Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-01-19
From the Montpelier Waterman,
The Apportionment Bill.

1t is dacul; to say whether the people Of
Vermont should be most indignant or most
grieved st the bin passed by the House, sppor-
tioning Representatives in Congress under the
Genius Of 1870. In the first place, the bill Ut
terly ignores the I4th Amendment Of the Con-
stitution-viola;es It.
Nor, in this case, is there even a respectable
excuse. The excuse assigned was that the suf-
frage statistics Of the census are incorrect.
Granted; but the population statistics, which
form the controlling element, with the suffrage
statstics, in making Constitutional apportion-
ment, are also inaccurate. II. then, Congress is
excussble for ignoring the suffrage statistics, it
would be excussbie also for ignoring the populs-
ton statistics, and SO make no spportionment
If it can rightfully ignore the 18th amendment,
it can also ignore Sec. > Of Article I. Il had no
right to do either, and the House bill is both
biunder and a crime.
But Vermont is aggrievei by the injustice
done to her by the bill SO also iE New hsmp-
shre-for the representation Of these States
alone is reduced. We need not ray that the sd-
dition Of few members more TO the House. to
save thete States, weighs nothing compared with
the sacrifice of one-third Of the representative
weight of there Ets;es. Vermont. however, has
the right to insist that even under tie principle
of the House bill, with Just ratio, she is emit
tied to retain her three members,
The bill is based upon the Incorrect rule Of the
act of 1850, which admits the populations Of
four States. which are not to be spportioned, to
operate in the ratio By which the population Of
the objectionable States is to be apportioned
The effect is to enlarge the ratio, ard thus count
sgsinst every one Of the thirty-thiee Stses 10 be
spportioned Let the authors OF the House bill
thow, if they can, any possible rel stOn the four
States, which are represented by grace Of the
Constitution, and not by populato ], have TO the
thirty-three States which are to be apportioned
% according to their respective nui nbers''-i G.
populations. They viii fsil in such an at
tempt
But this lie not all in addition 10 the incor-
rect ratio, which WAS governed by 26S Represeu-
tstlves 10 be spportoned, there is this greyious
fact the bill does not spportion the 263 men,
bers to the States to be apportioned under it. but
279. To make the 2s3, the four Representatives
Of States which a-e not sapportioned At all, are
sided. 10 the House spportionment these four
members are all charged as q" Members by Ra-
ito, which is bald fslsehood. Now comes the
grief the effect O. this process lie to cheat Ala
bans, Indians, New York, and Vermont out of
a Representative each. Thus, while the Con-
stitution, by its terma, gives Representative
each to Delaware, Nebraska, Nevsds, and Ore
gon, without regard 10 population, this bill
forces Alabama, Indiana. New York and Yer
mont to furnish those members st their expense.
This il as unconstitutional as it is abominaby
unjust
We must confess, however, that this wrong is
chsrgesble to the erroneous rule Of the act Of
1850. 1t was seen in 1860, when several States
were victimized by it, and relief was given by
special act in 1862. Vermont and New HAmp-
shire can be saved 10y the same rule now, and
add ed to several ether States
or course the Senate never will concur in
a bill so glaringly unconstitutional, and We
count upon thorough work by our SenstoTs to
secure the equal justice Vermont is entitled to
when the most exact justice lie done to all the
States which are to be apportioned.
A vounU lady th;nkinr she ba.rd har lovars.