The Portland daily press., 1870-12-16
DAILY, PRESS.
Friday Morning, December l6' ]S7o'
The Rcdf,trfesing Of the State
PORTLAND.

tfldaY Morning, December 1o' 'o'o'
The Rcdissrfcsing Of the State:
We have already referred to the changes
which will probably be made by the next
Legislature in forming the new Senatorial
Districts for the next decade.
The fixing of the Representative Districts
will involve more difficulties and larger inter-
ests. Some of the classed Districts have been
hopelessly Democratic for the past ten years,
and il would not be strange, if some of our
Republican friends, who have had the misfor-
tune to reside in such District, and may
covet seat in the great General Court, may
desire such an association of towns as will
open the way for such an honor. On the 9TH
er hand, Representatives and others who be-
long to the majority party will naturally de-
sire to hold on to an arrangement, which now
gives them the ascendency.
The Democrats are not so sleepy but that
they will look after their interests, and make
the most OF their situation.
In olden times, the most sagacious politi-
clans in the Legislature were put to work on
this kind Of business. Consequently, in the
year 1S41. after the memorable political con-
test Of 1910, it was not strange that the Whig
party should entrust the details of an appor-
tionment to the astute and calculating Ly-
man, Wing representative from this city.
He was equal to the emergency, and based his
calculations on the Wing msjorities of 1s40.
The House. was thus SO districted, as to give
the Wings ia and the Democrats SO men,
bers. Our friend learned in the result OF the
next election, which gave strong Democrat
ic Legislature, as he has repeatedly been
taught since, that political speculations and
management are very uncertain. There is
also moral in this, which plainly teaches the
dominant party that it Is better Ito do right" !"
No political party, in framing representative
districts for congressional or legislative su.
premacy, ever gained any permanent advant-
age by an unjust gerrymandering Of territory.
The Democratic party set a bad example
when it was powerful, which the Wing party
in this State scarcely ever had an opportuni-
ty to initiate. The "Comet District" so call
ed, reached from the ocean to Canada, and
this enactment was ever considered an in
iquitous and selfish legislation, and was ever
fruitful with disaster TO the Democratic Or
ganizatioD. The Constitution OF this State
-prescribes, by an amendment, sanctioned by
the people, at an election held in September
1841, that the House of Representatives shall
be permanently fixed with Isl members
Ill lo nck kI~o T
laturc Of 1s4O, whereby the number of repre-
sentatives was increased to 200, which was
then Unconstitutional limit. ~
The recent census makes the population OF
Maine 628, ,719, an increase of only 440 over
the census of 1S60 There has not been any
material changes, whereby communities by
the new redistricting OF the State are to be
seriously affected. The constitution requires
that the number OF representatives shall be
fixed, and apportioned among the several
counties, as near as may be, according to the
number of inhabitants, hauing regard to the
yelatiue increase ofpopulation. The consti-
tuition farther provides that the one hundred
and fifty-one representatives shall be appor-
toned according to the rule adopted in said
constitution. 81.
An equitable representation would give 10
every 4164 inhabitants in our State one repre-
sentative. But, the trainers Of the constitu-
tion evidently were jealous of the power and
influence of large and wealthy towns, and
having the numerical power over such, they
adopted principle in representation so that
increase Of population and representation
travel a:ong with very unequal steps. The in.
justice appears to increase with the growth
and Importance of town, and finally, a city
which has reached the number of population
which entities it to seven representatives, has
thereby Preached its constitutional limits,
and can have no greater numerical represen-
tation.
The principle appears to us to be.wrong, and
the more common practice in vogue, in other
States, Of dividing the territory into represen-
tative districts, of equal population, is deserv-
ing of consideration.
By an examination of the recent enumera-
tion of the inhabitants of this State, and ap-
plying the constitutional provisions, in order
TO ascertain our future. representation by
counties, we are led to believe that the follow
ing result will be arrived at:
q