The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-07

Governor Williams's Message to the
Legislature on the Unfair Apportion-
menr of 1872.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
felt 1t to be my duty, In my inaugural ad-
dress to you, to aIlude TO the apportIonment
bill passed four years ago, TO apportton sena-
tors and representatives for the next six years.
now feel it my duty to present ii more in
detail
The vote of the state on the 10th of October
last was 43i ,009 That would require $3.50 votes
for one senator, 3340 votes for one representa-
tive. Upon examination find the counties
of Rush, Decatur, Fayette and Union, with a
voting population of II, 1872, have a Joint sena-
tor in Fayette, Union and Rush; a joint sena-
Decatur, Jennings and Scott, and for represent
tatives-Rush, one; Fayette and Union, one:
Decatur, one; Ripley, Decatur and Rush, one
--aking two and One-half senators and
three representatives. while the counties of
Adams, Allen and Wells, with 1878, have
only two senator's and three representatives.
With 1900 more votes than Decatur, Rush,
Fayette and Union, they have less representa-
tion. The county of Jefferson, with 5,907, has
a senator and one Representatives That is
more than 1t is entitled to. Jennings has
JOINT senator and one representative-all that
IL is entitled TO with 1878 votes, yet the
counties of Jennings, Scott and Jefferson have
joint representative. The representa-
Clarke Clarke has 5,6Sl, and only Joint sem
ator and one representative. Montgomery has
one senator and one representative, with 6,5S5
votes-all that IL is entitled to. Parke and
VermiIlion, with ,267 votes has a senator and
each a representative, and Parke and Mont
gomery have joint representative, making
two senators and four representatives with
IL, ,S53 votes, whilethe counties of Cass and Car
roll, with l0,969 have only one senator and
two representatives. The county OF Upton
with 1892 votes, il attached to Hamilton for
senator and also tor representative, yet there
are 673 votes more than in Nermillion or War
rem, and they each have representative. Ful-s
ton with 1892 votes, is attached to kosciusb0
for q representative. This county has more
than Lake, and yet Lake has one alone. jay,
with $3.50, is attached to Delaware for a repre-
sentative, while Lagrange with ,25i is given
representative alone. bartholomew and
Brown have ,235, and only one senator and
one representative, while the counties of Law
renee and Monroe, with 1888, have senator
and each a representative.
could go on making comparisons OF SINH
lar character, but this is enough 20 satisfy any
candid man that these wrongs ought TO be
rghted. But many will say this is not the
year to apportion. Section of article IA says:
"The number of senators and representatives
of making such enumeration, be fixed by law
and apportioned among the several counties
according the number of white male inhab-
itants above n years of age in each"
While IL makes IL obligatory every six years,
IL does not say that 1t shall not be done often
Suppose the county of Warren had been left
out OF the bill entirely. Would IL not be prop
er 20 amend the act at this time so the 2,623
votes might have a voice in the halls of legis-
ShOnld amend the act so as TO prevent the dis
franchisement of LOO voters in Allen, Adams
and Wells and 1900 in the counties Of CaSs
and Carroll. Trusting you may consider this
matter calmly and act in accordance with the
dictates of your own consciences, would not
only five or six in the house. where the great
est injustice has been done.
JAMES ID. WILLIAMS, Governor.
Executive Department, Jan. 80, 1871.