Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-26

AuH bl ffofft was eulllcu 70 iup Aeiif1aguld-
lives, and the Wing counties OF Champaign, Lo-
gan aud Union, with population Of 7,572, 10
one Representative; the Locofoco countyof Per-
~, with a population Of 3.s33, was entitled TO
one Representative, and the Wing county or
Montgomery, with apopuuIion Of 6,298, to one
/ Rcpresentiyes; the Locofoco county Of Monroe,
with population Of 3.237, was entitled to one
Representative, and the Wing county Of Frank.
I lin, with a population Of 5.343, to one Repre-
sentative. We give these samples as iIIuslra.
lions Of the inequalities Of the Locoloco appor-
tionmen, Of l339-40; but they are not the worst
features Of that law. An enormily Of far great
er magnitude is TO be found in the deliberate and
systematic plan Of DISTINGUISHING Wing coun.
ties altogether, orwhaiIs worse, makingihem in
crease the Locoloco majority in,he Legislature by
uniting them in the same Representative districts
with Locoloco counties, though they were, by
population, entitled 10 separate Representative
organization. Thusmany populous Whigcoun-
lies were completely disfranchised, while their
population went to swell the Locofoco majority.
But the most stupendous system of iniquity at
length finds terminus. So with Locofoco dis
honesty and fraud. The recklessness of parti-
zan legislalion-Ihe pronigacy Of corrupt agents,
and the plundering of official menials, at length
aroused the people; and after the election Of
l843 The Locofocos found themselves in a mi
noriIy in the popular branch of the Legislature.
The apporlionment act Of 1884 was the re.
suit Of a compromise between the two Houses
Of the Legislature, (he Houses entertaining DIFF
ferent political sentiments,) and, though il did
notgivethe Wings a. just proportion of the repre-
sentalion, they invariably returned majority TO
the Legislature under it.
This brings US TO the last session Of the Leg
slature, when, with majority in bdh Houses,
it became the duty of the Wings to appnrion
the Stale for Representative and Senatorial pur-
poses. Before we examine the act of last win
ter it is necessary to glance al some facts that
should never be lost sight Of, whilst framing just
apporonment law. Take the official returns
of the Governors election in 1916, which is the
latest correct data that exists; and what is the
position of political affarsl The Wing major
ity in the State, we are ready to admit, was at
that time but liue over Twelve hundred votes.
But, Notwithstanding the SmaIlness of this ma
jority, the returns of that election demonstrate
the fact that 45 counties gave Wing maiorites,
and S8 counties Loco(oco majores. These As
Wing counties and the city of Cincinnati con-.
tain population of 2O6, ,26O rreemen, whilst the
38 Locoloco counties contain a population of
145,624; being an excess in favor of the Whig
counties of 60,636 lreemen, more than one-third
Of the aggregate population Of the Locoloco
counties. Under such circumstances, any ap.
portonment approaching towards honesty, mus
give The Wings decided majority in the Legis.
Iature. No person, with single spark of hon
esty in his bosom, will contend that this popuIa-
lion Of more than nsixty thousand rreemen, should
be entirely dislranchised; yet, TO give the Loco
locos an even chance for the Legislature, that
Il "o"'u H"'O W "O uohO' MS eACeSS Ol pOpu-
aon in the Whigcounties, is entitled, under the
ratio, TO Senators and l2 Representatives, lea
wing a large fracliQn unrepresenled. 1t may
well be doubted whether the present apporon-
ment will give the Wings the majority in the Le-
gsIature to which the excess of population in
the Whgcounties justly yentllethem. Ifit does,
it will give them no more than Justice, if it fall
any thing short Of that, the present apportion-
men1 law will be just that much in favor Of the
Locolocos. But what are the details of the law!
Perhaps they give undue advantages to the
Wings? The veryreverse proves to be the fact.
The Locofoco Senatorial districts fall short of
the true ratio, whilst the Wing districts are a.
bove the true ratio. So Of the House of Repre-
sentatives. So far from the Locolocos having
just cause for complaint against the present law,
the law gives them more than an equitable ap-
portionment. If any favoritism is shown, it is
shown TO counties having Locoloco population.
Knowing as we do the facility with which Lo-
cotoco editors misconstrue, fasily and purvert
wing measures, we are not surprised at this at
tempt to deceive the people. 1t is their favor.
ite game. But the confident tone displayed by
these demagogues, in giving publicity to their
deceptive statements, has induced US to exam
inc the present law, as well as to dive into the
musty tones of Locofoco legislation. The
foregoing facts, compiled from the best da-
ia within our reach, is the result of our investi-
CATION. We ask all to ponder upon their con-
tents, and to decide according to the evidence.
LocoFoco national CoNvENTIoN.-Th bo-
dy convened in the city of Baltimore on Mon
dav last for the nlrnoSe Of nuttinp in non1ina-