Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-03-20
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We lay before the readers OF the
Journal this week the result of the
labors of the Convention, the New
Constitution of the State Of Ohio, if
the people choose to set it up in the
place of the present one. That the
people of GalIia county are willing
and satisfied to live yet a while under
the present one with all its faults, they
published by casting only 1873 votes in
favor of Convention. That vote, so
far as the people of this county are con-
cerned, settled that there is no impera-
tive demand, no unyielding necessity,
why this new paper should be christened
.'Constitution" by the popular vote-it
is not to save the State from caotic con-
fusion, or society from relapsing into
its original elements when each man is
a law unto himself; no judgment of
reprobation has been pronounced by
the citizens of this county against that
organic law which the people have ac-
knowledged for half a century and pros.
pered as never people prospered before,
and under which the State has grown
great withou: parallel in history.
Unless, then, this paper recommends
itself to the right-thinking and eniigh-
tened citizen as better, unquulifiedly
superior in theory and in fact, 10 that
which has proved so acceptable, there
would seem to be but one course for US
to pursue if we would preserve our
consistency or discharge properly the
duties of true and honest men, and
thar course is TO vote unanimously
against ifs adoption.
We do notpropose this week to point
out all that appears to US Objectionable
to contrast the Legislation that appears
in one part and the leaving of other
questions unsettled, to again be mixed
Up in the party politics of the Legisla-
lure. But we will merely call atten-
tion to the Senatorial apportionment-
that palpable wickedness and standing
cheat.
II will be seen that there are thirty.
FIVE Senatorial districts. Taking the
Governors vote in 1848, when Ford,
Whig, was elected, as a test of the
strength of parties in this State, this
apportionment gives TO the Locofocos
nineteen Senators and sixteen Wings
and Free-Soilers. Tested by the Gov
ernor's vote last fall. when Wood re-
ceived minority of the votes cast, the
Locos will have twenty two Senators,
the Wings twelve and Free Sellers one.
Under this districting system, should
the Wings carry the State by $4,000
majority, they would still be in minor
ity in the Senate. The Wings in the
Convention presented the injustice of
this plan, but the majority refused to
alter their party bantling in feature or
limb. Mr.. Dorsey,a leading Locofoco,
and perhaps chairman of the Commit
tee that reported the bill, having been
driven to the wall when the Wings
were exposing the villainy in the North |
West said:
"Now ! wish to say plainly, (con-
tinued Mr.. d. that since question
Of this nature has been broached, |
/ intend TO vote for this district SIM
ply for the reasons which have sta
ted, and for the additional reason
that | hope this arrangement will
make Democratic district"
And this is about the sum and sub
stance Of all that can be said in favor
Of this fraud upon majority of the
people of the State--a fraud equal
to the rascally and unjust apportion-
ment of 1886. We shall endeavor
next week TO give extracts from the
proceedings OF the Convention, while
this subject was under consideration.
We hope our readers will preserve
this paper so that they can refer to
the Constitution while il is under
discussion previous to the third Tues
day in June.
n,aapssof Of two Of our DEL