The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-03-04
Gerrymandering

The language of the Constitution, relative to tn,
spportionment OF the State, is as follows:
"The number of Representatives
shall, at the several periods of making
such enumeration be fixed by the Leg
islature, and apportioned among the
several counties, according to the mum
Der Of white male inhabitants above
twenty-one years of age in EACH" n y
"Stc. 8. The Representatives shall
30 chosen annually, by the citizens of
EACH COUNTY respectively, on the
second Tuesday Of October"
BY what authority. under these clauses of the
Constitution, the wings can divide a county, as
they have done Hamilton, we cannot discover.
In order to get a wing Senator and two Repre-
sentatives, the bill makes eight wards of CIncin.
natl one district. and the remainder Of the county
sen "byMe citizens Of each county, when acoun-
ty is divided into two representative districts!
Thu constitutionality of dividing counties, was
ably argued by the wing members of the legislature
ofls45-6. 1t will be recolIected that the whis
legislature OF lS44-'45 detached two whig town.
ships from Athens county and attached them to
Morgan, thereby changing the political complex
ion of Morgan county. The democrats claimed
that the legislature had no right, after the appor-
tionment was made, to attach a part of one repre-
sentative district to another. They did not deny
the right of the Legislature to change the bounda-
- .r ..,,.;a, t,,,, ,I,;,oJ a.. r. ..-.-
ment was made hat it should so remain until the
time for a new apportionment arrived. So believ-
ing, the clerk of Morgan county gave Mr. Belts, a
democrat, the certificate Of election, for the reason
that he had received a majority of the votes in the
old county. Mr.. Belts right 10 a seat was con.
tested, and the Legislature sustained his opponent
and gave MIR. Chandler the seat. Gen. Mason a
distinguished lawyer of Springfield was Chairman
of the committee OH Privileges and Elections, and
his report in that case, sustained the right of Mr..
Chandler 10 a seat for the reason that a county
could not censtitutiona!ly be divided. We haze
not room to quote from the report, at length, but
give the following extract:
"To suppose that the territory Of a
county may be more or less in extent
than the election district, is to suppose
a constitutional impossibiIity; for wher-
ever there is a county. there is also an
election district, bearing the same Name,
and having the SAME extent of terri.
tory"
Mr.. Philips, a leading wing member of Geauga
county, and claimed to be a sound lawyer, made a
speech on this Morgan county case. He said:
"But it is claimed by the counsel for
Nj. Belts, that the Cd section, article
I, Of the constitution, prohibits the votes
of the two townships from being cast or
counted in Morgan county, because it
would be breaking in upon the Repre-
sentative districts. Representative dis
tricts--what are they? We will look
in vain for them in the constitution
They have no existence there or else
but In the imagination of gen.
By giving wrong m TO
our reasonings become false
There are no constitution! Represen-
tatiye districts, except counties. This
Of the constitution provides, not
Tor laying off the State into Represen. I
lative districts, but for a very different
Ihing--to appof!ion the Representa-
ives among the several counties"
Mr.. B. s. Cowea, who was at that time a mem
,sf Of the legislature, also made aspeech upon this {
rubjsct. He is now President Judge of this cir ,
and bis evidence should be received by the !
Wigs Is good authority. He is reported in the !
Butte Journal As having been interrupted by Mr.. !
~RssmsIin, and that part Of bis speechi is as follows:
"Mr. Reemelin inquired if Mr.. Cowen e
meant to be understood that, IN appor. I