Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-05-09
THE GERRYMANDER.

We spread before our readers this morning,
true and faithful picture of the monster, COM
monty known as the Locofoco Gerrymander. -
This animal has often been described by in
words--but words can convey only faint andim-
perfect idea of its character and proportions
We have therefore summoned the engraver's art
to our aid, and we now invite the public to look
upon the beast in all its naked deformity. This
representation is mdhematicalty correct, and
shows the shape of each Congressional district,
as layed off by the late Apportionment law, with
tho utmost precision and exactiude. If the thing
has an ugly appearance on paper-ifi it looks like
a grotesque conglomeration of hideous and I'M
slightly monsters, s.abominable, unntterable, and
worse than Fable ere has feigned or Fear con-
ceived"-the fault, we beg leave to say is not
ours !; we have deneated the gerrymander just
rs it is.
Hnying promised TINS much, we commend this
masterpiece of Democratic craftsmanship to the
careful study of the honest and intelligent men of
both political parties. If any such individual can
be found, who will venture to say after diligent
examination of this map, that the constitution of
this State has not been violated, nor the princi-
pies of Justice and fairness most scandalousy out
ragged by the late Legislature. in order to ac-
complish the disfranchisement of the Wing par
ty-to such man we say it is useless to address
reason he belongs to that class of people upon
whom argument is wasted, and who in the Ian.
guage of Hume. unjust be left to their prejudi-
ces." The words of the constitution imperatiyely
require that the State shall be divided into "com
pact DISTRICTS" Now look for instance, at the
Albemarle district. and say how any man who
had sworn to support the constitution, could have
voted to lay off such district that We
greet that it is not 10 power to represent tho
different counties on the map, SO as to show the
exact location and boundary lines Of each. but
this is an omission which the reader with little
trouble can easily supply for himself. To UNDER
stand the gerrymander thoroughly, it is necessa-
ry, moreover, to knew the relative strength Of
parties 10 the various counties. Having informed
himself on this head, the reader can rendily ac-
count for those singular twistings wh11Angs, obs
liquities aud excresencies which meet his eye on
the map. He will find that there is q vast deal
of method in what au uninitiated observer might
regard as the madness of Locofoco craftsmanship
-CQAC the ''Ulputy ulALo Is HUL WiIIOuC pldu.
Let him turn, for example, to the 9th dis trct and
he will perceive long and narrow strip of terri
tory, projecting from its Southern border far
into the district adjoining. Now the great Wing
county of Loudoun is place in the northeastern
corner of the 9th district, and when the reader is
Informed that this narrow strip of land to which
we have directed his attention comprises the
counties of Warren and Page, which give De-
mocratic majority of 1900 votes, he will be at no
loss to understand why this graceful, caudal ap-
penda ge was affixed to the district. 1t was to
smother the voice of the Wings of Loudoun that
the thing was done.
But it is no part of our present purpose, to point
out in detail the manifold beauties of the picture
before US. Let the people look and judge for
themselves. II We not mistaken it will bring
the blush of shame to the cheek of many an ho-
nest Democrat and will nerve the arm of every
true Wing with tenfod vigor in the present can