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New Apportionment

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Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
September
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The census of this State 13 now being tnken. According to the Constitution the Representativos and Senators shall beapportioned aiieu). Thfit instrument also declares thtt Representottvfs shall be chosen "annually by the electora of the several counties or dlstricls into which the State shall be divided for that purpose." The only disti iets hitherto made have been constituted by the union of two ör more counties. But the langusge of the Constitution ndmifs of a división ihto small dislricts, ench of which niay send one or two memhers. The Detroit Advertiser goes in for this mensure, and we also approve of it for many reasons. It is more democratie, tt reduces the constituency of the members, and wouíd make them feel moredirectly rcsponsible to those who elected them. The candidates would be personal] y known to oll the voters, and henee very objectionable men would stand less chance of election. This plan would give the minority a larger fepresentation than they now have. Suppose our 70 lgislators to be elected by general ticket of tho whole State, and it is evident that théy would last year have been all Demöcrafs. Now they are elected by Senate Districts afid Counties, and the Whigs have but seven or eight members. Whereas the Whigs and Liberty party poll one half of al' the voies in the State, and yet are scarcely represented at all. But by single districts they would elect at least from one quaftef to one third of the whole number. Fortbis reason we presume the "öld Hunkers" who govern the State will oppose a división into small districts,although they must acknowledge it to be more in accordace with real Democracy than the present district system.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News