Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-05
[FRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

WIN tne actlOn OF Jne Legislature by the Sc
cessionists, no demonstration of the kind has
yet been made and IL would seem that such
designs, If even they were ever cherished,
have by this time melted into thin air
The grand Secession barbecue, which was
to take place "a. morrow, in Owen County,
near by, has been given up, and the prospect
Of any thing occurring of an exciting nature,
ltemically, grows smaller and beautifully
less with each succeeding day. Pleasant as
this. undoubtedly is, in a social or political
aspect, from reportorial point of view, the
prospect is rather dreary. However, when
the Senate gets fairly organized, and the
Legislature proceeds to business, there will
be matters Of interest enough.
The Senate has been occupied all day with
squabble about contested seats, which
seems likely to lead to some hard feeling be-
fore it is finally adjusted. The contest is not
a political one, having arisen solely out Of
the deficiencies and loose construction of the
apportionfnent bill of last session, but il ia
peculiarly unfortunate at the present time,
as 1t is not unlikely that the defeated candi
dates will ascribe their rejection to political
reasons, and get up cry of political pro-
scription on the strength of it.
1t seems that the present Constitution of
Kentucky requires that the State shall be
divided into thirty eight Senatorial Districts,
each containing, as nearly ay may be, equal
and uniform representation; and to secure
and preserve these it provides that an
enumeration of the qualified voters of the
State, and an apportionment of the Senators
and Representatives shall be made every
eight years.
As, however, the Senatorial Districts are
formed by following the county boundaries,
| and the necessary changes in their extent
consequent on varying increase of popula-
| ton in different districts-are made by trans
terrlDg single counties from one district to
| another, 1t follows that these means pre-
| scribed by the Constitution for preserving a
| general equality of Senatorial representation.
will be productive Of a temporary inequality
whenever new apportionment is made.
For, as one-half of the Senators are chosen
| every two years-the term of service being
four Jears-it usually happens at each new
| apportionment, that several counties are
transferred from districts in which they had
chosen their representatives, to others in
which also representatives had been elected,
so that in fact they get no direct representa-
tion for two years, while other counties be-
come, in a manner, doubly represented for
| the same time.
As however such inequality is liable to
happen to any particular county, but once in
long series Of years, the plan has been
| found practically, to work very well, or
rather, would have done So but for an un-
| lucky oversight in the Apportionment Bill
| of 1860, which arose as follows: 1t has been
the custom to designate the different Sena-
torlal districts by members, and in the ap-
porionment of 1851, the districts were nu-
erically designated, and from that time I'D
to the election of 1861, the numbers were
identical with, and correctly designated the
various districts. Such will always be the
case except at the first election after an ap.
portionment. But the apportionment breaks
up the previous senatorial association of
counties and gives them new combinations
into districts, and thus requires that the in
dicative numbers, if again used, be readiusted
to the new districts, or that distinct speci-
fcation be made of the districts first entitled
to hold elections.
This was neglected in the apportionment
bill of 1860, and hence arose the present
difficulty. Several of the unrepreseuted
counties conceived that they had right to
hold elections, consequently seventeen mem
bers have been returned to fill ten vacant
seats, while two districts, of three counties
each, are entirely without representation.
The Senate last evening, appointed COM
mlttee TO investigate the matter and de-
termine who of the newly-elected members
were entitled to seats. The committee re-
ported as follows: From district No. T.
William Anthony; No. 8, Henry D. McHen-
ry; No. 9, John B. Bruner; No. TO- Richard
H. Field; No. IA, William B. Read; No. Is,
Q. T. Worthington; No. II, NJ. P. Baster
No. 10, Ben. Spalding; No. 20, ]. K. Good
loe; No; %, A. P. Grover; No. "a, John F.
Robinson; No 81, NJ. p. Marshall; No. 80,
w. @, Grier; No. "a, 7. 7. Garrard; No. 35,
Walter Chiles; while districts Nos. IL and
30 are vacant, having failed to hold elections
| in 1861.
The report being acted upon in sections,
Messrs. McHenry, Bruner, Field, Worthing-
ton, Buster and Spalding were received as
members of the Senate when some of the
| rejected candidates asking time to prepare
for the presentation OF their claims, the Sem
ate adjourned. So the matter stands at pres
to be.
omitted to state, that, previous to taking
| action on the report of the Committee, the
! Senate elected james +. Robinson, of Fay
| ette temporary President, with the UNDER
standing hat he will resign as soon as the
| claims of all the contestants are settled, and
| permit the entire body to effect permanent
| organization.
The House. meanwhile, not feeling inclined
to take any definite action, merely met and
| a0journed after the passage of q single reso-
| luton to the effect that all resolutions pre-
sented shall be received and referred without
debate, unless majority of the House shall
| order otherwise. .
This looks as though they intended to
make short session and permit as few long
| spe7 ches as possible. withstanding the
excniDg topics likely to engross their atten-
tion, a remarkable unanimIty of sentiment
prevails among the members, and q stern
| determination to do all in their power to
sustain the Union and the National Govern
ment. The House held caucus this even
| ing to decide upon the proper course of action,
| and although no particular measures were
| determined upon, a member informed me
that "The UDion sentiment manifested by
the members was splendid"
As soon as the Senate organizes they will
| proceed TO business, and ere long the power
full influence of this gallant State will be
ranged on the side of the Union and the Con-
stitution.
The message of the Governor is reported
ready to be delivered as soon as the Lsgis-
lature is ready to receive it. l will send
you copy as soon as one can be procured.
The town was somewhat excited this even
ing by the report of the death of jeff Davis,
which was brought by the passengers on the
evening train from Louisville, and caused
considerable comment, although few persons
seemed inclined to believe it.
| GILBERT.
| PIKE's OPERA HoUsE.-The festival of Our
Harvest Home was well attended last even
ing, and the audience were, to all appear
ance, delighted with the performances. Amid
the great variety, there was something to
please and satisfy the tastes of all. Moth
Ing more chaste and perfect in the way OF
tableaux has ever been exhibited in this city,
The music gcenerV DrocessiOns and marches