The Daily spy., 1848-12-16
THE OHIO TROUBLES

1t has been said by OF the Ohio papers, that
little honesty and common sense Is all that Is necessary
to settle the difficulties which the Legislature of that
Stale has become involved We believe that with
fair share Of these commodities they might all be set.
tied.
Our readers are aware that the government Of the
State is now in a state of anarchy They are generally
aware too that this has grown out of the passage of
apportionment bill regulating the election OF Sena
tors and representatives which passed by the legis,
lature of last year.
BY The constitution of The State, each branch Of the
legislature must consist OF a specific number Of men,
bers and stated periods the legislature required 10
apportion them among the several counties. The city
of Cincinnati lies the county OF Hamilton The city
is strongly Wing but the of the county is sufficient
ly democratic to always give the vote of the whole
county to that party. The entire county has popua
ton than twice great that of the average of
the counties OF the State. So at the apporlon,
ment the Wing legislature divided the county into two
districts consisting Of the greater part of Cincinna-
Ii and the other Of the two wards of the city and
the rest of the county To each district apporon-
ed one Senator and 10 three and the other two rep
resentatves.
1t was supposed that parties evenly balanced
IN this State that the ascendancy the legislature might
depend on this division of the county The democrats
made every effort defeat the passage of the BILL but
failing therein they determined to disregard it, so far as
this districtng concerned They accordingly NOM
mated FIVE candidates for House. and voted for them
as if no division had been made. The Clerk of the
county, being of that party, gave certificate of cleo
ton to the three members from the district and we
no certificate the claimants either side II the can
didates of either perty for the city should be admitted
II would give that party the majority.
Under these circumstances; the Democratic members
by precoucerted arrangement obtained possession of the
Representatives Chamber early hour, and pros
ceeded forhwh 10 swear in the members including the
two contestants from Cincinnati The Wings, finding
what was done and having the clerk of the last house
proceeded 10 separate organization in the same room
refusing to sanction the first meeting both because il
was not called in the usual way by the Clerk of the
House. and because they had sworn in men who had no
certificate of membership.
So things remained at the last accounts and what the
end is TO be, yet TO be determined We are clearly
of the opinion, that if the Wings not actually wrong
in the first instance dividing the County they at least
assumed doubtful power and one which never should
be assumed by any party, when party ascendancy to
bs determined by -mfi ii is desous to test the question
of right IN relation TO the power ii should be done when
the party is clearly in the ascendancy. The case is a>
most precisely like that in this State under Gov Gerry
when Worcester and Essex Counties were dividud bv
the odious Gerymander Law for the purpose of secur
ing the ascendancy of the Republican party of that day
The people then decided the question in a manner SO
unequvocal that no party has dreamed of making the
experiment SINCE
But though the Wings wrong in the 6rst
instance equally decided in our opinion that the
Democrats wong in the course they now pursue -
Two wrongs never will make right They should sub.
NIT to the wrong the opposing party did in this State,
till it be ighted in proper way, either by iud>
cial tribunal or by the verdict Of the people, Had
they done So they would have gone before the people
atte next election with great moral force in their favor
But by their present anarcha and revolutionary course
they losing the benefit OF The moral sentiment Of the
people, and giving ii to their opponents. They are in
apt scholars, or they would not do as they do The
celebrated cases of New Jersey and Maryland where
both states when nearly balanced we're made strong
whig states, by similar violent measures should have
been lesson and warning TO them. So also should
that of Rhode Island where, by resong violent and
illegal means, 10 accomplish good end the party was
ruined and its opponents fixed in power firmly than
they could have been, by any other means.