Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-24

Us own amendment, aud assigns 70 The Legisla-
ture the duty OF proposing such notifications
as experience suggests Changes in the fun
dsmental law should ever be made with eau
lion; but amendments which commend them.
selves bJ their intrinsic merits to the judgment
of the Legislature, and seem 10 be demanded
also by general opinion among the people,
have jost claim to be submitted to the 6nal
test OF popular decision at the polls.
That the people are the sOurce Of all polite
al power is the fundamental principles Of dem.
Ocrstic Institutions 70 secure a true and
complete expression of the popular will must
therefore be leading object in every system
of representative government. And this OBJ
jec; cannot be attained unless representation
be so aPPortioned among the different parts of
The State as to give to each its just weight in
Legislation and administration. Il is obvious
that there can be no complete expression of the
popular will unless the representative be bro't
into the closest possible relations of sympa-
thy and responsibility with his constituents;
and that there can be no just apportionmeni
where the representation Of one part OF State
is SO arranged as to give to its delegation ia
the Legislature greater share of political
power than is given to the delegations of other
parts of equal population.
1t cannot well be denied that uniform sys.
TEN of single districts will best secure prop.
er choice of Representatives, and their due
responsibility to the people, and a fair dstri-
button Of political power.
Where one representative is chosen TO rep.
resent one district, there will necessarily be the
most careful scrutiny of qualification; the least
liability to misin formation and mistake; the
closest sympathy in opinion and purpose: the
most vigilant observation ofrepreseuta tive ac-
tion, and the liveliest sense of representa- ative
responsibility. Where more representative
than one are chosen from the same district, all
these securities are sensibly impaired. 0ppor-
tunity is afforded for unwarrantabe eombina.
tion among aspirants and their partizans: the
people are disabled from informing themselves
thoroughly as to the character and qualiGca.
tions of candidates; and the decisions of the
majority Of a delegation, cOnformsd to the in.
terests of party, are apt to be substituted, as
guides Of representative action, for the will OF
the constituency, determined by true regard
for the interests of the people.
In the convention which framed our present
State Constitution, the Subject of representa-
ton was much discussed, BY many of the most
enlightened and most respected members Of
that body, of all political parties, the division
of the State into single districts for the choice
of Senators and Representatives was earnestly
defended and strenuOusly urged. A majority
of the convention, however, preferred and a.
dopted the existing system,
It will hardly be insisted. that this system
has proved satisfactory to the people.
1t is founded upon no consistent principle.
In much the largest part of the State it estab-
fishes single districts, while it creates dual aud
plural districts in the remaining parts. Fol-
the choice Of Senators. the whole State is divid
ed into single districts except Hamilton county
That county is made plural district, with
three Senators. For the choice of Represen-
tatves, fifty counties are arranged as single
districts of one or more counties each; thirty
counties are made single districts for some
and dual districts for other representative
terms; four counties are constituted perma-
nent dual districts; two counties are made
sometimes dual, and sometimes plural districts;
and one county, Hamilton, is constituted a
permanent plural district. with eight represen- :
tatives for each of the first four Representa-
tive terms, and seven for the fifth.
While Lhus detective in principle, the sy stem
fails to commend itself BY its practical opera
ton.
Let the largest plural district Hamilton co.,
be compared for example. with Morrow county,
a single district. Hamilton county has eight
Representatives, while Morrow county has but
one. Each elsctor in Hamilton, therefore,
votes for and is represented Dy eight dele
gates. Each electos in Morrow votes for and
is represented by but one. Each elector in
Hamilton county may appeal, as const fluent
TO eight different members Of the House OF
Representatives, while each elector in Morrow
county can appeal to only one. The elector in
Hamilton is thus preferred. in political consid.
GRAFTON. to the elector in Morrow. The inc.
quality is aggravated by the reflection that a
majority BY which the eight Representatives
from Hamilton are elected may be less than
that which elects tho single Representative
from Morrow.
Let the same plural district be compared all
so, with a number of single districts, having
The same aggregate representation in the more
numerous branch of the General Assembly,