Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-27
REMARKS OF Mr.. CUNNINGHAM,

OF PERSON,
Delivered in the Senate, 23d October, The bill to re-
peal Jackson County.
Mr.. SPEAKER The bill before the Senate propos-
repeal act of the last session. creating new
county. An act which, as understand, was passed
after considerable struggle, and the purposes of
which were not carried out by the usual supplement
tai act. Why this new county of Jackson was Gre
ated, have been at a loss to determine.
There various reasons, Mr.. Speaker, which
would induce me to vote for the creation OF new coun-
ties; and take the occasion now to say, that am
not the opponent of such measures, when the conve-
nence of the people and the true interests of the
country are likely TO be promoted by them But why
should we sanction new county in the limits of the
proposed county of Jackson! Mere extent of terri
tory, Mr. Speaker, is not sufficient reason for the
division Of county; there nig ht for instance be a
county 100 miles square, and yet If one half Of the
county should contain only ten or twenty families,
will pretend that they to be laid of into
new county, even though they might have to go
so miles to Court. If persons choose to settle in
county thinly inhabited they must submit to the
ncC avenience and when under such extreme circum
stances they have federal population amounting to
l2Olh part of that of The State and when others will
will not be greatly injured, they have right TO de-
mand a new county. But how is it with Jackson
The inhabitants of the proposed county not re-
mote from the county seals of Haywood and Macon,
and they form part of the population of District
yet very thinly Peopled. Even as the counties stood
it must have been burden the Inhabitants to de-
fray the expenses necessary to their corporate exist,
ance; and by the withdrawal of a portion of these
inhabitants, the weakness of the old counties is great
Iy increased, while the new would not contain
citizens enough to give it healthy existence. And
on this point, Mr.. Speaker, l wish to submit few
facts and figures which as it seems to me, deserves
the serious consideration of members of this body.
One hundred and twentieth part Of The federal pop
uatlon OF the State as asceralned by the last census
is GAS. The federal population OF Macon is 5l69
that of Haywood is 69O7
OF the two together, 1906
Here, Sir. we have two counties, entitled TO two
Representatives. and yet their aggregate population
not twice 6445, Goth Of the entire population
of the State. Yes, Sir, the counties no,D stand
there are two Representatives representing federal
population, which, if one county, would lack TIA of
making the even number which would justify two
members of the Assembly. Thus it would seem that
divisions had already been carried to extreme lengths
and this becomes more apparent when we remember
that in very many of the old counties there will be
large fractions oil population having representative
And yet, Sir, it is proposed to give these 1906
people three representaves-to divide them into three
countless neither of which could have l2Oth part Of
the federal population of the State. 1906 divided
by three gives 1925 j. that is, each of the three Rep
resentatives of Haywood, Macon, and Jackson, if
their Inhabitants equally divided would repre-
sent federal population of 4O25-three Representa-
tives would be sent 10 the Legislature by Popua-
tion which, if in one county, would have only one
member of Assembly. Sir, there counties which
have Representative each in this Legislature,
which contain population in each nearly great
as that of the counties of Haywood, Macon. and the
proposed county Of Jackson, all put together.
The County OF franklin, for instance, paying taxes
enough to eDlte her to Senator, has population of
95lO, and will have, under the new apportionment,
but one Commoner. Person paying taxes enough to
secure Senator, has federal population of 1926 and
only one member of the House. Nash paying taxes
sufficient give hera Senator, numbers 9034 federal
population, and is allowed but one Commoner-and
Union county, with one Commoner. has federal
population of 925s. Now, Sir, the three Counties
of Union, Person, and Nash contain aggregate
federal population Of 27,l17 and have but three rep
the counties of Haywood, Macon and
Jackson would have considerably less than half of
this number and have the same number of members
of the House of Commons. Is this just Is it even
republican, Sir, speak not of the taxes of the
spectve counties named, though either Person. Nash
or franklin pay than all the Counties Of Macon
Haywood and Jackson. There some " no think
that representation should be strictly according to
population. Butt sir if population, taxes, both
combined be the basis of representation, and each
new county must have representative, it would be
great injustice to other parts OF the State, and
violation Fundamental republican principles to make
4 new county from Haywood and Macon. The re-
of the three counties would represent
neither taxes peoples they would represent neith
sr the the money of the State, but only terri
ory, wide waste of uncu ltivated and uninhabted |
hills. Surely, Mr.. Speaker, we will not carry things
10 such extreme lengths surely, sir, will not |
hus violate the elementary principles of republican,
sm and make the whole representative system a |
PRACTICAL absurdty. Sir, speak not eastern !
'r a western man. bring no charges against any |
me, and do not mean to impugn the motives of any
me. But, sir, in the name of justice, in the name
# fairness, of morality and good government, APP
zeal members to sustain this bill. Counties with
10 few, and so thinly settled those of Haywood
Macon and Jackson would be. would hardly be able
defray the expenses Of their existence-,heir in
ernal police would be very Inefficient their Sheriffs
nd Clerks could not live by their salaries, and could
ot. therefore, give their entire attention to their oci-
dules-roads could not be iInProved-or good
ridges buiit-and few leading men, few specu-
ators might combine, and have every thing their