The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-23
The Appor,ionment Bill.

lent. 1t is therefore difficult to use the
language of moderation and propriety in
referring to the Congressional Apportion>
ment bill which passed the lower branch
Of the Legislature last week. Under the
late census this State is entitled to twenty.
six members of Congress. No man who
parties in Pennsylvania will place the rad
ical majority of more than # fteen thou
sand, aud that being The case, fair and
honest apportionment bill would give the
republicans at the very outside fourteen
members and the democrats ttCetUe.--
Against this equitable proposition no valid
objection can be urged. But the present
BILL as it passed rbe House, gives the re-
t-publicans seUentee,l districts and the DEM
ocrats nine, being radical majority of
eight in the entire delegation, Whom do
these eight members represent? Why
simply the radical majority in the State
which we have assumed TO be fifteen
thousand, which represent population of
ninety thousand. Is that honest? is it
fair =? and can any man who bas polit
ical conscience at all stand up and defend
the infamyi And yet it has been done
and by men too who took an oath to dis
charge their duties faithfully and honestly.
The ratio for a member under the late
census is l35, 453. At the last Presiden-
tial election, in Philadelphia Grant res
ceived 90, 9S5 votes and Seymour 55, 173.
This bill so manipulates the f0e districts
into which that city is divided as to insure
the election of four radicals and one dem
ocrat. In Philadelphia, therefore, il comes
democratic votes to elect one member of
Congress, 60,9S5 radical votes can elect
.Io,u' or, to state it differently, while
55,l democratic voters can only send
one man TO Congress, Is, 246 radical ve>
ters can do the same thing. This is a mon
strous outrage, not capable Of being de-
Tended or explained away, and we are not
afraid to assert that every man who voted
for ii deliberately violated his cath of office
and committed moral perjury.
The inquiries of this bill arc also ap>
parent from the manner in which it unitss
! two or more democratic counties giving
heavy majorities aud assigns 10 them one
member with large surplus over the re-
quired ratio. and on the other hand gives
to two or more republican counties a
member on an equally large deficiency.
Take for example The following instances
of democratic districts:
Sixth Dstrict-Bucks and MONTGOMERY. I45qt3
| Seventh District-Berks and Lehigh lG349
Eighth DistrGt-N9 northampton, Carbon,
Sixteenth Distriet-York, Cumberland
Now look at the following republican dis
tricts:
Population.
Twelfth District Lycoming, Cameron,
- Potter, Tioga and Mexican ...-..- 80. 107, ,OSe
! Twenty-fourth District Washington,
Beaver and Butler ....... .......-..... III, ,14l
1t may be here stated that when the
bill was before the House democratic
member proposed to amend it, so as to
give the republicans fourteen members and
the democrats t,cclce, but the proposition
was promptly rejected by the radical ma
zsj DFity. Every sense of honor and decen<
cy appeals to the Senate, in which Justice
and fair play yet exercise their legitimate
power, to interpose its arm and prevent
the consummation Of this most foul and
uGmiIigated wrong.
For this bill Samuel Henry, who nai,re>
presents the democracy.of Cambria coun-
II, voted in all the different stages of its
infamy. Every amendment, every altera-
tion of it, so as to do simple justice to the
/ democratic party, met with his uncompro-
missing opposition. A legislative club
having been placsd in bis hands by the
aid Of democratic votes, he welded it, not
in the cause of justice and moderation,
but fer tue deliberate purpose Of knocking
out the political brains Of the men who
placed him where he is. Not only this.
but he tramples upen the acknowledged
rights Of ne fourth of the democracy of the
entire State and makes of them pleasing
and acceptable sacrifice on the altar of
radicalism. Figs, will no; grow on this>
ties, neither will grapes flourish on thorn
bushes, and The whole course of Mr.
Henry on this bill has only strengthened
our conviction, heretofore expressed, that
democrats have no political rights which
he feels himself bound TO respect.
THE AUDIroR-G ENERAL MFR. Brio.