Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-02-23
From the Ohio Statesman, of Feb. is.
The Infamous Gerrymandering of Whig-
gerry Defeated-The Constitution Saw
ed from Violation.

After our daily edition had been issued,
the last vote in the Senate, on the infa-
nous and unconstitutional Apportionment
bill, being about to be taken, Mr.. Byers
handed The letter which will be found be-
low, to the Speaker Of that body, desiring
him to read it. The Speaker refused, and
Mr.. Byers read it himself The members
signing the letter then withdraw from the
chamber.
Their justification will be found in the
letter. 1t is frank and manly document,
and it will save the Constitution from be-
ing trodden under foot to perpetuate power
in the hands of a majority that got power
by fraud, and who use it to violate the Con-
stitution they swore TO protect.
The lreemen Of Ohio will stand by the
lion. They will stand by their side, and
come veal, como woe, they will share
their fate.
The apportonment bill which was about
to be passed by a rack,ess whig legislature,
would have subverted tho ruling principle
in our government, by dividing Hamilton
county, and most unfairly combining to-
gether the other counties, an organized
bank minority would for the next 20 or
so years, been enabled to have ruled and
given laws to majority of over sixteen
thousand of the freenen Of this State. At
ter the passage of the bill no remedy could
have reached the evil short of revolution.
A convention to amend the constitution
would have been elected under the same
iniquilous apporlionment system, which
would enable q minority cf the people to
make q new constitution for the minority
of the people. This bill, therefore, is not
only calculated, but intended to enable a
Mexican whig minority to rule and give
laws to a majority of the people.
The law for the Congressional nppor-
tionment was claimed 10 be subject to al
teration or repeal, and did not perpetuate
power in the hands ola minority, as would
this measure. This measure, therefore,
strikes at the fundamental pillar of our
government. 1t would perpetuate power
in the hands of corrupt bank minority.
We fearlessly assert, that the people never
sent men here to the legislature to sit. by
and assist TO constitute quorum of body
Of men engaged in subverting the funda.
mental principles Of the constitution.
The very committee that reported the
bill, acknowledge it to be political appor-
tionment, for in the report accompanying
it, they stated the number of wings and the
number of democrats that would be elected
under its provisions. They claimed that
it would give Mexican whiggery majori-
ty Of six in the Senate--a majority larger
than any party ever before had in that
body. Had the bill passed into Jaw, and,
though the democracy, might carry the
State by majority Of ofSIXTEEN, THOU
SAND at the next election, still would
they be in a minority in the halls of legis-
lation. Can such infamy be justified!
The members of the party who would
thus violate the plain provisions ofthe Con
stitution, thus to subserve party ends, and
to perpetuate power in the hands of a mi
nority, shown to be such at the lQne cleo
ton, never dared defend its rank. injustice,
but sought protection under low buffoonery
when its gross injustice and uncons1itution-
ality was shown. -. .:- - e.....
A bill more infamous never was before
brought before legislative body. The
question is now plainly brought before the
people for adjudication. That they will
sustain the course Of the Senators, it would
be impugning their honesty and love of the
constitution, and fair dealing to deny: