New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-08
NEW STATES OUT OF OLD MATERIALS.


There being the unhappy defect in Our
State constitutions that there are not
quite as many Offices as able bodied ap-
plicants, Msssrs. Kenneth Rayner and a
few other enterprising outsiders purpose
to assemble fragments Of Mississippi,
Kentucky and Tennessee into new State,
whereof the founders should cetainly be
the officers. Each of the States so threat
ened with nutilation protests against pro-
viding Messrs. Rayner & Co. with salaries
upon any such terms. Gu. Gallo
friends Of the Zee have indeed proposed
to replace any such loss Of territory
on the part OF Mississippi by ezscinding
Eastern Louisiana and generously adding
it TO the territory Of her neighbo-. And
the west side Of the river is in like man
ner to be presented to Texas. The idea
of the mound builders that the power Of
! the old States can be reinstated by multi
plying their number is fallacy. We
| have heretofore shown the constitutional
| impediments to this mode Of manufacture.
It will be now proper to explain that it
would be utterly inadequate to secure the
object Of its advocates. In such an en-
terprise the subdivision Of States east Of
the Ohio and Mississippi below tie juno
ton Of these two streams would be Of no
avail. The whole area Of the United
States is three million square miles.
The eastern section as above defined
is little more than one-ffth Of this area.
Now there is already upon this eastern
area more than half the number Of States
already in the Union. When the mound
builders begin to get even by the manu-
facture Of States. the people west Of the
Mississippi will begin the same game.
Allowing thirty thousand square miles as
an average State area, the Western people
could make eighty new States. without
borrowing a square mile Of Mexico. If
that were the ratio of area seven Of the
Eastern States would be conceded. There
would be twenty States east Of the lorgi-
tudinal line and eighty west Of it. The
mound builders would find themselves in
the relation of one State east to four
west. There is therefore very little show to
regain power or the basis CT State manu-
facture.
Indeed, the whole theory Of sub
dividing large States to make Offices for
small and epheneral politicians would be
a great mistake. 1t will impair the civil,
military and political influence of the |
States, and in some cases neutralize their |
whole power by creating an antagonis N
among the disintegrated fragments Of the
same State. The mound builders should
see that when State is made according
to acres, instead Of population, a Territory
with a single Representative in the lower
house will get two Senators. Dakota
may thus in six months acquire legisla-
tive power in the Senate equal to that Of
New York. Texas would readily cut up
into eight States Of the regulation area.
The discussion Of the subject may bring
up further amendment in the federal
constitution. There is certainly now an
unequal apportionment Of power upon
The antiquated and arbitrary basis OF
Statehood. The result of the late amend
nents to the con stitution Lave been to
the perfect equality Of all citi-
,ens not convicted of crime. Each hu-
nan being is an equal integer in the
,reat sum Of republican humanity. Now
Vhen one citizen Of the State Of Dakota.
having population of. say one hundred
housand, has the same senatorial power
With four hundred and thirty-eight and
ne-quarter citizens in the State Of New
,ork, is any principle OF equality pre-
erved, either in the number Of persons,
be area Or the property lepresented:
Plainly not. The corro.lary Of the
quality established by the amend :
,ents and the subordination of the States c
) this: All power rests in and abides {
18th the people. Each person is an a
lual political integer in representation. c
hen the equal representation Of the peo- '
lie demands that the House Of Represen- e
'tives should be based on one ratio Of {
umbers. while the revisory and CONCUR t
mt chamber, the Senate, should be T.
unded on another and larger ratio.
hus population Of forty millions, on
ratio Of two hundred thousand. would u
We two hundred members Of the House Il
Representatives, with eighty Senators e
! Senatorial ratio Of five hundred Il
ousand. But this apport;onment would d
's;roy the theory Of equal Statehood. Il
would give New York eight Senators, c,
aile all the Territories with their present d
'pulation would not have one. IN this ii
in most other things our political 81
ound builders mistake the way to power e,
d prosperity. If they wish the Eastern L,
ates restored to former influence, let G,
EN- abandon the construction Of States a,
subscription Of territory, and fail back 0,
the law Of numbers as the republican s.
sis for the apportionment ofpower. At T
e one business Alaska and Arizona will th
at them to death. at the other the pop sh
.tion of New York. Massachusetts and liz
sryland will enable them to hold their m
n. Re-:
rs OF TEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ~
We have been furnished with a report -
de to the Chamber OF Commerce show.
the. measures for the welfare of the
Y edOnted nv that bo1r 1,,r;no ,p1