Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-08-05
The Coming Census.

Tne coming census
Sonic Of the New England papers,
discussing the probable results of the
coming census, are beginning to look
about for plan whereby the superb
or growth Of the old Northwest
since the completion OF the Pacific
railway the North Centre-rnay in
some way not be made TO count in
corresponding increase Of political
yoxer. The only idea which has
vet been preached Sc assoriing 10 the
E2s. a sort Of compensation for its
la-s and cur gain. Is lAt idea Of the
Representatives ssf EsYisal in Congress
The East ssas more wealth than The.
West. and therefore ought 10 he d
@ar1 Of balance struck, 80 that IN.
superiority OF Western growth in
sn,,iiIatinn would have q sct-ef In
tire superior wealth OF The people o.
the East UnfogfuEately Tor the i'm
mediate practical realization oi this
idea. the Constitution bases repre-
sc,lration upun population, and there
* -: ...:: s,s siitsFe esng
change herein than there is Of the
whole Atlantic slope being struck by
lightning, or swallowed up by an
earthquake.
The fact is, a. the Er'eaiag Post has
heretofore taken occasion 10 show,
that part of our country all along
called the West, has been unfairly
and ia the highest sense unlawfully
treated in the matter Of representa-
ton in Congress ever since the act Of
1850, definitely fixing the number
OF Representatives. For sixty years,
the period Of the rapid growth Of the
older portion of the country, the rule
of the Constitution-that every SO
many people should be entitled to n
Representative--was carried out. AT
ter that, when the period of the
great growth Of the West began, a
new rule was adopted, contrary to
the principle Of the Constitution
herein, and that was, that the House
OF Representatives should consist Of
only so many members, no matter
how many people there should be. If
the rule OF the Constitution lad con-
tinued we should now have greater
representation, and the East less. As
it is, we have grown in this respect,
and therefore have not complained.
We could afford TO be generous.
Bot the people Of the North Centre
do not propose to themselves to be
deprived Of their just political power.
Their Representatives will not be
true 10 their constituencies, they will
not be true to honest craftsmanship,
they will not be true to the Constitu-
ton itself, if they do not abolish the
rule OF the act Of 1850, and restore the
.ulS vf the Constitution in this re-
gard. In no other way can the
growth of that mighty country
round abont our lakes and from there
70 the Pacific Ocean, which is sure to
take place from this time onward,
receive IFS corresponding increase OF
political power. This act Of common
political honesty, Of political justice,
Of political honor, can be accom-
plished By an act of Congress fixing
the number OF people entitled to q
Representative at about one hundred
and fifty thousand, certainly it ought
not TO be more than two hundred
thousand, and there letting it re-
main.
This is the simple requirement OF
the Constitution. With that we arc
satisfied. II, however, there is to be
zB amendment in this respect, then
the whole question Of representation
I'm both branches Of Congress musl
have an airing. AS the Constitution
now is, the doctrine Of the equality
Of the States Is carried out in the
senate. And in no other respect
whatever does that doctrine apply,
In all other respects--except Of ab.
stract rights--thc inequality of the
States IL self-evident. If the ques.
ton IL to be opened up, and new
constitutional provision adopted, po
liticai justice will require first of ali
the correction Of this manifest inc
quality. Why should such little
bit Of a State as Rhode Island have
eiual membership in theScnate with
Illinois? Why should Vermont
there have equal political power with
Iowa? Why should insignificant
Delaware there neutralize the vote
0f Wisconsin? These arc questions
which the people will ask themselves
when this issue Of representative
power shall be presented for cOnstitu.
tional amendment. Every one car
see that political justice would be fai
more nearly attained now, and in all
probability maintained for century
to come, II Maine, New Hampshire
and Vermont were one State, Massa
chusetts, Rhode Island and Connect
lieut. another, New Jersey, Delaware
and MARYLAND another, North anl