The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-19
The Infamous %Gerrymandering Of
Whiggery Defeated The Con-
stitution Saved from Violation.

Whiggery Defeated The COn-
stitution Saved from Violation.
After our daily edition had been is.
sued, the last vote in the Senate, on the
infamous and unconstitutional Appor-
tionment bill, being about to be taken,
Mr.. Byers handed the letter which will
be found below, to the Speaker of that
BODY, desiring him TO read it. The
Speaker refused, and Mr.. Byers read
il himself. The members signing the
letter then withdrew from the chamber.
Their justification will be found in
the letter. Ii is afrank and manly doc
ument. and it will save the constitution
from being trodden under foot to per.
petuate power in the hands of n major
ity that got power by fraud, and who
use il to violate the Constitution they
swore to protect. ,,
The freeman Of Ohio will stand by
the brave hearts who thus saved the
Constitution. They will stand by their
side. and come veal, come woe, they
will share their fate.
ao4 The apportionment bill which wasa a.
bout to be passed by a reckless wing
legislature, would have subverted the
ruling principle in our government, by
-. dividing Hamilton county, and most un-
fairly combining together the other
counties, an organized bank minority
would for the next 90 or so years, been
enabled to have ruled and given laws
srto a majority of over sixteen thousand
Of the freemen OF this State. After the
passage of the bill no remedy could
& have reached the evil short Of Il revo-
luton. A convention to amend the
constitution would have been elected
under the same iniquitous apportlon-
/, ment system, which would enable a
=, minority ofthe people to make a new
. constitution for the majority of the peo-
pIe. This bill, therefore, is not only
calculated, but intended to enable a
Mexican wing minority to rule an
give lawslo a majority Of the people.
ya' The law for the Congressional APP
portionment was claimei to be subject
10. alteration or repeal, and did not per-
IS petuate power in the hands OF a minor
ity, as would this measure.
This measure, therefore, strikes
= at the fundamental pillar Of our govern
ment. 1t would perpetuate power IN
the hands of a corrupt bank minority.
We fearlessly assert, that the people
never sem men here to the Legislature
TO sit by and assist to constitute a quo
: rum Of a body Of men engaged in sub.
verting the fundamental principles of
the constitution.
The very committee that reported
the bill, acknowdge it TO be political
apportionment, for in the report accom-
panying it, they stated the number Of
wings and the number of democrats
that would be elected under its provis.
sions. They claimed that it would give
Mexican whiggely a majority of six in
the Senate-a ma ority larger than any
party ever before had in that body
(. Had the bill passed into a law, and tho
the democracy might carry the State
2 by a majority of sixteen thousand at the
next election, still would they be in a
minority in the halls Of Legislation. Can
such infamy be justified? =.
The members ofthe party who would
thus violate the plain provisions OF the
constitution, thus to subserve party
ends, and t perpetuate power IN the
hands of a minority, shown to be such
at the late election, never dared defend
its rank injustice, but sought protection
under low b%uffoonery when its gross
Injustice and unconstitutionality was
shown.
A bill more Infamous never was be-
fore brought before a legislative body.
The question is now plainly brought
before the people for adjudication
That they will sustain the course OF the
Senator's, it would be i~mpugning their
honesty and love Of the constitution,
and fair dealing to deny.-Ohi Stdtes-
9 man Extra Of Feb. 14M.