North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-10-08
e. eTUNKHANNoCK PA, WEDNESDAY, OCT. s, 1862

amendments proposed to the bill was one by
Mfr. Tracy, of Bradford, to strike out in the
25th line the words "Wayne and Luzerne
counties" and insert in lieu thereof the words
Bradford, Tioga, and Sullivan countless
the effect which would have been to place
the latter counties with Susquehanna county
to form Congressional district. This amend
ment was rejected by a vote of yeas, &C.,
nays 46, and all other amendments were also
rejected except one relating 10 Philadelphia
district, which was subsequently concurred
in by the Senate. Y
On the 18th of April the bill passed the
House, finally, by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Abbott, Acker, Alexander,
Anderson, Armstrong, Ashcom, Barnsley,
Bartholomew, Bisel, Bixler, Blair, Brewster,
Buros, Cowan, Craig, Douglas, Elliott, Goeh-
ring, Gordon, Graham, Harvey, Hayes, Hill
man, Hood, Hoius, HUM, Irwin, Koch, Law
renee, Lowther, MIG Gonigal, Marshal, Mullin,
Patterson, Peirce, Preston, Pughe, Reilly,
Ridgway, Robinson, Roller, Seltzer, Shaffer,
Stehman, Stoneback, Taylor, Walker, White,
Wildey, Wilson and Davis, Speaker-51.
| NAYs-Messrs. Austin, Ball, Blanchard,
Bliss, Boyer, Brodhead, Butler, (Carbon,)
Butler (Crawford,) Caldwell, Clark, Collins
Cope, Dismant, Divans, Donley, Dufield'
Dunlap, Eilenberger, Frazier, Gaskill, Heck,
Hill, Kline, Leisenring, Litchenwallner, NJ
Donough, Manifold, Moore, Morrison, My
ers, Osterhout, Randall, Reiff, Rhoads, Smith
(Berks,) Smith, (Philadelphia,) Teller, Ira
cy and Williams-39.
This bill, (Which was subsequently signed
by the Governor and became law divided
the State into twenty-three Congressional
districts, that being the number of Congress-
men which it was understood this State was
entitled to under the United States census
of 1860. But in forming the districts the
most unserupulous and disgraceful partisan
ship and dishonesty were manifested. Both
Houses had large Republican najorities, and
the Governor being of the same party, there
was no check upon political passion and in
justice.
At the election of Governor in 1860, Mr..
Foster had 100000 votes, and Mr.. Curtin
10000. The majority of the latter was
therefore, $4,000, whica, estimating voters
as one fifth of the whole people, would rep
resent population of 100000, somewhat but
not largely in excess of the number necessa-
ry for one member of Congress. A fair ap-
portionment therefore would have given
tpelve Republican and elepen Democratic dis
tricts, upon the basis of the gubernatorial
vote of 1860. But the bill was so framed, as
to give nineteen Republican and but four
Democratic Districts, upon that basis of cal
culation. To accomplish this result the nat
ural connections of counties were disregarded,
districts of very unequal population were
made, and in some cases counties were divid-
ed and the parts put in differ ent districts
Never since the State was founded had such
a bill been enacted regulating the representa-
ton of the people, nor any one even approach
ing it in dishonesty.
In effect it was to transfer no less than sew
en- Congressional votes from one party to the
other, making difference of fourteen votes
upon any political question in the National
House of Representatives.
II will be observed that Senator Landon
of Bradford, the present Republican candi.
date for Congress, in this district, was one oi
the Committee that reported this bill in the
Senate, and that he subsequently supported
it by his vote.
The arrangement of districts made BY the
act of 1862, was subjected to some modifica
tion as to the eas tern part of the State, by
an act passed at the last session, but its es-
sental features were not disturbed. Subse-
quent to the passage of the act of 1861, it was
ascertained from the corrected census returns
that this State would be entitled to twenty.
four members of Congress, instead of twen-
three, and hence a new apportionment be-
came necessary. But in framing the new act
(approved 10th April 1862 care was taken
to retain as much as possible of the act oil
1861, and thus continue the party injustice
established by it.
| By the new bill this Congressional district
was made more strongly Republican than be-
fore, as Northumberland county was taken
from it. In 1860 the vote for Governor in
the present district was as follows:
Foster. Curtin.
Bradford, 1928 6664
i Wyoming, 1886 1892
Sullivan, SAB 394
i Columbia, 1886 184S
i Montour, 1920 983