The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-09-22

fastened upon the people by a reckless
majority in the last Legislature, will be
held as monstrous in its injustice-a base
and Infamous attempt to subvert that
plainest principle of Republican gov.
ernment, the right ofthe majority to rule.
Grant for the sake of argument that
the principles Of the whig party are right
u proper, land we now address ourselves
particularly TO those with whom we hold
an honest difference of opinion) grant
that the theory Of banking as it exists in
Ohio, is correct, is safe and honest-grant
that tits rightto exempt the bankerfrom
Increased taxation to pay the Stale debt
while it is laid with heavy hand upon the
farmer, the mechanic. and other citizens
grant that these, and all the other prin.
cipIes of the whig leaders are correct
then let us ask, if it be necessary TO per.
petuate power by fraud TO keep these
principles in The ascendant If they be
right, full and free discussion will show
their justice and add TO the number of
their supporters; but il is idle to say, that
honest principles need dishonest ap.
Iportionment scheme to ensure their sue.
cess. 10 so assert-to act upon that be-
| lief, is at once an acknowledgement up
on the part of those who attempted the
preparation of the fraud, that their prin-
ciples will not bear the lesto of close inves-
ligalion, and that hence, they must be en-
tailed upon the people, whether they be
willing TO receive them or not.
But we do not purpose to discuss this
apportionment scheme so much in its po-
lilical bearings as to show its utter want
of cohsttutionalityin its provisions, and
! to show that, though it was signed by
the Speakers, and published in the statute
book as law, that it never passed in
conformity with the rules of constitu-
tiona and parliamentary law-that it nev-
er finally passed either branch of the
General Assembly; and that though the
legislative journals are defective, still
there exists on their pages evidence 10
show that, since the pretended passage
Of this apportionment scheme. if not
since the adjournment, that the Journals
have been falsied to sustain the bold
conspiracy against the constitution, and
against the political rights of the people
of the State.
The constitution of Ohio provides that
the Representatives shall be "apportion.
ed dmong Me Scrcrai cONnficS," yet the
majority in the last Legislature, finding
that by tho division of Hamilton county,
they could secure an additional Senator
and two additional Representatives, at
once rejected the positive demands Of
the Constitution and reported a bill di-
viding Hamilton county into two Leeis-
aiivc districts. Bni few at this late day,
with the light of the discussion which
this subject has brought forth wi ilIpretend
that this was done from an honest convic-
ton of duly-and fewer still, will be-
ieve that if nothing could have been
gained tor party purposes ,hat this out
rage would have been attempted
Previous TO the formation of the State
Government the Territory North West
of the river Ohio, was governed by
the Ordinance Of Congress, passed July
13. 1897. Under that act of Congress,
Ohio, until admitted into the Union as a
State, was governed. That law provi.
ded that Representatives should be cleo
ted by counties oytownshlps." When the
delegates met under the provisions of
that Ordinance, to form a State cons,i'u.
lion, they had the alternatives presented
to them of electing their Representa-
tivcs either by counties or townships >
That they chose the former mode can be
seen from the plain reading of The CON
sfilution, which expressly declares that
the Representatives shall be "apporiion-
ed among The several counties" In the
absence Of other argument, this alone
would he sufficient to show the intention
of the trainers of the constitution. But
as if to add proof upon proof, to dispel
any lurking d0ubt. the constitution at
once settles the question, by the first APP
portionment, which was made by the
men who framed the constitution, and
Incorporated it within its provisions.
Section 7, of the schedule declares.
"Unti the first enumeration shall be
made, as directed in the second section
of the first article of this constitution, the
county of Hamilton shall be entitled to
four Senators and eight Representatives;
the county of Clermont to one Senator
and two Representatives; The county of
Adams, one Senator and three Represen-
tatives; the county of Ross, two Senators
and four Representatives; the county Of
Fairfield one Senator and two Represen-
tatives; the county of Washington, two
Senators and three Representatives; the
county ofBelmont, one Senator and two
Representatives; the county of Jefferson,
two Senators and four Representatives;
and the county ofTrumbull one Senator
and two Representatives"
Twoyears after, the Legislature, com,
posed Of many oflhe trainers of the con-
stitntou, again districted the State for
Legislative purposes, ,andcvery fouryears
thereafter the State was districted anew,
and in every case the opporlionment of
Representatives in the language of the
Constitution, was "among the several
counties" of the State, and never until
the last session of the Ohio Legislature
was the doctrine asserted, that counties
could be divided for Legislative purposes.
lfthe doctrine asserted last winter for the
/ first time be true. then were the trainers