The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-08-05

The law Of 1850, approved May %, was
supposed to settle the difficult question of
representation by fixing the number under
each census us 233 1t was proposed to di-
vide the number of free population of the
states, to which in slavcholding states three
fifths of the slaves were to be added. by 23},
and the product of such division to be the ratio
Of representation Of the several states. As the
fractions would be sufficient by such division
to reduce the number of representatives, it
was therefore proposed by the law to assign to
so many states having the largest fraction one
additional member each, for its fraction, to
make up the requisite number of representa-
tives. This law also provided that upon the
admission of Il new state one representative
should be given to such states, but such adj
diti0nal representatives in excess of233 should
only continue until the next succeeding ap-
portionment of representatives under the next
succeeding census. 1t was thought this law
would render all future legislation unnecessary,
but it was subsequently ascertaincd that it
worked injustice, and by the law Of March +,
1862, the number of representatives WAS in
creased to 241, from and after the Sd of
March, 1868. lnmaking up the apportiomcnt
it has been the aim of congress to make the
constituencies in every state approximate
nearest the ratio. If the law Of 1850 had not
been thus amended the ratio of representa-
ton would have been one to every l27 900.
Rhode Island had q population Of 10000,
and would have been entitled to but one
member Of congress- and Vermont, with 30,
900 people, would have had but two, who
would each have represented nearly 1873, 900
constituents, while the basis was 127. 900. 1t
was simply justice to these and other states
to amend the law of 1850, and thus equalize
representation.
The adoption of the several amendments to
the constitution will very naturally affect rep
resentation. States which exclude any po,-
ton of their citizens from the right of SUI
frage. will have such number deducted from
+ their basis of representation. The freedmen
of the south will increase the representative
basis in that section, and the result Of this
new condition of affairs upon the whole
country will be q problem which the next
census can alone solve. Mr.. Kennedy, the
superintendent of the census Of 1860, esti-
mated that the population of the United
States in 1870 would be AZ, 1928. 1872, but the
war will no doubt somewhat diminish the es-
innate, and if we show a population of 40,
600, 900 it will be a gratifying indication of
growth under obstacles which would prove
destructive of such progress in Il nation of
less vitality If we should have a represent
ative population of say 80 100000, the basis
of representation would be about one men,
Der Of congress for 100000 people.
This would reduce the number of repre-
sentaivcs in every state in New England, and
many of the middle states, and the result
would not be productive of good to any see
ton of the country. house of representa-
tives of 800 members would not be an un-
wicldy number. In a country of such varied
interests, 800 would scarcely represent the
important interests of the country, There
will undoubtedly be additional Legislation be-
fore the apportionment is made, and the ques-
ton promises to be interesting and important,
especially to New England