True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-01-23

7
sisgle districts for some, and dual districts
c0r other representative terms; four coun-
ties are constituted permanent dual dis
tricls; two counties are made sometimes
dual and sometimes plural districts and
one county, Hamilton, Is constituted a
permanen.Plural district, with eight Reps
resentalives for each Of the first four Rep
resentalive terms, and seven for The fifth.
While thus defective in principle, the
system fails to commend itself BY its
practical operation.
Let The largest plural district, Hamilton
county, be compared, for example, with
Morrow county, single district. Ham
ilton county has eightrepresenlatives while
Morrow county has but one. Each cleo
Tor in Hamilton, therefore, votes for and
is represented by eight delegates. Each
eleclor in Morrow votes for and is repre-
sented by but one. Each elector in Ham.
ilton county may appeal, as a constituent
TO eight different members OF the House
of Representatives, while each elector in
Morrow county can appeal 10 one only.
The elecior in Hamilton is thus preferred,
in political consideration, to the eleclor in
Morrow. The inequality is aggravated
by the reflection that the majority by
whichthe eight representatives from Ham,
iIton are elected, may be less than that
which elects The single representative
from Morrow.
Let the same plural district be compa-
red al so, with a number ofsingle districts
having the same aggregate representation
in the more numerous branch Of the Gen
era Assembly. Hamilton county occu-
pies the Southwestern part of The State.
Fifteen counties, in the Northwestern
part of The State, constitute eight single
districts. The Representatives of those
districts, separately elected and separately
responsible, are often divided while the
Representatives from Hamilton, elected
togeher,and comparaii vely irresponsible,
aci together and IN concert. While, there
fore, in the choice of Senator OF the
United States, and upon many other ques-
linns. Hamil on county. with her undivi-
ded representation, will have, practically,
eight votes, the fifteen northwestern
connleis, Representatives being equal I
Wy divided, may have, practically, none.
For the sake Of perspicuty, lmitthis
comparison TO the arrangement Of the
Representative Districts. Your own re-
nectionss will extend il TO the arrange
menl of Districts for the choice Of Sena-
tors.
1t hardly'needs to be remarked mat The
existing-sysiem, while thus unjust to the
counties arranged in single districts, is
preiddicial 10 the interests of the more
popula counties themselves. Its neces-
sary tendency is 10 excite jealousies in
portionsrof the State against Other por-
tions, Which must prove hutful. llfiils
also, 10 secure, in the plural districts, a
salisi;ctorynrepresenialion Of the various
interest," IS and sentiments Of the people
In tbe4county Of Hamilton, for example,
the political minority, however consider
able aud respectable, can have no ade-
tquaIe representation. Townships and
Wards, with populations which, with a
system Of single districts, would emile
them to separate Representatives, are lia-
BILE to have their political interests and
views overlooked and disregarded under
the pressure Of political exigencies. Con-
stituents cannot we'll know their repre-
senlatives, and representatives are absolv-
ed in great measure, from their individ-
ual responsibilities 10 their constituents. :
The demands Of the people, under such
circumstances, will necessarily be subor.
dinated TO the demands of political organ.
izations, and The public good must often
yield to party necessities.
That system Of single districts will
prove an absolute remedy for these politi
cal evils. no one, perhaps, will venture "a
expect. | am fully persuaded, however,
that it would secure a much more perfect
popular representation than we have a
present, and therefore recommend tha
an amendment 10 the Constitution proyi
ding such a system be submitted to lh'
people for their adoption or rejection.
! While the true principles Of popula
government thus require the most com
: plete and perfect representation Of th
people which is altainabIe, they reqpir
also, and no less imperatively. irequen
meetings Of the representative Legisla
ture, for the thorough supervision Of ad
ministrative action, for The prompt RENE
r dy of evils, and for The due provision o
! necessary means and measures for guar
y ding the public interest and promoting tn
y public welfare.