The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-21
UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION.
NOW POPULAR RIGHTS HAZE BEEN
sPURNED.'
The Eastern Counties Of the etst~ Denied
Their Lawful, Constitutional Representa-
ton by Two Republican LegislntureM


Their Lawful, on.titotionai Representa-
tion by Two Republican Leaisiatures
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir: The
fragrant misconduct OF the Republican mem
bers Of the Legislature has created n specific
issue for the Democracy which. it will be seen.
vitality concerns the people Of the eastern
counties. I allude to the omission to district
the State. The directions OF the Constitution
arc express and imperative:
AsTicts H. section An enumeration Of ille inhah,
liant ilc STATE shall be- ascu under the direction OF
the legislature. IN the year ti and NJ the end o every
ten year. ihefeetcr ard the snid Senate districts shall
The fciurn of every enumeration that each senaic a..
uci snail contain ascary as may b. AN equal lumber
NJ Inhabitants. excluding ALIENS. etc
See ? The Assembly shall consist Of i2s members
be eSporuoned among he ,evCpa COUNTIES OF ,Es STATE
~ the ifeislnnrc v ncnry a. nay be- according 70 the
and .hall be- chosen by single districts Tue Assembly,
The cnulucrulon the nhabtqn,s OF the STATE IN The
year 1870 The Legislature A. H. nrs session amer the
return of every enumeration shall apporiOn the Den
cr- Of Assembly amuni the several counties o the STATE
In manner Aforesaid, etc
Although the Democrats Ind carried tho State
in 1875 Ivy n majority OF 1000. and In 1876 by
near SO 900. the Republicans were able to secure
the Legislature This was entirely owing to the
vicious and inquitous apportlonment OF 1866
when Republican majority. In disregard OF the
plain import Of the Constitution. dstricted the
state so rs to deprive New York and Kings
counties oftheir rghtful proportion Of Senators
and Members OF Assembly. This disparity.
which was then too great. has become still more
so every year. The eastern counties, having
close relations with tho city OF New York. be-
come moro populous every year: but the aRri-
cultural counties Of the north and west remain
nearly stationary. Our great trunk railroad
lines are the cause OF this. They tend to con-
centrate population Mt their termini aud In the
ncighborhood and TO diminish the number OF
inhabitants in those regions that are compare
lively distant. The Constitution has generous
" provided for this contingency. 1t assures
Member OF Assembly to every county but one,
however small it, population; and also requires
every Senate and Assembly district to be con-
stituted OF contiguous territory without divld-
Ing the counties and towns. Some twenty coun-
ties are thus protected. Tho practice Of Gerry
Wandering. to secure TO these sparsely popu-
lated regions an undue proportion OF the
representation Ia the Legislature. IL therefore
without the shadow OF justice.
The Republican majority in the Legislatures
OF 1876 and 1877 were constituted from these
very counties and districts IN which is this
gross deficiency ~ representative population.
Thus 4S9 900 Republicans were enabled TO hold
the majority over the 522OVO Democrats who
Assembly. The apportiunment of the State IS
required by the Constitution. would speedily
terminate such = condition OF afairs. But tue
upon the members composing the political ma
JOritv. Instead of preparing nm apportonment
bill. which should distribute the members OF the
Legislature euultnhly among the several coun.
tiea and regions Of the State. they conspired
togeth-riO frame partisan bills grnssy dis
honorable and unequal. which both Governors
Tiiden md Robinson found IL their duty not 10
approve. Tn" result was, Of course. Just what
WIS contemplated. to keep in force the appor-
uoumcnt III 1866. which WIS unjust when en-
notei and hy the operation OF the law control
ling population. has become inlnl"rHble
Under the enumeration OF 1879. the reprrsen-
tatye population emitting locality tn senH-
tor Is 1856 $50. That census gave New York city
! .O45 223 inhabitants. and Kings county 500 ZIG
amounting t. almost one-thlrd OF the entire
population OF the State. New York ought there
four. II may be urged that these numbers are
somewhat too large for this city. But have
already shown that the rapid influx of inhHhi-
tnnfs ~ certain 90 remove any disparity IL that
nature. | am sure that no disprOportion now
~ SIS. These two HOuntir= are entitled tOtwelNe
senators. and have but seven. There ar" eleven
SrnHt. dcstrcts in the State outside Of these
cOuntier. which Also have Ito Just complement
~ population. Il j. = very significant fact that
the MAJOR part 81 these eighteen districts usually
give Democratic nHloriii's.
The remaining fourteen arc VIGOROUSLY oi
the rotten borough order. They were den lent
In the number ~ their inhabitants when they
were created in 1850. under "A census which no.
toriously underrounted New York and deprived
her Of u portion Of her rightfu representation.
Ten yenrs have increased this discrepancy oi
YORK and Kings counties are now entitled are
fAudulently given 10 counties lar remote. sofa
Nv because they viii elect Republicans. The fol-
lowing tail" will show what have declared: