The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-04-25
The Next Apportionment.

The New York TDHes has been lately
figuring up the relative political power Of
the different States Of the Union. after
the next census, and the next Congress
sional apportiOnment. The Times esti-
mates that the ratio Of representation will
be enlarged. so as to make about one hun
dred and twenty thousand Of Federal pop
ulation necessary to constitute Congress,
sional District. instead Of nInety-three
thousand. as is now the case. IL then
makes a calculation Of the number Of
Representatives each State will be entl-
tied to. and also of the number of votes OF
each in the Electoral College.
According to this showing the North
ern. and particularly the Northwestern
States. will have a marked increase in po-
litical strength. The Northeastern and
the Southern Atlantic States viii lose.
The Southwestern States will about hold
their own. with the exception of Texas,
which will gain largely.
All this may be news to the readers OF
the Times, but it is not so to our own.
Three years ago we submitted estimates
showing this very result. We demonstra-
ted that the political power OF the coun-
try was concentrating in the Northern
! States, and we deduced therefrom an ar
gument against the formation of exclu-
sively sectional parties. In the interest
Of the South, we showed how great would
be our folly in precipitating a sectional is
sue. whereby we were bound to he driven
to the wall, in consequence of our COM
parative numerical weakness
Even now the anti-slavery States have
more than fifty majority in Congress. and
in the Electoral College. Even now, upon
sectional issues. the South is at the mercy
of the North. il the latter choose to exer-
else the power 1t POSSESSES. But the dis
proportion will bc still greater after the
census next year. The one section will
have more than double the political
strength Of the other.
The New York Times publishes these
figures with evident qualification. IL fore
sees, in the future the political SUPERIOR
" Of its own section. and il hardly at
tcmpts to conceal the pleasure which the
prospect affords The Times. too. is only
moderately anti-Southcrn in it, feelings
The regular Black Republican organs. We
suppose would make most unseemlv
exhibition Of Iher JOY, did not high con
siderations a 8licy restrain them
We wish the Times had given us an as
surance, so far as its own voice and inhu-
ence are concerned. that this prepondera-
ting Northern majority would never he
employed to oppress and plumber the
South. We do not suppose that journal
is in favor Of any such poIicy-but we all
know how liable power is to be abused.
History teaches Us. indeed. that in repub-
lies as well as in mOnarchies. irresponsible
power is frequently used to carry out most
neiariOus purposes. Minorities sometimes
act as checks in preventing fragrant out
rages-but are unavailing in arrcsting pet
" impositiOns and small exactions which.
in the aggregate. are equally as destruc-
tive Of popular rights.
Il is easy to see, from these figures. what
will be the result If our future political
contests are conducted by sectional par
ties. The South will be irrctrieyahly over
thrown. Il is her policy. then, and her
interest, as far a. Is consistent with her
honor, TO discountenance sectional agita-
ton. She must encourage nationality
and fraternity. and a return to the happy
period when we had two grand national
parties. Let her not do this in any spirit
Of timidity or fear-ior she is amply able
70 take care Of herselfin any emergency
but in a broad, catholic spirit Of patriot
ism and nationality ~ Crescent