Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-08
The Gerrymander Consummdted.

new Apportionment law as it passed the two hou-
ses of the Legislature. This arrangement makes
every district in the State Democratic except
oue--the Accomac distrct-and the Democracy
no doubt calculated, as our contemporaries of the
..Moruing Ma' remark, that the great perso-
nal popularity of Gen. Bayly would enable them
to carry that also.
We shall not waste words in descantiug on the |
enormity of this grand Democratic achievement, |
by which the rights of the Wing people of this
State have been scandalously outraged. The vital
principle of Republican iustitutons-the pfinci-
pie of minority representation-has been openly
and fiagrantly violated by th self-styled Demo-
cratic Republican party of this Commonwealth,
to crafty the selfish ambition of few pa rty lea
ders. If the Democracy have acted in this mat
ter any principle at all, that principle is, chat
because they have a popular majority in the
whole State, therefore whole representation
should be Democratic. This doctrine has been
boldly avowed by Democratic paper in the in
terror, and endorsed by the Richmond Enquirer
within the last three days.
To undertake to prove that the apportionment
bill. which has just passed the Legislature, is in
truth gerr ymander, would be work of super
erogation. Democratic speakers on the floor of
the Senate have relieved us of this task, for it
should be borne in mind that the plan which was
SO fiercely denounced by these usant Senators,
prevailed at last, with few immateral altera-
tons. We have the highest Democratic author
ity for saying that the House bill was odious un-
just and unconstitutional, aud no man of ordinary
candour and intelligence contend that its fea-
lures were essentially varied by the amendments
finally adopted. But readers need not rely
on the opinions of editors or Senators with refe-
renee to this subject. The bill is before them,
and with the aid of map they can easily form
correct estimate of itstrue character. They can
Judge for themselves how tar the dominant party
have respected the obligations of justice and fair
ness, complied with the constitutional requi-
sition in regard to completeness Of territory, in
laying off these districts.
Since Xenophon and his Ten Thousand Greeks
re.reared before the great King of Persia, there
has been no such retreat chroniced in history, as
that of our Democratic Senate before King eau
Gus. The little band of adventures that marched
up towards Babylon to pluck the ruler of n
hundred nations from his ancestral throne, were
not guilty of higher reach of audacity than
were the half dozen Democratic Senators who
had the amazing temerity last week to attempt
the dethronement of the Caucus King. This
monarch, it is true, is a shadowy and mythical
parsonage, but the more potent and irresistible
on that account is the spell by which he holds the
hearts of his subjects in thradom. The terrors
that encircle his brow mightier and more
mysterious than the imagination of early Greece
threw around the purpled monarchs of tho
East. But the shades of the immortal Ten Thou
sand would perhaps rehuke US for the comparison
we have instituted. They retreated it is true,
but it was in serried phalanx and with face to the
foe They achieved present safety and everlast-
ing renown. If their aavan rash and fool
ish, their retreat at least was glorious, aud has
redeemed their fame forever. Not SO, however,
with the men who dared, a few days ago, to pluck
King Caucus by the beard. They have retreated
from their high stand with a precipitation that
argues a somewhat ludicIous of the peril
which in moment of excitement, they unwt-
tingly provoked. So far as see, they have
gained nothing by their bold adventure. except
the Notifying conviction of their own weakness
and inability resist the edicts of their party
Like all instructions gotten up by irresolute
men, not sternly determined to be free, this re-
bellion in the Locofoco camp has served only to
bind the chains of party tyranny tightly
than before around the limbs of its victims. En-
sign Pistol did utter drawer words at the bridge
of Agincourt than did Messrs. Douglas, Amber
& Co. 10 the Senate Chamber of Virginia but
these gentlemen at last swallowed the gerryman-
der under the persuasive influence of the party
lash almost meekly Pistol ate his leek bs-
meath the cudgel of FIuellin.
Our neighbours of the Morning Mail. whose
editor is member of the Senate notices the
passage of the gerry mander in that body as fol.
lows:
This is famous plan. and about effectualy
stiles the voice of the Wing people of this Com
monweath as the most ardent advocate of a one
sided government could desire. As for Rich
mond this Samson of Whiggery is bound with
strong cords. but perhaps he NAV break his bands
and yet carry destruction,to the Philistines. The
democratic friends OF the Senate's substitute
swallowed with wry faces, the bitter dose. Mr.
douglas said the arrangement was anything but
agreeable to MIN. Mr. Mason thought it no bet
ter than the House plan. but would support it be-
cause he thought no better would be adopted
Mr.. Thompson regarded the plan as a compromise
between the opposing parties and would therefore
support it. Mr.. Amber and Mr. Catlett voted
for it 10 Difference to the wishes OF their friends
and not in accordance with their own Mr.. Tho |
mas w nlBj ItlDuSHt IL was worse tfa0 the ORR
ginai plan. But there was no checking the pro-
gress of this Juggernaut of a gerrymander. On
it went, crushing all Obstacles beneath its mas
sive wheels. The bill was passed. ayes "a, noes
10. Our syn,pathies are with the beaten wing of
the Democracy. 1t was a sorry sight to behold
old King Caucus, seated like the Old Man of the
Sea on so many broad shoulders, and twisting
his long sinewy legs, around so many gallant
necks. Is this partitioning of State without
gard to contiguity compactness. without re-
gard TO anything hut the monopoly OF political
power is it CONSTITUTIONAL is it Republican ?