Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-03-05
Communicated.
The Apportionment

Jaw AA'1 W.; ~ 49, ~
Ed. Sugar Planter:
Seven weeks of the time allowed the
Legislature by the Constitution has now pas
sed. and as yet nothing has been done.
The Apportionment Bill has proven a pons
asstnorum, over which it seems impossible for
our Solons to pass. 1t wou|d be well for the
State If those who are frittering away the
peoples money. and the time which the Con-
stitution has assigned for Legislation, would
resign and '"t the people elect !nru who have
the ability and the Independence to do their
duty without fear. favor or affection: but no
one dreams that the members of our present
Legislature will b" guilty OF such a st'f-<ac-
riiicing action. We candidIy confess that
while we are Convinced that the project. or
more appropriately. projects Of the House. so
tar as the Senatorial appointment is con-
crrned. is. beyond all doubt. far less objection
able than the schemes of The Senate. still tt e
differences are now narrowrd down to the
simple question whether East Baton Rouge
shall be DISTINGUISHED for two years-at least
SO far as voting for a Stnatoris concerned-or
whether the District composed of the par
ishes Of Point Coupe. Avoy-lIes. East and
West Baton Rouge. and East and West Fell
ciana. should be so arranged as to suit the
wishes OF members of the General Assembly.
1t is. beyond all doubt, a small matter to stop
legislation and throw the government into d
state of Reorganization. That the apportion-
ment should be made SO as to allow the peo-
pie in every Parish the right Of voting for
Senator at the ne xt election is beyond caviI ;
but f that cannot be done, in the name of the
people we demand that some disposition be
made of the vexed question. and that the few
remaining days of the session be devoted to
the passing of such laws as are actually neces-
sarv to carry on government. Baton Rouge,
We think, ought to be the last to kick against
the passing of the Senate Bill if it is the only
only one which can pass; because the prece-
dena has been established Of temporari|y dis
franchising a parish in the senatorial appor-
ti"nment, and Baton Rouge derived the ben
eft Of that precedent. Is it hard. then. that
she should row reap some of its fruits even
if it be bitter? Did not DR.. HEREFORD re-
present the Parish of Livingston. when for
two years it had no voice in the election of a
senator? And who was DR.. HExEroRD?-
Surely a senator elected by Baton Rouge
alone. Did Baton Rouge then complain ?
Did Livingston complain? But it is said
that Baton Rouge is an important parish, and
the important question OF a removal of the
seat of government ought to weigh heavy in
the scale, and ought to give her a voice in
t'N ISN' SS ''aloIbd ClCkkJcu. anu DuV
will any one pretend that if principle be the
guiding rule, that even the claims o! the most
insignificant parish are not as sacred as those
OF the most Important? 1t they are, then,
why say that the claims of Baton Rouge are
entitled to more consideration than any other
parish Again, it is by no means certain
that Baton Rouge will not have as able and
as Jealous representatives in those already
elected. and bylaw made her senators, as she
would have by a single senator elected next
fall. Indeed, we think it more than probable
that so far as the influence of Baton Rouge is
concerned, it will be far greater under the
Senate Bill than with a single senator, as the
House has arranged it. We hope, then. to
hear no more of DISTINGUISHING, or Of the i'm
portance of Baton Rouge as an excuse for
failing ozaccept the Senate Bill with all its
obi ectionable features. The Northern por-
ton OF the State has gained a senator, the
Southern has lost one. The census returns,
the Constitution. and the eerrvmande7ing
disposition of the powers that be decides that
that loss fall upon US. Let@us not cry for
spilled=miIk, but let us bear the loss with
resignation, and let us submit w%ithssggood
grace. RUPERT, Nv