The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-02-21
INSTRUMENTATION.

SENATOR BUCKALEW, In MS late
speech, says the World, stated some facts
worthy the attention of the American
people. AT the last popular elections
held in the Northern, Central and West
ern States, 2,l34,554 votes were cast in
favor Of the Republican party and q
$50, 1863 votes were cast forthe Democratic
party. How are the people who thus
represent themselves represented in
the Rump Congress? ? According TO a
rule of equality based on numbers the
Republican majority in the Senate
should have g members; and the
minority 90. Now the actual constitu-
ton of the Senate is this-43 Rcpubli-
cans and ten Democrats. In the House
pespite an equal share in the vote eof the
country, the Republicans outnumber
the Democrats by about four to one.
What are the causes of this condition Of
the representation? The six States east
of the Hundson have an aggregate popu-
lation, according to the census OF 1860,
of3,135, ,2S3, with twelve members of
the Senate, giving Senator to each 261, >
273 inhabitants. Take all the States OF
the union represented in Congress, and
there is population of 44i, ,972 for each
Senator. New England has six men,
bers of the Senate more than she would
be entitled to if there were a distribu-
tion to the different sections of the
country according to number.
In 1864, when Mr.. Lincoln was TAX
ing steps to reorganize States in the
South, a revival of the former political
power in that section was feared. The
Radicals introduced bills into the Senate,
which were enacted, providing for the
organization of Nevada, Nebraska, and
Colorado. The Unprecedented pro-
visions were incorporated in these bills
that the organization of State govern
ments should be carried on to the end
under the constitutional directions of
the President, and that he should, by
proclamation, declare those Territories
admitted, without any further action
by Congress. 1t was not required that
the proceedings should be completed
and the constitutions laid before the
two Houses, and an act of admission
then passed, as had been the previous
practice. Radical political power was
aimed at and obtained unscrupulously.
Colorado is not yet admitted; doubtless
she soon will be; but Nevada and Ne
braska contribute four of the unfair Re-
publican majority in the Senate. Yet
Nebraska, at her last election, had a
total vote Of less than 9,OO0-Colorado
less than ,000-Nevada less than TO-
600. In neither one of these States is
there population of $4,000, which is
half the number required, under the ex-
listing Apportionment law, for mem
ber Of Congress.
This is what the Radicals have done
to increase their power in the Senate;
and give themselves two-thirds vote
for overriding vetoes. See what they
have omitted to do. They have omit
ted to pass enabling acts for any other of
the Western Territories, either in 1864
or subsequently. in New Mexico, at
the last election vote Off ,6s5; Montana a
avote ofl0 ,900inUtaha vote oflG ,2Sl; in
Idahoabout the same. Each ofthese terri
tories hasa large population than the two
which were admitted, or than the third
which was attempted to be admitted.
Utah has population more than double
that itherofthem;s $50 has New Mexico.
Whythe difference? Those States which
were admitted, and admitted in the
manner described, gave Republican ma
jorities; those Territories which have
not been admitted gave Democratic
majorities. That is the whole reason.
Nor was this enough. Mr.. Stockton,
elected Senator from New Jersey, was
expelled under the form of decision
upon the irregularity of his election
expelled by party vote ofthe majori-
ty. Several members We're expelled
from the House, Baldwin, of Michigan;
Brooks, of New York F; Voorhies, of
Indiana-expelled by party vote for
that reason and for no other reason.
The reconstructed reconstruction policy
has the same purpose-mOves to the
same result, political powera any cost
1t is proposed by political party to
shape the political institutions in ten of
the United States so that itspower shall
be increased in both Houses; or il dis
aster befalls them in the North, that
their power in both Houses shall be re-
tanned for the future.