New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-13
Anarchy In Ohio.

been presented m our columns As the issue there
made up exhibits in strong light the intrinsic
characters Of the two great parties respectively
and mornentous consequences appear 10 hang
upon the result we will make room for a con
densed recspituation.
The Constitution Of Ohio provides for senate
Of thirty-six and House ofseventyt two Members.
apportioned among the several Counties OF the
State. and provides that the Legislature shall, AZ
stated periods, reapporton the Members Of each
House Last Winter was the time fixed for the
discharge Of this duty. and 1t was performed by the
Legislature then existing. which was Wing IN
each House. The County Of Hamilton (which IN.
oludes CINCINNATI was found 20 contain Popula-
tion fully emitting it two Senators and i've Re
representatives. while no other County was entitled
b. more than one Senator nor 20 more than one lie
preventative. Cincinnati and the residue Of Ham
ilton County are very diverse in the character,
origin, intelligence and views of their respective
population the City being moderately Wing the
County strongly Loco. Foco. Hitherto the Counties
had not been divided bat the Legislature did not
deem il Just that Wing City of nearly 100000
inhabitants should be completely nulliiied and
knocked into nonentity by less numerous but bit
terry Loco Foco community, they apport oned
n the City one Senator aud two Repres entatives,
leaving to the residue of the County, including the
two out Wards Of Cincinnati, Senator and three
Representatives These Members, as all through
the State, were fairly apportioned to the Popula-
tion as is shown by the fact that, which in the re-
cent State Election, the Wings elected their Gov
crnor the Legislature is still fercely disputed
and is very nearly tied.
But the Loco Focos fought this Apportonment
with desperation, and finally resorted to the des-
perate expedient of yacatng their seats, so as to
leave the Senate withouta quorum. That itdld not
effect their purpose is evidenced by the organiza-
ton Of full Senate aud of tco Houses last week,
when, If there had been no valid Apportionment,
no Legislature could have been chosen, as the old
Apportionment expired with the last Legislature,
and there Is no provision for another except under
anew Apportionment The fact that both parties
have acted under and except in Hamilton County
coniormcd to that Apportionment proves that both
virtually acknowledge its validity Unless that
Apportionment bc valid, Hamilton has no right to
choose five Members, having had but four under
the last.
But the Loco Focos of Hamilton chose 10 treat
the law as at the same time valid and invalid
valid being an Apportonment under which
new Legislature could be legally chosen--vaid in
appor,ioning two Senators and five Members to
Hamilton Couniy-but Invalid in prescribing that
part OF them should be- chosen by Cincinnati aud
art by the balance OF the CouAty. And they do not
hold this as question in dispute TO be decided by
sny common tribunal, but point settled by
their mere sayso--a political party acting as
prosecutor, indietcr, Judge, jury and execstioner
upon the law OF the land. Accordingly, part OF
them voted for hre Representatives from the
whole of Hamilton County there was but one
Senator to be chosen from the County this year.
and he allotted to the Loco. Foco part of il d
some Looo-Foco Inspectors accepted ballots tor
Representatives with five names upon them. and
by such ballots the two Loco Foco candidates in
the City are claimed to be elected Outside OF the
City, along with the three undoubtedly chosen
from the County The County Clerk Loco Focol
gave certificates to both sets claiming to be
chosen such certificates being little more than
statements Of the poll As returned to the Clerks
Once.
Under these circumstances the Legislature as
sembles It being known that the party having
the Cincinnati Representatives must have the
control OF the House, while the Senate is tied
Two hours before the usual hour Of assembling,
the Loco-Foco Members. including those whose
seats are contested from Portage. Sc and those
claimed TO be elected in violation OF the law, take
possession OF the Speakers Chair, &c and are
sworn IN by one " C. Read Judge of thatpar
the inismy Of whose personal character is noto-
roas beyond the limits of the State. When the
Wings entered the House at the proper hour. they
found = pretended Speaker In the Chair, smother
member officiating as Clerk, in place Of the Whs
CierA OF the old House-the usage being that the
Clerk OF the old House acts until new Clerk is
ohosen--and still another Loco Foco Member act
nag as Sergeant alarms. The Wings were pro-
perry sworn IN, proceeded to elect officers sud n
due season adjourned neither organization recos.
niHinS the validity OF the other, and neither being
aeic To do any business, as twe-thiris of a fall
House IS required in Ohio to constitute a ouorum
The Loco Focos, for several days, did, and posi-
bly, do stiA keep possession Of the Speakers Chair
night aud day, aud resist all attempts To compro.
mise. The Wings had offered to let both sets f
Members stand aside until the other contested
seats three should be properly Rlled. and the
House duly organized, ba, this was spit upop.-
Surrender at discretion virtually say the Lona.
Fooos give up the laws, subject the majority
Free Soil and Wing Of the People OF Ohio %
the minority, and let anarchy aud Modification
reign triumphant or there shall be % Lesisls.
ture, no Courts the terms Of the Judges expiring
and the terms Of the Courts requiring to be re-
enscted,l the Banks shall be broken for wan, /
II ability TO collect their debts and the State int
rests be whirled into chaos and ruin.
We do hope that the Wings will sot give way.
a cur Judgment they conceded TOO far when they
flcred to let the Cincinnati Members stand aside
nlil the other contested seats should be settled
I'd their conflicting elsims duly passed upon by
Ie House There Is no iaslice IN this and the
Zee lent il sets is fatal one. There is but one
lie rule in such csses--Siand by the laws Ii
'ybody disputes the Constitationaity OF the law.
| him contest il in the legal manner and peace
liy abide the decision. Thus the Wings OF our |
ty, when defraaded OF the fruits OF a municipal