The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-10

The Assembly and senatorial districts are formed
by the Board of Supervisors
We have thus given some indication as to how
the different distrcts-Council Assembly and Sena-
torial distrcts-must be formed under existing cir
cumstances. They are not without interest to all
classes of readers.
In former times, when party lines were distinctly
drawn-before the Independent press had given
birth to independent thought, and consequent free
dom from patty trammels among the mass Of voters
when, year after year, certain counties were con-
sidered reliable for certain maorties for either
the wing or democratic party-it was considered o.
little moment to party to have the power of re
constructing districts for the election of members of
legislative bodies. In the rural districts Senatorial
and Congressional districts are often composed of
two or more counties, and to arrange these TO the
advantage of the party in power at the time was
work Of no little difficulty, and called into action
good deal of partisan effrontery. The minority
were obliged to content themselves with hurting at
the majority the now almost obsolete epithet OF
"GerrymanderiDg, as characterizing the unfairness
which had been shown in the formation Of the dis
tricts. The origin of the word we have quoted was
at time familiar; but lest it should be forgotten,
we will again recite it. When Ebridge Gerry was
Governor Of Massachusetts, majority of the Legis-
lature was Of the same party faith. The State
was re-distri;ted into Congressional districts,
and, in the attempt to compose them to the
advantage Of Mr.. Gerry's party, the spirit Of
the law requiring them to be compact in
territory was said to have been outraged. A map
Of these districts was made and two of the opposi.
tion were one day looking over it. "See" said one.
pointing to q particular district, "does not that
look like salamander y /" Say rather Gerry
mander," replied the other; and the word has oh.
tanned universality ever since.
The present Congressional districts Of this State
were formed in 1861. At the regular session o.
the Legislature the census had not been so far com
ple+ed as to afford the information necessary But
twelve democratic Senators resigned under crcum
stances which gave rise to the necessity of an extra
session. Before the extra session adjourned the
population Of the State had been determined, and
thus upon a wing Legislature fell the advantage of
forming the Congressional districts for ten YEAR,
The next Legislature was democratic; 30 that, how
ever patriotic the motives which actuated the twelve
democratic Senators, the result in this particular
apparently added to the misfort ines of their party
which followed the course they pursued.
The whig Legislature 80 formed the Congress
sionai districts that, with the old party lines
stjAy drawn, and with only moderate good for
tune, they might count with a good degree
Of certainty upon twenty Of the thirty
four members Of Congress from this State. Strong
democratic counties were put together, and counties
which gave small democratic majorites were
parslyzed in the embrace of some gigantic whio
neighbor. For instance, Herkimer and st. Law.
renee, each in the halcyon days of democracy good
for from twelve 70 fifteen hundred democratic ma