The Shasta courier., 1859-08-20
Growth OF the West--Census OF 1850.

An Illinois paper claims that the census O
1860, will show that State to be the fourth ir
the Union in point of population-New Yorl
ranking as the first, Pennsylvania second, anc
Ohio as third and in all probability the popu
| laton of Indiana will exceed that of Virginia
At the late election in Illinois, the average yot,
for members of Congress was over twenty-seyer
thousand, being about ten thousand beyond the
ratio which prevails in the free States. On the
present basis of representation, Illinois would
have sixteen members of the House, instead o.
nine, the present number The whole Wes
shares in measure this progress of population
which will be strikngly manifest in the census
to be taken next year, and in the Congressional
representation based thereon. The Albany
Argus says that glance at the representation
of the different sections of the Union, in Con-
gress, q. the several epochs in our history, will
perhaps enable Us so realize the changes of the
future
1887 1903 1888 1858
New England. 80 80 30
Middle States-New York
New Jersey, and Penn'a.ls Al "A 63
Southern................... 65 81 80
WESTERN 20 80
The representation under the census of 1850
according to the Argus, will be divided among
the sections in about the following proportions,
whether the aggregate number be greater or
less, viz
NEW
Middle States.
southern StateS.....
Western States. ............................75
California is not included in either of the a.
boye estimates, and Missouri is counted with
the South. This State will have at least five
members, and if we deduct that number from
the eighty-one members set down for the New
England and Middle States the result will doubt
less give very near the relative representation
of the several sections after the next apportion-
ment. The New England and Middle States will
then have about seventy-six members the
South seventy-six the West seventy-ive leav-
ing five members for California. The interests
of California and Missouri, however are closely
identified with the interests Of the West, and
upon all important questions the Congressman
from these States will act with the Western
members.
The Argus thinks that this change of repre-
sentation will transfer sectional contests from
Southern and Northern topics to questions OF
internal improvements, land distribution, &C.
in which New England will combine with the
South against the great West. This supposi-
ton is not without foundation. The West is
the growing section, while the North and South
must remain nearly stationary, and will con-
stantly be losing their relative Importance in the
Union. 1t is but natural, therefore, that the
latter section should already begin to regard
with Jealousy the rapid growth of the West, as
to this section, it is evident, in a few years the
destinies of the country will be committed
/ The Cleveland (Ohio) PLAIN Dealer says that
the estimates of the Albany Argus for the West
are altogether too low that the States of Ohio
Indiana and Illinois will each have, under the
next apportionment Deary as many Represen-
tatives as all New England, and that the seven
| Western States will have a much larger repre-
sentation than either the entire South, or the
New England and Middle States combined
Each decennial census has shown that tbs
growth of the West exceeded all the calcula.
tions Of Eastern and Southern statisticians, and
the estimate of the Cleveland paper may be
nearer correct than that of the other