Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-05-23
THE APPORTIONMENT Bill.
vi essage Of Gov. J0hmstOn.-.HisR Ro,
SONS for Approving II.

sons Tor Approving IL.
! To the Senate and House of Representatives. of The
/ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
GENTLEMEN:-The Bill entitled an "An Act
to fix the number ofSenators and Representatives
and form the State into Districts in pursuance of
the provisions of the Constitution" has received
my approval, and, herewith become law.
have signed this bill with great reluctance, and
feel that brief statement of the peculiar circum.
stances in which have been placed will furnish
satisfactory reasons for my action thereon.
The constitution requires the apporonment OF
the State TO be made by the present Legislature
that duty was The most important devolying upon
your honorable bodies, and its omission would
have been gross wrong to the people whose con-
fidence in your wisdom and patriotism had indu-
ced them 10 invest you with the powers and trusts
of Representatives. failure to perform this
oath bounded obligation would have produced
wide spread excitement and alarm, and would, if
the voice of passion and prejudice was heard and
obeyed have resulted in great outrage TO the peace
and prosperity of our beloved commonwealth
1t is fair to presume, that for some valid reason,
bill for the purpose of distrcting the State was
delayed in its presentation to me until the 4th day
Of April last, being period Of three months and
four days after the meeting of the LEGISLATURE
This bill could not approve. and TO prevent any
unnecessary delay in the transaction of the pubic
business, within FIVE days, 10 wit. on the gth of
April returned the same 10 the House of Repre-
sentatives, in which it originated with nv obiec-
tionS detailed, in Succinct form as it was pos
sibe for me to put them. From that time until
the l4ih day of May, being period Of more than
one month, no other bill for a similar purpose was
presented to the Executive department At four
o'clock yesterday evening, within less than 24
hours Of the time fixed by both branches of the Le-
gislature for final adjournment the act now under
consideration was presented to me, thus allowing
the Executive less than half day for the consid-
Grafton of measure TO the deliberation and con-
structon whereof coo ordinate branch ofhe gov
eminent had devoted, among other less important
measures, upwards of four months.
| was thus suddenly called upon either to ap-
prove the bill presented to me, by refusal, per
NIT the great constitutional injunction, requiring
the apportionment TO be made at this session. to be
neglected and disregarded, Or as an extreme
measure, to call together the Assembly by Proc
lamation, to enable them 10 perform a consiitu-
tonal duty, the obligation whereof they knew ex-
listed at the time OF their adjournment.
believed that refusal to sign the bill might
be productive OF great injury 10 the Commonwealth
disturb the peace OF the community, spread con-
fusion and outrage over the land, and possibly do
violence to the great charter Of our liberties The
re assembling, by Proclamation, Of the present
Legislature might, and most probably would, have
resulted in the adoption of no practical measures:
while the moneys of a tax burhened people would
be unnecessarily consumed.
| had most distinctly informed the Iepisla
Of the inequalities the former BILL had suC
geSted doubts of the cOnsitutlonality Of It's proyi
sions and had expressed decided dsapprobarion
Of the policy OF fconnecting counties in forming Rep.
resentatlve districts then, as now, believing that
it was anti epubIican in its conception, and well
calculated to remove the just responsibility of the
Representative, a fatal error in Republican Gov
ernment. That these suggestions had no influence
upon the Legislature is apparent by the unneCes-
Sary connection by the present bill, of the coun-
les of Fayette and Westmoreland, of Armstrong,
Clarion and Jefferson, and many others that might
De enumerated. 1t is equally manifest that the re-
marks in relation to counties created since 1870.
lave produced no impression.
In that message, without the slightest wish 10
egard the preponderance of political parties, nv
'lewS OF fair and equitable appOrorment were
,iven to the Legislature From the apparently
entire disregard of my suggestions in the construc-
ion of the present bill. could not expect to find
rom continuation of your session, any change
n the opinions of members and hence was forced
o believe that all efforts, my part 10 carry into
fleet the spirit OF the constitution, as understood
!, would prove abortve in reconcing the dissim-
lar sentiments entertained upon the subject.
Impressed with the conviction that it was unsafe
o have no legislation on the subject and that the
continuation your session or your re-assemblape
Fould result for the stated, in the enact
1ent OF no more equitable law than the present. 1
ave felt it to be better, under the circumstances,
D give my assent thereto, and although it is far
rom being such legislation as could have desired,
is infinitely preferable To the in1iction of the
,rong upon popular institutions that might, and
lost probably would, have resulted from your sep
ration without the passage of any law on the sub
,ct
In my humble Judgment so gross an nGractionof
le Constitution would leave the lives, reputation
nd property Of the citizen without the protection
nd safety guaranteed by faithful observance of
lie organic law.
This statement is submitted, that my fellow-cit-
ens may know the reasons, that have influenced
e to sign bill which, feel is not equtably just
all sections of the State, and which does Injus-
ce TO the great party with whom have the hon.
to concur in political pa-talities
WV. +. JOHNSTON
Executive Chamber,
arrisburg, May IS, 1850.
IEawkers and Pedlars.