The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-19
as Basis Of Representation
i'm Congress.

an OOm&TeoBs
Since the Congressional apportionment, APP
proved March Is, 1861, which materially
changed the several districts in this State
went into effect, but little regard has been
paid to local considerations in any of the dis
tricts by the conventions called to nominate
candidates for Congressional honors. In
those districts where repeated appeals of this
kind have finally secured change of candi-
dates, the results show that the people
have been very reluctant to yield to such per-
suasions.
The county of Oxford in the second Con-
gressonal District, although it has but one
third of the population of the district, has al
re adv been represented three-fifths of the
time since the present apportionment was
made.
The county of Kennebec, in the third Con-
'gressional District, has a population of but
little over one-third of the district; still it has
already had the Representative for eight sue
cessive years, and it is now probable that
without any serious opposition it will hold
the honor for the entire decade.
The county of Piscataquis, in the fourth
District, with population of only One-seventh
| of the district, although it was honored with
Representative for two years preceding the
present apportionment, has had the candidate
two-filths of the period of time which when
ended, ends the present apportionment
The county of Washington in the Fifth
District, representing one-third of the popu
lation of the District, has had the representa-
tion three-fifths Of the same period.
The large counties of Somerset, Waldo, An
droscOggn and Knox, and the smaller coun
ties of Lincoln, Sagadahoc AID Aroostool
have not :had al Republican candidate TO
Congress during the present apportionmen
and as far as we can learn are not likely to
still we do not hear of much complaint iron
these localities.
From the above statements, when we con
slider the repeated and vigorous efforts Of tn
l .,...,- -~-s,. --.lv,aoi nonOrs, IL is Ger
tain that the judgment of the Republican
party is in favor of the continuance in offic
of its tried public servants, and we find tina
this sentiment is generally adhered to witt
l SlCdU uudutuilly auAoh6 Vut AeSPuUbSoi
friends in other States, especially in Massa
chusetts, where but little change is everimad
except On the absolute refusal of Congress
man to accept the nomination. We do no
see the great force of the reasoning of some {
our friends who seem disposed to put til
nomination for Congress exclusively on loci
or county considerations. The county {
Cumberland, with a population niue
exceeding one-half that of the entir
district has had the candidate three
fifths of the time Of complete ap
portionment-whiche excess may be consider
ed partially cancelled by the fact that otht
parts of the District had the candidate for fou
years previous to the present apportionmen
In the light of the above statements, withou
detracting from the Importance of geograph
cal lines flor which we have no great reve
ance) we cannot see, provided a majority
District should decide that Cumberland coul
ty should have candidate another term, thu
there would be any great injustice done t
other sections of the first District. At leas
we do not see any necessity for an angry cor
test or any fear of rupture in the part!
Perfect harmony has heretofore followed th
action of the conventions in all of our Dis
tricts, even when the claims of locality hav
been far more strikingy ignored. We do no
speak in favor of any candidate, and if on
friends in York county or in any section
Cumberland county can present better cand
date than the present incumbent, by a
means let him be nominated, and sustaine
by all, not on account of his locality, but o
account of his fitness and great worth