The Richmond Indiana palladium., 1855-04-13
1912 polls

JBas this wseeteh see Il counties MI T present an aggre w
gate of 20, 48O polls, and these are awarded
25 Representatives. We have also made an
other list of 81 counties, which gave demo-
cratic malorities in October last-which pre-
sent aggregate of 33. 935 polls and to
these counties awarded 25 Representative
We would publish this table, had we not al
ready occupied SO much space with the sub
ject,,
A more fragrant disregard of Justice was
never attempted by any body of men, since
the Republic was instituted. than was en-
bodied in that Senate apportionment bill. 1t
was enactment, with the soemnities of
legislation, of the quintessence of "old line
arrogance. insolence. and spite. 1t was not
intended TO be an apportionment 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 attained.
The bill thus amended was sent back to the
House. The House refused to accede, and
insisted their own bill. 1t went to the
Senate again. and there i. died with the end of
the Sd Of March, without single effort on the
part Of the Senate to accommodate the differ
ence between the Houses.
In the ordinary and proper course of legis-
latioE, it was the duty Of the Senate. when the
bill came back with the message that the House
refused 10 accede TO the Senate's amendment,
to appoint Committee Of Conference to settle
the difficulty. and notify the House and de-
sire like committee from that body. This
is . wise. and often effec:ual mode of accom-
modating difficulties. Ii is the RULE of leyis-
lation. and should have been complied with,
espt ciallv IN q matter Of So much Importance
as the spportionmen; Of the State. No effort
should have been spared TO save the State
from disorganizstion and anarchy. But after
the House hai done ALL that was incumbent
upon it. 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 table, never was laid upon the table,
in fact. but was held as it came from the hands
of the clerk of the House. without any action
of any kind.
We have been told by good authority that
it came from the House and kept it himself,
and never allowed it to be brought before the
Senate at all. In the confusion of such an
occasion this could have been easily done
Butt is unimportant " neither be did So or not.
Il is sufficient 10 fix the responsibility of this
great error on the old liners. that they failed
to attempt to arrange the difficulty. even when
the ordinary routine of business, no less than
the vast importance of the subject. required
it. Such were the means. what the result
may be we hardly dare anticipate. So far As
our laws provide We have no means Of exsri-
cation from the disorganzAuon into which
party bigosry and business have plunged US.
@The Valparaiso O5ssrper comments 1t
length on the responsibility for. and the effect
Of. the failure OF the apportioument. and the
portion of the article discussing the constitu-
nonal provision on that subject IS worth seri-
Gus attention:
In order TO see clearly whether an extra
session of this Legislature could enact An ap-
porionment law. We must consult the provis-
ions of the Constitution In reference thereto.
Art 4. sections and 5 of our State Constitu-
ton read rs follows:
SEc & The General Assembly shall, ss its