Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-13
The Apportionment


can majority, passed an ,apportion.
ment bill on the recommendation OF q
Committee consisting of members Of
both parties. Mr.. Weir, an old liner
though formerly. we believe a Wing.
was chairman Of the committee, and
he gave his approval 10 the bill, both
in committee and afterwards when it
was under discussion in the House.
The principal objection urged against
it. was. that it allowed the Old Line
Democrats too small representation in
both branches ofthe Legislature. Yet
il gave them more than their vote last
fall entitled them to. Absurd as such
an objection was--that a party in a
minority from twelve to fifteen thou
sand votes, should have an equal rep
resentation--yet such was the obiec-
ton, and rs far as we heard. the only
one. AS was to be expected, and as
was right and just. the bill passed in
spite Of such senselcss opposition.
and went TO the Senate in which the
old liners had majority Of two.
In the Senate the House bill was
amended by the substitution Of the
present spportionment law, altered
little for the worse. We have not room
now to point out It's outlageousunfair.
ness.
A more flag,ant disregard ofjus.ice
was never attempted by any body Of
men. since the Republic was instituted
men was embodied In that Senate ap.
pcrtionment bill IL was an enact
ment with the solemnities Of legisla-
ton. Of the quintessence Of old line ar.
rogancc. insolerce. and spite. II was
not intended TO be an apporIionment
Of the State. but means OF defeating
an apportionment in order to throw
the odium OF the result on the House.
The way this was attempted TO be
done was worthy OF the end TO be at
tanned.
The billthus amended was sent back
10 the House. The House refused to
acccde, and insisted their own bill. II
went TO the Senate again. and there IL
died with the end Of the session, at I 2
o'clock on Saturday night the Sd Of
March. without single effort :on tho
part OF tie Senate 10 accommodate the
difference between tho Houses.
In the ordinary and proper course
Of legislation, il was the duty Of the
Senate. when the bill came back with
the message that the Hossc refused to
aceede 10 the Senaie's amendment, 10
appoint Committee Of Conference. to
settle the difficulty, and notify the
House, and desire q like committee
from that body. This Is n wise. and
often cilec,ual mode OF accommodating
difficulties. Ii is the rule Of legisla.
ton, and should have been complied
with, especially in matter Of so much
Importance as the apportionment Of the
State. No effort should have been
spared TO save the State from disorgi-
nazition and anarchy. But after the
iipuct hoh hotS AL hhes Wes taSeas
bent upon il. and COULD do nothing
more until the Senate acted, the Old
Line Senate REFUSED TO ACT AT ALL
The bill was never taken from the ia
BILE. never was laid upon the table. in
fact, but was held as il came from the
hands Of the clerk Of the House. with
out action Of any kind.
We have been told by good authori-
" that the President of the Senate
took II the moment that 1t came from
the House, and kept il himself, and
never allowed it TO brought before the
Senate at all. In the confusion Of
such an occasion this could have been
easily done. But it is unimportant
whether he did so ornot. It.is suffi-
cient to fix the responsibility Of this
great error ON the old liners, that they
failed to attempt to arrange the diff
Guilty, even when the ordinary routine
of business. no less than the vast i'm
portance Of the subject required it,
Such were the means, what the result
may be. we hardly dare to anticipate.
So far as our laws provide we have no
means of extrication from the disorgi-
nazation into which party bigotry and
bascness have plunged US.