The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1856-01-17

give to each its Just weight in legislation and nd
ministratiou, 1t is obvious that there eau be no
complete expression Of the popular will unless tho
representative be brought into the closest posi-
bic relation Of sympathy and responsibility with
his constituency aud that there can be no just ap.
portonment where the representation OF one part
of State is so arranged as to give to its delega'
tion in the Legislature Of political power than
is given to the delegation OF other parts oil equa'
population.
1t cannot we'll be denied that uniform sys-
tenn Of singlC districts will best secure proper
choice Of representatives, and their due resPoh-
sblity to the people and fair distribution olPo'
litical power
Where one representative is chosen to repre-
sent one district, there will necessarily be the
most careful scrutiny of qualification; the least
liability to misinfOrmntion and mistake the
the most vigilant observation OF representative
action; and the liVeliest sense OF representative
responsibility. Where more representatives. than
one are chosen from the same district all these Sc
,nrtics aie sensibly impaired. Opportunity is
afforded for unwarrantab'e combination among
aspirantS and their partizans; the people are dis
/ abled from informing themselves thoroughly as
to the character and qualifications Of candidates;
and the decisions of the majority of a delegation,
substituted, as gudesof representative action, for
the will OF the constituency, determined by
true regard for the interest Of the people.
In the Convention which framed our present
State constitution, the subject Of representation
was much discussed. By many Of the most en-
| Hghtened and most respected members Of that
BODY, of oil political parties the division Of the
State into single districts for the choice Of Sen.
ators and Representatives was earnestly defend
ed and strenuousIy urged. A majority Of the
convention, howeycl. preferred and adopted the
existing system,
1t 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 1t establishes
SINGLE districts, while it creates dual and plural
districts in the remaining parts. For the choi ce
of Senators, the whole State is divided into sin.
glc districts except Hamilton county. That conn
ty is made plural district with three Senators.
For the choice of Representatives, fifty coun,
lies 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 permanent dual districts; two coun-
ties are made sometimes dual ,and sometimes plu-
raj districts; and one county, Hamilton, is con-
stituted permanent plural district, with eight
Representatives for each Of the first four Rep
resentatives terms and seen for the fifth.
While thus defective in principle, the system
fails to commend itself BY It's practical opera
ton.
Let tho largest plural district Hamilton coun-
ty, be compared, for example, with Morrow
county, single district. Hamilton county has
L. A.
has but one. Each elector in Hamilton, there
fore, votes for and is represented by eight Gel
egates. Each electOr in Morrow votes for and
is represented by but one. Ench eIeclor in
Hamilton county may appeal, as constituent,
TO eight different members OF the House of Rep
resentutiyes, while each eleCtor in Morrow
county can appeal TO one only. The elector in
Hamilton is thus preferred in political consid-
eratOn to tho eleCtor in Morrow. The iue,
quality is aggravated by the reflection that the
majority by which tho eight Representatives.
from Hamilton are elected may be less than
that which elects the single Representative
from Morrow.
Let the same plural district he compared also
with number Of siuge districts, having the
same aggregate representation in the more nu
merous branch Of the General Assembly
= Hamilton county occupies the Southwestern
/. part Of the State, Fifteen counties, in The
( Northwestern part of the State, constitute egh
single districts. The Representatives of the St
, districts, separately elected and separately res
! ponsible are often divided while the Repre-
sentatiyes from Hamilton, elected together, ant
comparatively Irresponsible, act together an
in concert. While, therefore, III the choice .
a Senator Of the United States, and upon many
other questions, Hamilton county, with her IN
y divided representation, will hav o, practically
eight votes, the fifteen northwestern counties
their representatives being equally divided
may have, practically, none.
For the sake Of p'rspCuty, limit this com
] parlsOn TO the arrangement Of the Representa-
! tive Districts. Your own reflections will ex
, tend 1t 10 tho arrangement OF Districts Tor tn
choice Of Senators.
1t hardly needs to be remarked tina
the existing system, while thus unjus
to the counties arranged in single dis
trlcts, is prejudicial to the interests of thO
more populous counties themselves
Its necessary tendency is to excite Jealous
les in portions of the State against othe
portions, which must prove hurGful. Il
fails, also, to secure in the plural districts
u satisfactory representation fthe various
interests and sentiments Of the people -
In the county of Hamilton, for exam,
pie, the political minority, however con,
siderable aud respectable, can have nc
adequate representation. Townships and
Wards, with populations which, with a
system of single districts, would enttlc
them 10 separate Representatives, are lia.
BILE to have their political interests and
views overlooked and disregarded under
the pressure ofpoIitical exigcncies. Con,
stituents cannot we'll know their reprcsen.
mtiycs, and representatives. are absolvcd
in great measure, from their individual
responsibilities To their constituents. The
/. demands Of the people, under such Cir
cumstances, will necessarily be subordina,
ted to the demands of political oyganiZa'
tons, and the public good must often
yield to party necessities.
That system of single districts will
provo an absolute remedy for all these po-
liiicaI evils, no one, perhaps, will venture
to expect Ii am fully pursuaded, howcv-
er, that 1t would secure n much more per-
feet popular representation than we have
at present, and therefore recommend
that an amendment to the Constitution pro.
vidmg such system, be submitted to the
people for their adoption or rejection.
While the true principlcs of nonulor
government thus require tho most com.
pleto and perfect representation of the peo.
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