex.
peeled that the people OF this country will tolerate
the existing inequality; they ought not 10 do so,
and will not, il they are worthy to enjoy repub-
lcan government; reform must take place, and
the question is, whether it shall be pesceable
constitutional reform, one effected through
violence and political strife; he had hoped for a
more just and liberal course from those who now
held an undue share OF power, but had been dis.
appointed; and after all other measures failed, he
would vote for this as last resort. In SO doing
he merely placed the proposition before the peo-
pie for them freely TO choose between it and our
present outrageous inequality OF representation;
it was one step towards equal representation, and
might hereafter enable us 10 take another step;
one small advance was better than nothing, and
when there was no hope Of getting anything bet
ter he took this He would vote for the PROPOSE
lion, but under protest. and would not consider it
as measure with which the people ought 20 be
satisfied, even II obtained. II would be very
Objectionable proposition 10 the large counties,
still it would give them abont thirty additional
members, snd would serve as a palliative 10 tho
malady under which the State was suffering. The
effect OF this proposition was 10 leave it to the
people whether they would thus regain small
portion Of their rights and then contend for more.
or reject it and demand more radical and salts
factory change