Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-03-09
TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.

FELLOW CITIzENs:-The occurrences of the
last week demand your seriousauenlion. Things
have been attempted deeply interesting to you.
DesIgnS have been formed, and shadOwed forth
IN action, subverslve OF your laws, your nsti.
tuuonS, your entire State Government. 10
form correct opinion Of all the conseq uences,
It's only necessary that you should be placed in
possession OF The facts. II is for this that we
address you.
Al as early day Of the session as was prac.
iicable, the subject Of the quadreniaI apporlion.
ment Of the SlaIe vas referred to select Joint
commi1Iee Of both branches Of the General As.
sembIy. About the twelfth of january, a bill
for that purpose was reported 10 the Senate. 1t
was the measure OF the majority OF the com.
miltee; but, il was well known, that in the meet.
ings of the committee, the majority had ruilless.
Iy endeavorei 10 procure Il counter plan Of ap.
porIlonmenE fronI the minority.
The bill was considered in committee of the
whole Senate, and reported back without amend.
ment. II is true, in committee OF the whole,
the minority proposed some changes. They
were resisted, aud the minority was invited again
opresent more equitable plan for dslrctng
the whole Stale. The chalIeng, was declined.
In the meanIime, the Senator from Pickaway
(Mr. Olds,) had moved u resolution, which was
adopted, calling upon the Attorney General for
an opinion as tO the constitutional power Of the
Legislature 10 divide Il county for representation;
That officer submitted an opinion, sustaining the
power, with great ability. 1t Is not our pur-
pose to argue the question. Il is enough that
the majority entertained no doubt as 10 the pow.
er, and were fully satisfied that its exercise
would be conducive TO tho best interests OF tho
city Of Cincinnati, and of the State. Even
one OF the Senators from Hamilton county, Mr..
Reemelin,l while he contested the poWer, freely
Rdmiued its erPedieHcy-ls accordance with The
spirit OF representation; and desired, in forming
new constitution, that provision should be
made for such divisions.
The same evening that the committee Of the
whole Senate was discharged from The further
consideration Of the bill, The Senator from Pick.
away (Mr. Oldsl announced to the Senate his
purpose 10 present a counter project for district
ing The State, and the bill was laid upon The ia.
Bile. This was on the afternoon OF Saturday,
January 22l. The Senator from Pickaway b..
ing the acknowledged leader of the minority, il
was confidently expected by the majority, that Il,
an early day Of the next week, another bill
would be presented illustrative OF what tie mi.
nority understood by ho neSty. The DELAY was
fruitIess. The all.confdonI Senator Ieiracted
his vaunted boast Of being able TO frame moro
equitable measure, and lhence(orward con6uel
himself to general and vague denuncalions of
the bill.
After several days delay, the bill was again
called up for the action Of The Senate,
and sundry amendments wers made to it,,
on motion Wing Senators, and by the concur
rance oil portion Of the majority with The en-
lire minority. Ii is not our purpose to discuss
the Proprie'y OF these changes. They made
some alteration, politically, in favor of the mi
nOrity, and were thought, by some OF the ma
jorily, to be moro in keeping with the general
principles Of the bill. In this shape il passed
the Senate, and was sent to the House for con.
currence.
The bill, as it passed the Senate, having fin.
nally become law, with few unimporlant
changes, it may here be proper to speak of It's
details, and briefly demonstrate its equality and
fairness. We are aware that the recusant Scna.
tors have charged that tho majority preserved n
''dogged silence," when the details of the hill
were denounced by the minority. SeIcresoec,
will not permit US to brand This labrica,ionin in rer.
lied terms. 1t was made in the hope that bold
assertion might serve for argument. Tha, the
measure is entirely delensible, it is only neces.
saEy to refer TO its details. A word as to its
leading principles.
!. The principle Of floats is discarded. In
dlscarding this practice, it became impossible
10 accomP'iSh SO much of apparent eqlaliIy OF
representation. The system, however, in l84o,
had been used Tor such fragrant purposes of cor,
Tuplon, that every man will reiocn n, i,s be;nc
abandoned. Moderate inequalities of represon.
iation are much to be preferred. careful ey.
animation Of The measure, will demonstrate ,h,,
exact justice has been done to the various geo.
graphical divisions Of the State.
30 Q. No effort has been used to sink democrat.
ic counties into whig districts. In this respect
'he friends Of the measure may learlessIy invite
rigid examination, and can triumphanlly chal.
!enge comparison with the acts Of locoloco leg.
jslatlres.
-a .. Contiguty of territory. and The business
1e''''0ns ol the people, have bScn respected as