The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-01-05

containing, according TO the existing ap-
portionment of representatives in the
House of Representatives,b but one thirty
fourth part Of the population Of the other.
By the constitutional composition of the
Senate, a maj jority of that body from the
smaller States represent less than one.
forth of the people Of the Union. There
are thirty States; and under the existing
apportionment of of representiyes, there
are two hundred and thirty members in
the House of Representatives, and of the
Senator'S from the large States, contain,
ihs more than three fourths of the whole
population Of the United States; and yet
the m easure may be defeated by the votes
of the Senators from the smaller States.
None II is presumed can be found ready to
| change the organization OF the Senate on
this account or to strike that body prac-
tically out of existence, by requiring that
its action shall DO conformed to the will
OF the more numerous branch.
Upon the same principle that the veto
of the President should be practically
abolished, the power of the Vice Pres-
dent to give the casting vote upon an
equal division of the Senate should be
abolished also. The Vice President ex-
ercises the veto power as efectually by
rejecting a bill by his casting vote, as the
President does by refusing to approve
and sign it. This power has been exer-
cised by the Vice President in a few in
stances, the most important Of which W as
the rejection Of the bill to recharter the
bank Of the United States in 1911. 1t
mar happen that bill may be passed by
alarge majority Of the House of Repre-.
sents lives, and may be supported by the
Senators frotn the Iarger States, and the,
Vice President may reject it by giving
his vote with the senators from the small
Ter States; and yet none, it is presumed,
are prepared to deny to him the exercise
Of this power under tue constitution.
But it is, IN point of fact, untrue that
anaact passed by Congress is conclusive
evidence that it is an emanatioD of the
popular will A majority of the whole
number elected to each house ofCongress
constitutes a quorum, and majority of
that quorum is competent TO pass laws
a'e might happen that quorum Of the
House of Representatives. consisting of a
single iheihber more than half ofthe whole
number elected to that House. might pass
bill by majority of single vote, and
in that case fraction more than one
fourth of the people Of the United States
would be represented by those who voted
for 1t. 1t might happen that the same
bill might be passed by majority Of one,
Of a quorum Of the Senate, composed Of
Senators from the fifteen smaller States,
aud single senator from a sixteenth
State, and il the senators voting for il
happened to be from the eight ofthe small
lest of these States, it would be passed by
the votes of senators for States having
but fourteen representatives. 10 the House
of Representatives, and containing less
than one six eenth of the whole popula-
ton of the United States. This extreme
case ID stated to illustrate the fact, that
the mere passage of a bill by Congress is
no conclusive evidence that those who
passed it represent the majority of the
people OF the United States, or truly re-
fleet tL cir will. II such an extreme case
is not likely to happen, cases that approx.
innate il are Of constant occurrence. 1t
is believed that not a single law has been
passed since the adoption of the constitu.
tion, upon which all The members elected
to both houses have been present and vo-
ted. Many of the most important acts
which have passed Congress have been
carried by a close vote in the houses
Many instances of this might be given--
Ind eed, our experience proves that many
of The most important acts of Congress
are postponed to the last days. and often
the last hours Of a session, when they are
disposed of in haste, and by houses but
little exceeding tue number necessary
TO form quorum.
Beside in INT Ct of the States the mem-
bers of the House of Representatives are
chosen by pluralties, and not by maioris
lies of all the voters, in their respective
districts; aud it may happen that major
iiy of that house may be returned by a
less aggregate vote of the people than
that received by the minority.
II the principle insisted ON be sound,
then the constitution should be so chang
ed that DO bill shall become law unless
it is voted for by members representing
IN each House majority of the whole
people of the United States. We must
remodel our whole system. strike down
nd ahulish moi only the satutary checks |