Tri-weekly journal., 1848-01-29
REMARKS OF Mr.. GRAHAM OF PIKE
COUNTY

Made in the House of Representatives, on The
llth inst. on motion for suspension OF the rules
TO read the third time, the bill changing the
mode of dieting Commissioners in the county
\ Of Pike.
-, b,,t find il is att SEN ne -
tlemen from the North and from the East, and
from the West, know more what Pike county
wants, than do | represent that county, Itis
filled bg both parties-l represent neither the
wings nor the democrats, but both parties
all are my constituents.
Gentlemen speak of the evil of ''local legis-
laton." The practice heretofore of every ses-
sion OF this legislature, as well as thus far of
this session, has been TO pass every local bill
whenever presented. Why then this sudden
change-why do gentlemen pounce upon this
bit of a poor bill of mine-coud they not see
wrong in their course until this unfortunate
bill came up for action?
Pike county it seems must be made 10 suf-
ter-she must be the scape-goat of the sin Of
local legisation-and when they have given
vent to their horror of ''local legislation" and
injured, and trampled upon the rights of my
people, then they, like the strange woman spo-
ken of in the scriptures, lick their lips, say
what evil have we done?" and continue in
their old course of local legislation.
The features of this bill, and the reasons
that lead TO its Introduction here, are of ex-
citing interest to the PEOPLE of Pike county
The Commissioner that was elected was
not the choice of the people in the District for
which he was elected. He lived in another
part OF the county,-and recei ved but few
votes of that District, and vet in the county
got upwards of one hundred majority over the
choice of the District, and so was forced upon
them. They felt that they wers not fairly
represented in the Board. He was not of them
he did not know what they wanted and very
probably in many cases, an interest which
suited the section of the county in which he
li0ed, prevailed over the wishes of those in
the District for which he was chosen. This
was not in their estimation right
MIR. Speaker, the very principle of the reso-
luton was the right of representation. First
the States, as States, have the right Of repre-
sentation in the National councils, as well as
in the State councils. The people of
county are represented. By the law of the
State, the several counties are divided into
Districts for certain purposes. Now those
Districts have necessarily different interests,
and different measures to be carried out, how
ever small they may be, and ofas vital impor-
tance in their sphere as in States. Isit not
right then that each District should have the
right of stating its wants and its necessities
How can they do it unless bya representative
of their own choice?-That representative
should be chosen from among them as well as
by them. Or would ii be better, to take some
one from another portion of the county where
the interests of his neighbors would be against
those of that District. No one can doubt as 10
that.
Mr.. Speaker, do hope gentlemen will let
this bill pass.-Gentlemen will find me more
grateful by supporting the bill, than to inform
me what Pike county wants,--or attempting
to thwart the desires of my constituents, and
when the rights of none else are infringed up
on. My constituents are an intelligent peo-
ple,-they are practical in their views, and hon.
est And where it isevident that their wants
only relate to themselves, and disturb the con-
stituency of no member on this floor, it is
strange that there should be an attempt al de-
NAL. | ask then that this bill be allowed to
journey on its way peacefully, and that it may
pass and become a law.