The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1847-01-21

Representatives. The - rnnmerasinn.'
her meniinnel. was clearly Tor lie pnr-
poe VI aseelialning lie 'Esspeeti,e num-
bea" of Tie several States. llaat The num-
betuf representatives. 10 which each might
Be untitled, should be apporiionea'' &c
cnlingiy. Tie trainers III the eonsiiln-
iio, seem 10 have had = foresight III the |
increasing strength and greatness III llleir
cnsnsry; Of The shifting loeslilies III pop-
ulilon and power; II lie mighty grswlh /
II new states, aud ihe comparative de-
fliie Or tile old. This enumeration oace |
in en- years, was n secure 10 population, I
hnseEer il might change iis seat. N mum. !,
beB " heEeset they might BE- found. their
misrepresentation IN tie popular branch !
81 lie national Legislature. Tie man. /
ner Of choosing these representatives by !
lie several states, does not come within /.
he puryiew of this provision AT al. In
fact, not ihe most remote aliusion is made
"a II. Tile ten years mentioned, refers
exclusively 10 lie period to intervene he.
tween each actual enumeration" This
whole sect on nf the constitution explains
itself by providing for the enumeration.
Immediately after the provision for sp.
po'iloning representatives among The
states, according 10 their representative
numbers. II is the apporiionmeni of The
number Of representatives To each state,
under The enumeration of iis inhabitants,
which il 10 be made once in ten years
only-and freely admit. tia. this appnr.
lionment as 10 nnmher. must remain for
len years. aud no state legislation can ef.
| feet il.
Bgt whs, says tie constitution in re.
gard To the manner oil choosing represent
iaii,es. The fourth section OF this same
article, declares that
The times, places AMI manner Of holiin:
elections shall be prescribed in each state by III,
Legislature thereof: but the Congress may, at any
tine, by law, make or alter such regulations, ex
cept rs 10 the places Of choosing senators"
Here the entire control of tho "msn
ner," as we'll as the " times and places
of holding elections, is. in The absence o
congressional action, left 10 the l.egisla
ture Of each state; subject TO. no othe
limitation bur that such Stale shall eiee
no more members linn Congress may
] hare apporiioned to it, under an enume
ration Of lis people. The words .facl
4 Sias1s1 IN shat Ctau~r ipf tine s0us4ii.saitl
! last mentioned. Shows IhaI II was ituruti
cd 10 leave the manner Of election TO III,
:. peculiar wish or fancy Of every state
I without requiring uniformity, unless Con
gress should see fiji 10 alter lie state regu
slations. And until The passage Of ih
r last appointment act in 1912. no unifor
!, nifty has ever exisledin The several state
as 10 the manner. Sumo states have elect
ed by general ticket, some by single dis
lricls, and others by double districts. AM
these systems have been changed and mo
diied from time to Time. during The inter
vening periods between the regular time;
of enumeration aud apporlionmcnt Iii:
well known that a few years since Tho
state of Alabama changed her system o.
, electing by districts 10 that Of general
ticket. and before the next election. re-
turned again 10 The old mode. Ii is also
4 well known, that since the last apportion'
ment was made, the states of New ilamp'
shire, Georgia and Missouri have elected
by the general ticket system, and yet have
all three since altered their regulations,
and returned 10 the district system. vii
il be pretended that these changes were
: not righ,fully and constilutionally made
j And it a state may so change its districts
as to amalgamate them all into one--or
when SO amalgamated, parcel them ou'
into separate divisions, and tina. TOO du'
ring the interval between the decennia
! periods Of superintendent. will it be con
+ tended that a state, cannot change the
:. ritoriai limits, and re-arrange the compa'
nent parts of her respective districts when
Eonce made! Will it be denied, that bu
for the action of Congress, this heglsla
d ,ure might so change The districts, as tt
4 abolish them altogether, and resort TO the
general ticket system! The major pro
position must include the miaor--and II
n a state can, in the absence OF congressioh'
/ al restriction. so change the districts as ie
unite them all into one; certainly 1t car
4 change them by such re arrangement "
counties, as to still have them IN coniar
nifty TO The act Of Congress- OF separate
J and distinct but contiguous territory.
A admi, that The Legislature eanno
. unite all the districts into one by adoptIp!
1.-The general ticket system; Tor the apfof
) htiorment &C, of 1912. for the frs, time IL
/, our history. altered The s,a'e regulations
so far ss to prevent this. The rlanse o
thai act bearing on this qse,t ion, 10 a
3"That in every case where a state in 'n'tle'
to more than one representative, the number
which. each state shall be entitled under this az
pertinent, shall be elected by districts compose
Of contiguous territory equal in number 10 IN
number of representatives to which said stat
may be entitled no one district elcctng more tina
sone representative" @
:, Blu. for This act, | have attempted
= show, the State Legislature has entire con