The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-12-16
TO REDUCE REPRESENTATION.

country by Introducing Il bill III the
United States Senate toreduce repre-
SEN alton in Congress in those states
where the vote runs small. While
such a measure was recommended in
the last Republican platform, it was
hardly thought probable that any
political matters would be brought
up during the short session of Con-
gress Senator platt does not claim
the authorship Of the bill, but says
it was introduced "bv request" and
makes a series Of statements that are
un;iescri9tivelv called reasons.
This may or may not be trick OF
Mr.. PIatt. who is recognized as one
Of the widest politicians in the coun-
try.
Whatever may be the pretext, the
Republican party is now face to face
with tile responsibility and must
either carry out its election
promise orelse render TO its support
ers good and satisfactory explana-
ton. Their overpowe-ing numbers
in both legislative branches make it
possible to put in force the provision
of the second section of the Four
tecnth Amendment, which has here
tofore been practically regarded as a
dead letter because Of its obnoxious
ness. 1t was the intention of the
trainers OF the Constitution to make
the apPortionment Of congressman
based on the population, counting
the whole number of persons in each
state, and not the number of voters
The section OF the amendment above
referred to recites the orr ginal pro-
vision and thus goes on: "But, when
the right to vote at any election for
the choice of electors for President
and Vice President of the United
States, representatives in Congress,
the executive and judicial officers ola
state or the members of the Legisla-
ture thereof, is denied to any of the
male inhabitants Of such state, being
twentv-one years of age, and citizens
OF the United States, or in any way
h-idged, except for participation in
rebellion or other crime, the basis of
representation therein shall be re-
duced in the proportion which the
number Of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male
citizens in such state"
Thus it can be seen that the power
is ample and the threat that has been
held over the South ever since this
amendment was adopted can be put
III force any time that Congress sees
1T to pass the necessary Reappor-
tionmeut bill If it is legal, and we
cannot see how the section could be
otherwise construed, the South
would welcome the change if at the
same time the Fifteenth Amendment
were repealed. Should tile law be
passed, without any corresponding
recompense in return, it will serve to
intensity any bad feeling that owes
ats outgrowth to the Civil War
This Union cannot be a model so
long as sections and sectioaalism
exist. There is a disposition on the
part OF the South to forget past diff
terences and let the memorable scene
ut Appomaltox be the beginning Of
new United States. The victorious
North, by the power of numbers, con-
,Iucred the South-still it seems to
lack the magnanimity to allow his
tcry to record its observation-disclosures
all victory. 1t is partisan to attempt
turther humiliation of the South by
reducing its number of congressman
and votes i'll the Electoral College,
unless this Section is allowed to ham
die the privilege of franchise in such
manner as the local conditions seem
30 require.
Repeal the Fifteenth Amendment
and no protest will be made against
a reduction of representation; other
wise, while resistance will not be
made by display of arms, it will
give added pretext to sectionalism,
and we can never be truly great until
our several units are blended together