Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-04-19

sllowed four members. whilst Schuy ylkill and
Butter and Lawrence, with 24,7 7S2 tsxables, are
allowed no greater number. II the Constitu-
tIon can be construed 10 inflict such fagrant
wrongs, the liberties of 'he people are no lon
ger secure under It's provisions
5th. The county of Crawford, with S13O
taxabes, is allowed too members, while the
adjoining county OF Erie, with S,434 tsxahies.
is allowed only one member.
9th. The counties of Allegheny, Butler,
Lawrence, Dauphin, Erie and Schuy kill, with
60,446 taxable inhabitants, are allowed eleven
members, while the counties Of Columbia, Sui.
Ivan, Fayette, Westmore!and, York aud " film,
with AZ $50 taxabies, are allowed eleven mem.
hers.
Here is exhibited an instance wherein The
voice and influence of 26,496 of the freemen
Of the State are unbeard and unfelt in the pop
ular branch of the Legislature. By the ratio
fixed ~ the bill, the first named counties would
be entitled TO fourteen members, and the last
named cnunties 10 less than nine members
Ith. The counties of Adams AlIepheny
Butler, Lawrence, Beaver, Dauphin, Delaware,
Erie, Indiana. Lebanon, Philadelphia city, Som.
efset, Union and Lancaster with IN aggregate
of l40,294 faxables are allowed t,nentu-fp
members-whllst the counties of Columbia
Sullivan, Crawford, Fayette, Monroe, Wayne,
Pike, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Ml11n, Mont
gomery, Susquehanna. Wyoming, Westmore-
land, York. Tioga, ElK, M'kesn and Clearfield,
with an aggregate of los $50 taxabIes, are
given the same number In the assessment of
taxes, and the appropriation Of the public monies,
the wrong inflicted on these partially disfran-
chlsed counties is readily perceivabie
The instance nt inequality and injustice, in
the bill, similar to those meriioncd, are so nu-
merous. that a further examination and expose
OF them would seem waste of time. In this
inequality of representation. and disregard OF
The ratio fixed by the Legislature, there ia a
violation of the spirit and letter Of the Consti-
tuition. The district composed of the counties
of Ciearfield, 'Kean and Elk, represents an
instance wherein counties erected since the
adoption Of the Constitution are given separate
representation on a less number of taxables
than the ratio number fixed by the Legislature
The formation of representative Districts by
the union unnecessarily of several counties, is
well calculated to remove the just responsible
ity that the representative owes to the constit-
uent and to prevent the popular voice of some
Of tne counties being heard IN the Legislature.
This anti-repubhcan feature ought TO be avoided.
The district composed of Armstrong. Clarion
and Jefferson exhibits the following facts: The
representative ratio is 1866; the county Of
Clarion has 5,067 tayabes, emitting it to a
member with very small excess. The conn
lies of Armstrong and jefferson have S,70S
taxabIes, being propOriIonaby a much larger
number of taxabIes for two members than is
required by tn bill for the counties OF Fayet'e,
Westmoreand, Berks or Crawford. The in
,eresls Of these counties may be similar, and
TO that extent no wrong is perpetrated but in
the event that either county should have sepa-
rate or conflicting loca interests, the rights and
he -, I,.,
disregsrded The same remarks apply to the
districts composed of Cumberland, Perry and
Juniata; and Mercer, Venango and Warren.
In the arrangement OF the Senatorial Dis
,rIcts, the same disregard OF the ratio fixed by
the bill, and of the rights of taxable inhab-
tints, 10 exhibited.
lst. To the district composed of the counties
of Tiogs, Elk, M'Kean and Potter, with 6,673
taxabes, Is given one Senator, while 10 the
district composed Of the county Of Lancaster.
with 22,S43 taxables, il given one Senator
he district first named falls short Of the ratio
fixed by the Legislature 6070, whilst the last
named district exceeds the ratio :, 100 ia xa bles
Lancaster county, with 14.l7l taxahles more
than the counties first named, is allowed no
more influence on the floor OF the Senate.
2nd. The counties of Lancaster, Chester and
Delaware are allowed two Senators; the taxa
lsxablee to elect Senator; whilst the counties
Of Flnga, Potter, M'Kean Fix and Erie are
allowed two Senators, with l7,l07 taxables
thus requiring only 1858 taxables in these
counties to elect Senator.
3D. The counties of Crawford, Mercer, We
mango, Warren and Jefferson are united and
allowed two Senators, although the number of
their taxabIes only exceeds that Of Lancaster
1000. and falls short Of The tsxables of Lam
caster, Chester and Delaware lS,029-a differ
ence and inequality greater than the ratio fixed
bY the Legislature for Senator. The number
of taxabes in the 18Th, l9ih and 20th districts
IL 4l95S-to these districts this bill gives four
Senator'S, while 10 The 4th and 7ih districts,
with 42,cs0 taAables, is given only ttCo Sena-
tors.
1t is not perceived upon what principle of
proprlety the system of double districts is
adopted. In the formation Of the 18th district,
which largely lacks the number of taxab'es re-
CURED by the ratio, tor two Senators, the county
Of jefferson, with Z, ,622 taxabes, Is Included
while the county Of Clarion, with 5,OS7 taxa
bles, and more eIIgibly located az contiguous
and adjoining territory, ls rejected. From this
fact it ls manifest, that this double district was
created with no view of representing fractions,
or approxmating TO the ratio fixed by the bill.
II nay we'll be deemed, an act OF hasty and
improvldent leg elsailon The counties OF Craw.
ford and Erie; Of Crawford, Venango and
Warren; of Mercer, Venango and Clarion; OF
Erie, Warren and Venango, would all appear
we'll located for single districts. The transpo-
sIton of the counties OF Clarion and Jefferson
from the districts formed by the present bill, |
would make both districts approach much nearer
the ratio adopted by the Legislature. provided
this system of double districts cannot be avoid |
ed. The peculiar local interests and number
Of taxsbles in the counties embraced IN the 9th
and 24th districts, would not appear to demand
the combinations made by this bill, end which
are 80 likely 10 remove the direct and just re- (