The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-02
CHI ARLE S TON.
MONDAY MORNING. AUGUST q, 1869.
Congressional II Represe ntation Under the
Census or 1870.

The newspapers Of the North are begin
ming to discuss with much interest the
effect OF the next census upon the appor-
tionnent of Congressional representatives
among the States Of the Union. 1t is ad
mitted, on ell hands, that the changes which
must DO wrought in the distribution Of poll
tioal power will be out Of all proportion to
those which have resulted from any pre-
vious census. The abolition Of slavery,
taken in connection with the operation of
the Fifteenth amendment, the adopti ON Of
which is now deemed almost certainty,
will materially increase the proportionate
representation Of the Southern States, by
including the whole colored element in the
count Of population. The West will also
show q great gain, and, if the apportion
ment'is continued upon the same basis as
at present, the New England and some of
the Middle States will lose number of
representatives. Should the population of
the Union come up to the Census Commits
sioner's estimate Of forty millions, the basis
Of representation would be about one mem.
Der of Congress for one hundred and sixty
five thousand of population. Such basis
would tell heavily against the States in
which the population has increased but lit
tie. Maryland, for instance, though having
her basis increased by the abolition Of
slavery, would barely, if at all, escape qOs
ing one representative. Newspapers in the
States which will thus lose q portion of
their influence in Congress are suggesting
various plans to counteraot the reduction
q gssSs ae$ncrease ofjhe number Of
represent aiives, while others talk of a sys
tenn of representation based, not on popu.
laNen alone, but population and wealth, ~
which would require SILL another amend.
ment to the constitution. Since the very
foundation Of the government the proper
apportionment Of the members Of the House
Of Representatives has been delicate and
knotty problem, the main difficulty being to
adjust the representation so as to make It
as nearly equal as possible, and at the
same time to keep the House from bcoom-
ing too cumbrous and unwieldy body.
One Of the vetoes Of President Washington
related to this very subject, and ever since
the matter has at intervals been bone Of
contention in Congress, according to the
shifting comparative fortunes Of the sec.
tions and the several States. In 1860 the
number Of representatives under each cen
sus was fixed at two hundred and thirty.
three, the apportiopment to be ascertained
by dividing the number Of the free popu-
lation Of the States-adding three fifths OF
the slaves in the slaveholding States-by
two hundred and thirty three, the product
Of such division determining the ratio Of
for the several States. To
the States having the largest fractions an
additional member was assigned to make
up the requisite number Of representatives.
Tnis apportionment was still uns satisfactory
and in 1868 the number Of representatives
was increased to two hundred and forty
one. 1t is gratifying to know, that under
the new deal that will follow the census of
1870, We Of the South are certain, in any
event, to be invested with increased in.
fiuenoe in the Federal legislation Of the
next decade; and shculd the expected tide
Of Chinese immigration prove 40 full and as
rapid as many Of ne hope and believe that
twill be, who knows bat that the Monsol
may yet be Of service to us in another as
pect than as nero tiller Of the soil 7 Pass.
ing strange, indeed. would it be, IL the rasd
rolicy which the fanatios Of tho North have
succeeded in forcing upon the country,
should ct length recoil upon themselves, by
strengthening the hands Of those whom it
was designed to cripple, and turning out to
be. as regards the wronged and long suffer.
ing South, blessing in Disguise.
The great scare in regard to the threat
ened exhaustion Of her coal fields, at which
s'l England stood aghsst few years AFRO.