The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-07
" Westv ard the Star OF EmpIre Takel
Its Way


Among other curious facts which the cen
sus Of 1860 will bring to light, We dnd that the
famous line Of Bishop Berkeley, quoted above,
possesses more OF truth than poetry. When
the government Of the United States was organ.
lied the seat Of empire was on the Atlantic sea
board. Then New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
and Connecticut had moety Of political po yer.
In the convention which adopted the constitu-
tion the delegates from New Hampshire, Missa
chusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania outnumbered those from
Maryland, Virginia the Carelinss and Georgia.
Then Delaware sent five delegates, while New
York was represented by Alexander Hamilton
alone. The 6rst Senators who took their seats
were Messrs. Langdon and Wingate, from New
Hampshire; Strong from Massachusetts; John
soa and Ellsworth, from Connecticut Ma
clay and Morris, from Pennsylvania, aud Few
from Georgia. These, with Paterson and
Elmer, from New Jersey Bassett, from
Delaware, and Lee from Virginia, made
q quorum OF the first Senate, giving New
England Eve Senators, the Middle States four,
and the Southern States three. II was In this
condition that the Senate organized. OF course
the disproportion was afterwards corrected by
the filling up OF the Senate; but we find that the
Northern preponderance was maintained, as
subsequently to Mr.. Adams election to the
Vice Presidency, Mr. Langdon OF New Hamp.
shire. was chosen for the second time as Presi.
dent pro ten. OF the Senate. or the sixty nine
electoral votes which were cast for President
Washington. the States OF New Hampshire
Massachusetts, and Connecticut cast twenty. two
or nearly one third. When the first House OF
Representatives came together, there were pre-
sent four members from Massachusetts,, four
from Connecticut, five from Pennsylvania, one
from Virginia and one from South Carolina. Ga
the next day came one from New Hampshire.
one more from Massachusetts,. two more from
Connecticut and another from Pennsylvania
TIE quorum was afterwards made by seven ad-
ditionh members from Virginia. two from
Maryland. two from New Jersey and one from
Pennsylvania. Thus II will be seen that New
England and the Old Dominion had
Congress In the hollow Of their hands
New England, in time, was compelled
70 give up this supremacy TO the Middle States
and the South. TO 20 10 turn to the West o.
the three hundred and three electors to be
chosen at the November election. New England
has less than oneseven,h, and this proportion
e 10 be- decreased before another Presidential
election. A Portland Journal states that the
census statistics Of New England, a. far a. re
ceived, do not present SO large an increase OF
population during the last decade a. was antici.
pated.' Connecticut seems TO have been the
only one Of the New Eng and States which has
sensibly increased 10 population. Under these
circumstances, and with basis Of one hundred
and twenty Eve thousand population for each
member Of the House, Maine. New Hampshire.
Vermont Massachusetts and Rhode Island will
each lose . representative. The Middle and
southern States Will not probably gain any
rhe members ios, Ia the East will be- gained
by the West Iowa, should its population CON.
up, A. L. expected. TO thr-e-qusrters Of a mil
lion, will b. entitled 10 sir representatives. ~
stead q two. and all the new Sise exeep; Ma