The Nevada Democrat., 1858-02-24
Congressional Elections.

A bill has been introduced in the Legislature,
In accordance with the recommendation Of Gov.
johnson, dividing the State into two Congress
sisnal districts, and providing that the Repre-
sentatives shall be elected at the first election
after the expiration term. Of their predecessors
This question hss been discussed by several pa
pers Of this State, and we believe all, with the
exception Of the Nevada Democrat, have favored
the change recommended by the late Governor.
The principal rea son we gave for opposing any
change as to the time of electing COngreesmen,
was that the State might be represented in the
Hsuss Of Representatives, in case an extra ses-
sion Of Congress was called. The terms Of
Msssrs. McKibben and Scott will expire on the
fourth of March 1859, and we hold that their
successors should be elected at the general eloc-
tion next preceding that time. If the States
sleeting majority Of Congressmen should CEN
clude to defer the election Of members until the
general election held subsequent to the close
Of each Congress, it would bs impossible for the
President to convene an extra session for Pc
riod Of six or eight months, and the Constitu-
tional provision authorizing him to do so would
be rendered nugatory. Aa far as California is
concerned, her interests might not suffer from
not being represented at an extra session, but
as . member Of the confederacy Of States, it is
our duty to assist in carrying out the wise pro-
visions Of the Constitution. At the extra ses-
sion convened by President Harrison in ls4l,
number of the Western and Southern States
were unrepresented. Had all the States been
represented at that session, several obnoxious
measures which were then fastened upon the
country would never have been enacted The
time is not distant when the States upon the
Pacific coast will have representation in the
popular branch of the national Legislature suf-
fciently large to cause their influence to be felt
In case the government should become enbroil-
ed with sny Of the great maritime nations, at
some future time, and an extra session of Con-
gress was convened In consequences, the safety
Of the Pacific States might be jeoparded If they
were not fully represented in the national souu-
ellis. Such contingency may not be very
probable, but It is by no means impossible, and
We should be prepared to meet it,
An argument advanced BY the Placerville
DemOcrat, in favor Of the proposed change, would
have considerable weight if founded on correct
premises. California will doubles be entitled
10 four or Eve Representatives under the ap-
pertionnent Of 1860. Oar Placerville nanesake
advanced the theory, that by putting the cleo
tien off one year, the members from this State,
under the new superintendent, might be elected
in 1861, and take their seats at the meeting Of
Congress in December Of that year. This how
ever, is a mistake. BY the law Of Congress, the
Representatives elected under the next sppor-
tionment will not take their seats until the first
Monday in December, 1863, at which time the
frst session of the thirty eighth Congress begins.
II we should elect for the thirty-sevsnth Con-
grssa the extra number Of Representatives to
which the State will be entitled by the cessus
Of 1860, they will not be allowed their seats.