, 1870-12-20

election Of ths frst Legssla&urs. Attn
time 1t was uncertain uhethcr the result
Of the Federal ceusns would he known in
Time to fix The apportIonment Of members.
The dale Of tho superintendent was ,po.t.
roned until the ESQ of September, When
ahe Governor and Secretary Of State were
directed to apportion the Represenfa.ives
The Schedule, Section Is, pro7iding:
"Tne appost,onncnt ahall be based nnnn thu
fedesalceusus Of tho ye1r a. D. 1870 Of Ia stsfs
q 1l.nols ana shall be made strictly in srcon;s
~ aa1e VITA she rules and principles sulourced IN
Cons M Ga me Asts1a'i5e Department oi th1
Inc same ssesion provides tAat, il The ra-
suit Of the Federal census la not known
then the apportionment shall be made on
the census Of 1866. and then proceeds:
The xsIe =. 9nssfnnr shal on Or nefoFe "wednesday
great seel Of the State.~ 1. s
Section II of the Schedule, rea1s:
Ine Districts shall be reg sulAIty numbered ny the
count; - I'D prceet ,uT au taeaec nsn9ss no1s
MAl1lS tnfuugn ine Stlte, and terminating with
the County Of Cock; but nc county Ahall be nun
~ Of Cook. which sna1l consututs ahtce di,trset4
each embracing tho leEttoEJ cpotalpet m fn1 49,
e1l1aog Aepfesentatsse Distt'e:a Of asid count,n
This is all the law on the subject. The
GoFesner, Mt first, understood thst, IN The
CAFE OF Cook County, he was linnitea-uo
matter what the population might be-to
assigning five members 10 each district
subsequently, and before tte asth of Ben-
'ten'ber-after receiving the opinion OF tho
Attorney Geaeral---he awarded to each Ids
1cs the number Of Representatives TO
which its population entitled it, Could l,e
DO Otherwise? Section Z sets forth tho
rule by which the Legislature should there
after apportion The Stale. It provided for
oce member to each county or district hav-
ing hzee-ffths of ratio. Il next gave to
each county, Or district, hnyine a
population more than th.ee-fftl,s
OF tho 1atic, a member for each
additional number cf inAa6isont. equakb
The ratio Under this clause, any county
or district might1havs as many REPRESENTS
tIves as its whole population entitled it.
Hefethe constitution interposed au authosi-
y to fhe Legislature, in case any county
had over 100000 inhabitants, to divide
sald county into districts, each entitled 10
not less tlan three, nor more than I've.
members. It will DO soen that the pover::
even Of the Legislature, to divide a county
is limited to the cases Of counties having
over :00, 900 inhabitants, and the rostfic
lion OF the number of Representatives to
each district is confined to counties thus
divided It my county or district had
population of 10000, it could not he
divided by the Legislature; but, if The
ratio were 10000, as it now is, would INV
person contend TINT such county OF
district would be limited to five
membera, being just one-half OF
the representation to which its
population wouId entitle il This would
be In direct violation Of the provision TINT
each county, or district, having q popula-
ton more than the -atio and three.ifths.
shoald re one Representative for eash
additional Number Of population equal 10 a
ratio.
But it is said the Schedule modises the
seventh section, 80 far as Cook County is
concerned That Schedule requires Tho
GoFesnor TO apportion the Representatives
strictly IN accordance with the rules and |
principles = of the fonrth article, tho only
absolute rule and principle of which is.
hat zach county, or district, shall have
'ne Representative for a population eqnal
o three -afshs Of the satio, aud one add
aonal member for each additional number
II people equal TO a ratio.
Whatever night hnvo been tho consn.
1ucnccs Of tho Governors adher;ne to his
1Fst apporionn,ent, distranchising 1eo, 900
'eorle in Cook County, it is quite certain
hat the Legislature cannot now disfran-
:hise that large portion Of the county With
ny degree Of safety. We donot mean to- say
hat there would be aught but legal means
escorted to to secure our rights, but wo do
ny that, taking an enlarged view of tho
ubJect, the attempt to exclude seven of
he Representatives of Cook County from
heir seats, will cost mors than it will
ONE to.