The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-13
Unfair Apportionment.

In spite Of the TACT that Tue census oi tooV
shows the south TO have increased 10 popu'
tallou much mere rapidly than the North
since 1870, tho. stalwsrt Republicans Of the
uausc OF Representatives seem disposed
ether to defeat rcapportionment altogether
a, the present session OF Congress or to force
through bill giving to the North an undue
proportion Of the representatives. 1t IS so
evident from the new GENIUS that the Soutn
i. entitled to a greater relative increase OF
representatives than the North that we
should be surprised at the proposition 10
make her increase equal only to that Of 'ne
North IL we could be surprised al any'h'"s
that hater OF southern "rebels" does
Another uufilr a. well Is unconstitutional
nroposI,ion is the one which would appof'
ton representation according TO Inc NUM-
her OF voters instead OF according 10 Tue
number OF persons. This has, however
been condemned by some Of the Dest OF 'he
northern conference.-the. HAWLEf' VI
Connecticut. among them. Mr.. HAwLEY
l. North Carolinlan by birth; but ~ ms
father Is said 10 have been CONNECTICUT
nedler. and as the son removed 10 Con-
nectlcn, almost as soon as he was old enough
20 walk, he may be regarded as true
b!ue Yankee, Notwithstanding the fact tnat
he bears ali the marks OF southern man.
We are glad TO know that this North Caro-
lima Yankee, this Connecticut sout6rop, has
been unable 10 find in the fourteenth amend
ment any warrant for this unfair PROPOSE
ton.
when we first learned that such propo-
si,ion had been seriously suggested ny
some Republicans we did not suppose Tor q
moment that IL would meet any other re-
cepiion in the House than silent contempt
But there were found number OF RepuD'
iicans so biased By prejudice and hope oil
partisan advantages as TO advocate II III
speeches protesting to be argunrntatiVc.
This was done, too. in defiance OF the re-
Guirements Of that very fourteenth amend
ment 10 which the parii>ans Aforesaid
climed to find their authority Tor Their
new basis OF representation. That amend
meni contains provision that If any OF
States citizens be denied, except for crime,
the right TO vote
"Tbe basis of representation lin such
S.ateI shall be reduced IN the proportion
mhieh the number OF such male citizens
shall bear to the whole number Of male cii-
Gems twcnty-one years OF age IN sucn
State"
This is exactly equivalent to providing
that repreSentation shall be based upon p0pu'
Iation, aud not upon voters. 1t declares
in terms what proportion of the population
shal be taken as the basis Of representa-
ton and yet Republican congressman pre-
texG to hold that Congress has the power
under that language TO make voters the
basis OF representation.
Treating the proposition as il 1t was
worthy OF argument, the Chicago Times
summarizes the result which would follow
it, adoption in the following words
1.-The scheme TO apportion representatives
according 10 the number OF electors, had II
been incorporated in the political law, would
have been perpetual incentive 10 an extern
sion OF the suffrage not only to all negroes
hut TO all ncgresses; 10 all male ana all It-
male persons, whether supporters OF gov
eroment or dependents on government for
suppoIt: TO minors, and Indians, and every
sort Of barbarian tina, by any legal or extra
legal hocus pOcus could baye been brought
in 10 swell the basis OF representation. Thus.
in fact, the basis OF representation wOuid
have been. as before, population, O'ln%
made 30 by extending the electoral franchise
10 the population en- mqSSe."
Not only so; but it would have been an
incentive to ballo,-boX stuffDg. Each State
would have been tempted TO make out an
immense roll OF voters. Under the present
ratio Of representation there are about
$4,000 voters in a congressional district.
To add %, 900 fraudulent votes to the actual
number cast would, therefore, under such a
scheme, entile a State to another congress
man. THIS addition the Democrats OF New
York city, or the Republicans OF Phllddel'
phia, could easily make unless both tho
former and the latter are libelled by theii
enemies.
II IS to be hoped that the good sense o.
the House will triumph, and a fair resppor
tionment be made. But so confident are W.
that the next House would pass bill worst
than the one allowing the North an Cqua
increase with the South in the number o.
her representatives that II we were in The
House We would accept $40 members at tb'
present session rather than run the risk q
greater wrong in the future.