, 1870-07-07
Shall the West Get JQatice !

From the Daily (SL Louis) Dt7neerdt. Jnus 2.
TIE CHICAGO Tn1HCSE, discussing with Wig
or the defeat Of tho Apportionment bill IN
Congress, and pointing out yery clearly tho
great injustice dono to the West in refusing
the representation 10 which the Western
States are constitntionally entitled as Boon as
new census IL taken, makes suggestion
which we think worthy Of serious considera-
tion. It is this. that the Western States shal1
proceed to elect. as provisional members, the
humber Of additional Representatives to which
each State is entitled, and that the members
60 elected shall present themselves at the or
ganizstion Of the next Cong.asa and tslemand
ld1nittance as right belonging to their con-
stitueuts." OF course the next Congrcsa will
recognize the right Of the States to the addi-
tionat members by now appointment; with
what reaeon. then, can it refuse tho members
il elected in advaucc? -
To this plnn ti,e obvious objection is that it
il not in accordance with any existing Law. But
The TRIBUNE meets this objection as follows :
What is there IN the constitution TO prohibit
the people Of Illinois e1ectlng the additional au
lct Ut Keprest ntattves4to which the State may be
cutItled urder the census Of 15.u? Can Congress,
hy refusing to pass an Apportionnlent act, defeat
the constitutional right OF representation? The
people Of Illnola hare IS much right to be repre-
senteu In the Congress which commences IN 1StI,
accordiug to the enumeration under the CENSUS Of
June, 1910, as they will have three, five, or ten
years hence. So With oil other States. They have
a !e right 70 os ascosdng u to p9pa
that right, It ts the privilege and the duty OF the
people to ass ert It. -.-.
be elected by districts Is Absurd. Illinois has had
8 RI preventative elected by the people at large
since 1869. There Is nothing in the constitution
which reqniEes the election Of members 1 Of Con-
general ticket. In the earlier days OF the Union
| the general ticket plan was common. In 1872, the
e e eectea m from scpare
Previous to that time New York elected Represen-
tatves from districts, come districts electlng one
otaS1s hs ct Il Was nj obe1e n tS
yery next Congress, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mis-.
stsslppi, and Missouri were represented By mem-
sefs s,teps s. e ene Whg e
| hut it was q complete failure. Several Of those
States continued to elect their Representatives. by
na Elected TWO Representatives to Congress In al
vance Of any apportionnent and, though her
ven admitted. Congress has, by trick which Ia
more dtshonorahle than the ordinary dtarepntable
| practices Of tactous mlnordes, denied to the
people Of the Western States the representation
ia which they arc entitled under the constitution
to W Vndeais theiF lights, IS foF The conventions oi
posa t. IN a nese Il 2
be entitled tor
Ne confess that this plan seems to us well
worthy OF consideration. It can do Us No
| harHa to elect the additional members, subject,
Of course, to the decieiou OF the next Con.
eress as to their adrniasion-aud this is al that
fuE TRIBUNE intends. Tbs assumption By
tue present Congress Of the right to say how
tie States shail be represented IN the next Con
gress ia utterly withou; Wa11ant in the consti.
tuition, for that instru1eent plainly recognizes
the right Of each house to be the Judge Of the
elections, returns, and qualifications ct its our
members. The next Eouse will hare an ahso-
lutte right to admit members for whom no ap
portionment has yet been made By Law, or K
admit members elected in advance, IS soon Z.
the Appost stioument BIZ has passed. Indeed
the assumption that tle senate has any ri&h
House Is not warranted By tha constitution, se
I far Is We can discover. II the Senate should
absolutely refuse to paas IN Apporionnen
bill, it would be not nIy the right but tho dut1
Of the House to eaf1J into effect that clause oi
the constitution with provides that Rspre