The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-04-10

ues, comprising WITHIN lis DounuarIes many
incorporated districts, boroushs and town.
ships, was bloted out of existence; and a
consolidated government, with high and ex.
tensive powers, established upon the ruins
of limited jurisdictions. What may have
been the local results OF this measure, wheth.
er salutary or Otherwise, il is not now neces-
sarv 10 Inquire. But it is high lime that the
nature and results Of consolidation as Slate
question should be understood; that the ex-
istiu2 and prospective relations of Philadel-
phia to the rest of the State and the govcrh-
ment Of the State, should be defined and
comp:ehended by ALL r......
By The consolidation act Philadelphia, with
her extended boundaries, was to- great extent
separated from !be res, of ,he State State ju-
dic,ion within her limits was partially
Withdrawn, and her relations with the rest of
the Slate became less extensive and intimate
than before. In short, she became less in.
teresled in our common government; 10 the
extent 10 which her local jurisdiction was ex-
tended Speaking with strict accuracy, her
full weigh, in the direction of public affairs
was no longer so much required as previous.
ly for the prot leciion and advancement of her
peculiar interests, because they were CON-
miued to her local authorities.
But was the weigh, of the city in the State
government lessened! Was there a with
draws al of her power and influence in the Stale
propor,ioned to the decrease of Stale juris'
diction? So far was this from being the fact,
that not only was The full proportional weight
Of the city in selecting incumbeDts Tor The
Executive and judicial departments retained,
and he MISREPRESENTATION or her population
IN the House of Representatives continued, ,
but a serious, an unprecedented, and injuri-
Gus change was produced in the basis OF rep
resenla,ion for both branches of the Legisa.
ture. This point requires to BIZ clearly sta.
ted. Under wise provision Of the Cons:itu-
ton no city or county can select more than
four senators. Therefore, the consolidated
cny, under new apporlionment, will be lin
tied 10 that number. But as no-cily or couu.
.ty (under another provision .ot the Constitu-
lion) can be divided for the election OF Sena-
tors, the four will be elected by the whole
body OF the ELECTORS of the city---lhat is, will
bs elected by and represent one and the same
constituency. So many members Of the Sen.
ale have never been elected by single dis.
iricl; but hereafter an elector in Philadelphia
will be represented by four Senators, while in
other paris Of the Stale an election viii be
represented by but one or TWO. Heretofore
the city and county of Philadelphia have usu-
ally chosen Senators OF di flerent politics i; but
since they are merged, this canno, he expec-
led, and The whole four chosen by the con-
solidaled city will be of the same political
opinions. And, as the Senate is not often
very unequally divided between existing po-
litical parties, II is certain that Philadelphia
with her four Senators will ordinarily deter
mine The political complexion OF this body
This is TO be accepted az one Of the certain
and necessary results Of consolidation. The
balance of power produced by separate elec-
tions OF Senators in the former city and coun-
iy is clean gone forever. ,,.....
But the disturbance of power in the House
of Representatives. still greater Nearly a
fifth parl OF The House, under The next appor.
lionment, will be elecled by the city and
probably by general iickel This win give
control over that branch and over joiIt con.
venlions of the Two houses. To whatever
party The vote Of Philadelphia is given, pow.
er over legislation and patronage will pass
perhaps against a POPULAR majority in ihs
State 10 the contrary, and thus The minority
be made 10 rule and do ia pleasure. Id shor
Philadelphia will control the governmeni,-
Besides, as there is no limitation upon the
number of representatives from any city Of
county, this evil will be aggravated in fu'
lure, and it Is possible the time may come
when the city will have as many as twenty.
! five representatives, or one.fouflh of the whole
number.
The evil stated is not confined 10 mere
disturbance Of The balance Of parry power.-
So large mass Of votes representing the
same constituency, elecIedtogsther, inspired
f'by common feelings, and united by associa
tons and personal inieresls, will rule the or.
einary course Of legislation and all questions
where the separate action of The House Or the
joint action OF the two Houses is irvolved.--
In all controversies the interest agaJns
which the city yivoleis arrayed win go 70 ths
wall. -. - .. ~
Blu. why hasnol this subject excited earnes
attention and generahremafk The answer
is at hand and complete. Ii is, because The
mischiefs of consolidation, as siate ques
tion, lay in the future aud did not constitute
a pressing, present evil. An appor.ionmsn'
of members Of the Legislature, under the con.
siiintion, is for seven years aud unchahgea'
BILE until The lime of revision arrives. The
existing one was made in 1860 and extends
TO 1857: therefore, although the city ard
couaty of Phiiadelphia ere united and merged
together by The ACT Of 1854, The former dlvs.
iop between them yet continues in the elec.
lion Of members of the Senate, and House
But the Tune sppfoachss and is at hand when
the Redistribution Of representation mus, be
made, and when The ful! effsc, of consolida.
lion willbs discovered and fslt.unT ..sas8 /
i" The remedy now proposed istwo fold -
First, limitation Of representation as 10 mum.
Der; and next the electiun OF re ebressufaiive ves