The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-09-29

uuPiSlty anu wait VI BOOu lultilj lOi
when a party attempts to impeach his own
witness, in whom he has expressed the
utmost confidence, it exhibits symptoms
ofdepraviIy in him, as no man of integri-
ty would attempt to impeach his witness,
because he will not testify to suit his pur-
poses.
Here we might rest our case; but we
have no disposition thus easily to dispose
OF it. There was reason for this call
upon Mr.. Stanbery. Upon former oc-
casion, his opinion of the law coincided
with the views of Locofocoism and upon
this account DR.. Olds and others placed
confidence in him. Having done this,
when he decided against them, it should
have REMOVED THEIR DOUBTS and enabled
them to act anderStnadingly.
Notwithstanding the opinion of this
distinguished lawyer, the Revoluiionists
still assert that there is no constitutional
power to divide Hamilton county-they
do not attempt to controvert his reasons,
but simply assert that, by the Constitu
ton, Representatives must be apportion-
ed "dmOng tile different countless" that as
"districts are named for Senator's, and
cO@nt'eS for Representatives." the trainers
ofthe Constitution did not intend to di-
vide counties for the latter. If they did
not intend this, they did not intend to
have Representative districts, and when
the Locofocos of 1914, in the Legislature,
voted to Join Ross and Hooking into
Representative district, they violated the
Constitution. This is only one case out
ofa number of similar ones, as it has been
customary to form Representative dis
tricts in Apportonment bills.
But if there are objections to dividing
counties, there are still greater ones to
forming Representative districts. The
Constitution requires that the representa-
tive shall "reside in the county," from
which he is elected. Now in the case
of Ross and Hooking, Mr.. Kaler repre-
sented Ross county, yet he did not re-
side in it. In the case of the division of
a county into two or more Representative
districts, this clause in the Constitution is
literally fulfilled, the Representative of
course living in the county.
This reduces the objection to an absur-
dily. These same men, this same party,
have repeatedly voted to form represen-
tative districts, and hence repeatedly vio-
lated the Constitution, though protesting
such ardent attachment for it.
The truth of the matter is this. When
} the trainers of the Constitution formed
that instrument, there we're but few coun-
ties in the Slate. They legislated for
f these counties, and they did not word the
Constitution SO that it could be HteraUy
fulfilled in legislating for the number Of
counties we now have, all formed out ol
the few of their day, Fairfield county
at that day, embraced Hooking, Perry
Licking and parts of Knox, and some
others.
But the question is very gravely asked
Y Why tine trainers of the Constitution did
l. not divide Hamilton county? Were il
not that the Committee profess to be sol
emn and sincere, we should think they
were in fun. But we will answer it,
e There was no necessity for it. At that
+ time, Cincinnati was only village. Now
/, it is large and popuous city. 1t has
e interests distinct from the county and
o like every other city is entitled to its owr
representative. Boston, New York, Phil
'. adelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, New
Orleans, are separately represented, ant
: the same right is claimed by large ma
$ jorily of the citizens of Cincinnati. They
n should have it.
Y But we have not yet done with the
II Constitutional objection.
l. The very same clause, upon which thes,
;. Revolutionists found their arguments il
|. the Constitution of the United States.-
Y That instrument says, that the RepreSen
i. tatives shall be aPportiOncd among til
l. different SfateS-the Constitution of Obi,
= says, that the Representatives shall be ap
n pOniOned among Tie different counties. |
g under the latter clause, one portion O
t: Hamilton county cannot separately elec
. Representatives underline former clause
+, one portion Of Ohio cannot elect a Rer
!. resentative. In other words, if the fv
ID Representatives allotted to Hamilto
le county, must be chosen by the entu
N county, then the twenty one Representa-
tives allotted to the State of Ohio, mus
" be elected by the entire State. Ever
II, voter knows that this is not the case, an
n. if the law, under which we have bee
- eleclng Representatives to Congress