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Story
August 19, 1842
Carroll Free Press
Carrollton, Carroll County, Ohio
What is this article about?
Proceedings in the Ohio Legislature on August 10-11, 1842, focusing on a bill to divide Ohio into congressional districts. Debate over printing the amendment leads to motions and votes. On August 11, mass resignations in both houses disrupt quorum, yet the bill is declared passed amid controversy.
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OHIO LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, Aug 10, 1842.
Mr. Clark, of the select committee on that subject, reported a bill to divorce Richard Shemard from his wife, which was read the first time.
Mr. Byington, of the select committee, to whom it was referred, reported back the bill to divide the State of Ohio into Congressional districts, with an amendment, to strike out all after the second section, and insert so as to make the districts with their population as follows:
1-Trumbull, Portage and Geauga -77,369.
2-Columbiana, Jefferson and Carroll -83,516.
3-Harrison, Belmont and Monroe—79,521.
4-Stark and Tuscarawas-60,234
5-Ashtabula, Lake & Cuyahoga-63,919.
6-Medina, Lorain, Erie and Huron -73,351
7-Richland, Marion and Union-76,719
8-Coshocton, Knox and Delaware -73,229.
9-Licking, Perry and Morgan-75,292.
10-Fairfield, Pickaway and Fayette -62,633
11-Hocking, Ross, Pike, Jackson and Adams-67,754
12-Highland, Brown and Clermont 68,090.
13-Hamilton-80,145.
14-Butler, Preble and Montgomery -79,593.
15-Warren, Clinton, Green & Clark -73,270
16-Washington, Meigs, Athens, Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto-85,758.
17-Holmes, Wayne and Summit-76,456.
18-Muskingum and Guernsey-64,497.
19-Franklin, Madison, Champaign, Logan and Miami-84,498.
20-Crawford, Seneca, Sandusky, Ottawa, Hancock, Hardin and Wood-63,651.
21-Shelby, Lucas, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Allen, Mercer and Darke--66,942.
Mr. Clark moved to lay the bill and amendment on the table to be printed.
Mr. M'Nulty called for the yeas and nays.
Mr. Bliss hoped there would be no objection to printing the amendment. It could be done in a few hours
Mr. Clark said his design in making the motion was, to have it printed as speedily as possible, and have it take precedence of all other business.
The motion was then taken and lost, by a vote of yeas 33, nays 36.
Mr. Taylor then moved that the bill and amendment lie on the table without being printed.
His principal reason for making the motion was, that from its bare reading, no man can form such an estimate of the amendment as to vote understandingly upon it. He wished to examine it that he might know whether it was worthy of being supported or not. He did not like to be compelled to vote blind fold on a measure. It might be that the majority had examined it, and they ought to allow the minority the same privilege. Since they had refused to have it printed, he asked that it might be on the table till he could copy it, and thus have the means of becoming acquainted with its contents. It might be said that the session had been lengthened out already too long, but that was no reason for acting precipitately on an important subject. If the bill was worth passing it was worth maturing. The people had not sent us here to "go it blind," to vote without examination. He knew not how the amendment made the districts conform to the required population and contiguous territory. To refuse the minority this privilege was, in effect, saying to them, you need not examine it, the majority have done it, and that is sufficient. To refuse them this, was both ungenerous and unjust.
Mr. Clark had no disposition to protract the session a single day, beyond what was absolutely necessary to do its business. The minority did not understand the proposition proposed to be introduced by the amendment, and it was their right to have an opportunity of informing themselves. If this motion should prove unsuccessful, he should, if he could catch the Speaker's eye, move for an hour's recess, for the purpose of having time to examine the amendment This subject was the chief business of the session, and he wished to be able to give an account to his constituents for his votes here. It was the usual practice of the House to print every unimportant bill, and that practice should certainly be adhered to in the case of a law which was to continue for ten years. Could gentlemen who had been here-tofore such sticklers for printing, refuse it under the circumstances? He hoped he might be permitted to have the poor privilege of going to the Clerk's table and looking at it.
THURSDAY, August 11, 1842
IN SENATE.
Mr. Bartley, from the committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred House bill, No. 22, to amend the act to abolish imprisonment for debt, made a report-and on the question of agreeing to the recommendation of the committee-
Mr. Leonard moved a call of the Senate. And on his motion to dispense with further proceedings under the call, the ayes and noes were demanded, and were ayes 8-noes 15. A quorum not voting-when
Mr. Ford arose and presented to the Speaker the RESIGNATION of Messrs. Barnett, Carpenter, Crawford, Ford, Foos, Henderson, Root, Sill, Staunton, Van Vorhes, Wade and Waddle--which the Speaker laid before the Senate. [The Speaker had already received the resignation of Mr Perkins, who some days since obtained leave of absence in consequence of ill health]
Mr. Thomas moved that the Senate adjourn-which was decided ayes 5. nays 18.
Mr. Bartley enquired if it would be in order to move to take up a bill lying upon the table.
The Speaker replied, that, the Senate being without a quorum, no motion can be entertained, except a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Leonard enquired if it would be in order to call upon the Senator from Miami (Mr. Thomas) for a Tippecanoe Song?
On motion of Mr Clark, the Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The bill to divide the State of Ohio into Congressional districts, was about to be read a third time, Mr. Chambers commenced speaking in relation to the bill. At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr. C. handed to the Speaker the resignations of twenty eight members of the House, to wit:
Messrs. Streator, Schenck, Smith of Highland. McCrea, Gard, Chenoweth, Updegraff, Taylor, Gregory, Titus, Smith of Montgomery, Hawkins, Fudge, Powell, Bliss, Scott, Ackley, Probasco, Odds, Wheeler, Cooke, Clarke, Dunham, Evans, Brown, Bowen, Fuller, and Kelley, [Before resuming his seat, Mr. C. continued] As to myself. Mr. Speaker, I shall, in due time, follow the example of my colleagues- but shall remain as a member at least for a short time, to see fair play to the people of Ohio, and keeping a true Journal.
The members who had resigned, then immediately withdrew from the Hall, leaving the House without a quorum.
The Speaker ordered the clerk to proceed with reading the bill, which being read through,
Mr. Chambers and others repeatedly demanded the yeas and nays on its passage.
No attention however was paid to the call.
The question "shall the bill pass" was put and the Speaker announced that the bill had passed
Mr. Chambers asked for a call of the House, which was seconded, there being evidently less than a quorum within the bar, but no attention was paid to the request by the Speaker.
The questions on the engrossment & passage of some bill in relation to the currency, the title of which the reporter could not hear, were successively put,
and declared to be carried and the bills as having passed.
The speaker then put the question on adjourning till to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock, which notwithstanding the loud calls for the yeas and nays, was put and declared to be carried.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, Aug 10, 1842.
Mr. Clark, of the select committee on that subject, reported a bill to divorce Richard Shemard from his wife, which was read the first time.
Mr. Byington, of the select committee, to whom it was referred, reported back the bill to divide the State of Ohio into Congressional districts, with an amendment, to strike out all after the second section, and insert so as to make the districts with their population as follows:
1-Trumbull, Portage and Geauga -77,369.
2-Columbiana, Jefferson and Carroll -83,516.
3-Harrison, Belmont and Monroe—79,521.
4-Stark and Tuscarawas-60,234
5-Ashtabula, Lake & Cuyahoga-63,919.
6-Medina, Lorain, Erie and Huron -73,351
7-Richland, Marion and Union-76,719
8-Coshocton, Knox and Delaware -73,229.
9-Licking, Perry and Morgan-75,292.
10-Fairfield, Pickaway and Fayette -62,633
11-Hocking, Ross, Pike, Jackson and Adams-67,754
12-Highland, Brown and Clermont 68,090.
13-Hamilton-80,145.
14-Butler, Preble and Montgomery -79,593.
15-Warren, Clinton, Green & Clark -73,270
16-Washington, Meigs, Athens, Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto-85,758.
17-Holmes, Wayne and Summit-76,456.
18-Muskingum and Guernsey-64,497.
19-Franklin, Madison, Champaign, Logan and Miami-84,498.
20-Crawford, Seneca, Sandusky, Ottawa, Hancock, Hardin and Wood-63,651.
21-Shelby, Lucas, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Allen, Mercer and Darke--66,942.
Mr. Clark moved to lay the bill and amendment on the table to be printed.
Mr. M'Nulty called for the yeas and nays.
Mr. Bliss hoped there would be no objection to printing the amendment. It could be done in a few hours
Mr. Clark said his design in making the motion was, to have it printed as speedily as possible, and have it take precedence of all other business.
The motion was then taken and lost, by a vote of yeas 33, nays 36.
Mr. Taylor then moved that the bill and amendment lie on the table without being printed.
His principal reason for making the motion was, that from its bare reading, no man can form such an estimate of the amendment as to vote understandingly upon it. He wished to examine it that he might know whether it was worthy of being supported or not. He did not like to be compelled to vote blind fold on a measure. It might be that the majority had examined it, and they ought to allow the minority the same privilege. Since they had refused to have it printed, he asked that it might be on the table till he could copy it, and thus have the means of becoming acquainted with its contents. It might be said that the session had been lengthened out already too long, but that was no reason for acting precipitately on an important subject. If the bill was worth passing it was worth maturing. The people had not sent us here to "go it blind," to vote without examination. He knew not how the amendment made the districts conform to the required population and contiguous territory. To refuse the minority this privilege was, in effect, saying to them, you need not examine it, the majority have done it, and that is sufficient. To refuse them this, was both ungenerous and unjust.
Mr. Clark had no disposition to protract the session a single day, beyond what was absolutely necessary to do its business. The minority did not understand the proposition proposed to be introduced by the amendment, and it was their right to have an opportunity of informing themselves. If this motion should prove unsuccessful, he should, if he could catch the Speaker's eye, move for an hour's recess, for the purpose of having time to examine the amendment This subject was the chief business of the session, and he wished to be able to give an account to his constituents for his votes here. It was the usual practice of the House to print every unimportant bill, and that practice should certainly be adhered to in the case of a law which was to continue for ten years. Could gentlemen who had been here-tofore such sticklers for printing, refuse it under the circumstances? He hoped he might be permitted to have the poor privilege of going to the Clerk's table and looking at it.
THURSDAY, August 11, 1842
IN SENATE.
Mr. Bartley, from the committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred House bill, No. 22, to amend the act to abolish imprisonment for debt, made a report-and on the question of agreeing to the recommendation of the committee-
Mr. Leonard moved a call of the Senate. And on his motion to dispense with further proceedings under the call, the ayes and noes were demanded, and were ayes 8-noes 15. A quorum not voting-when
Mr. Ford arose and presented to the Speaker the RESIGNATION of Messrs. Barnett, Carpenter, Crawford, Ford, Foos, Henderson, Root, Sill, Staunton, Van Vorhes, Wade and Waddle--which the Speaker laid before the Senate. [The Speaker had already received the resignation of Mr Perkins, who some days since obtained leave of absence in consequence of ill health]
Mr. Thomas moved that the Senate adjourn-which was decided ayes 5. nays 18.
Mr. Bartley enquired if it would be in order to move to take up a bill lying upon the table.
The Speaker replied, that, the Senate being without a quorum, no motion can be entertained, except a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Leonard enquired if it would be in order to call upon the Senator from Miami (Mr. Thomas) for a Tippecanoe Song?
On motion of Mr Clark, the Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The bill to divide the State of Ohio into Congressional districts, was about to be read a third time, Mr. Chambers commenced speaking in relation to the bill. At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr. C. handed to the Speaker the resignations of twenty eight members of the House, to wit:
Messrs. Streator, Schenck, Smith of Highland. McCrea, Gard, Chenoweth, Updegraff, Taylor, Gregory, Titus, Smith of Montgomery, Hawkins, Fudge, Powell, Bliss, Scott, Ackley, Probasco, Odds, Wheeler, Cooke, Clarke, Dunham, Evans, Brown, Bowen, Fuller, and Kelley, [Before resuming his seat, Mr. C. continued] As to myself. Mr. Speaker, I shall, in due time, follow the example of my colleagues- but shall remain as a member at least for a short time, to see fair play to the people of Ohio, and keeping a true Journal.
The members who had resigned, then immediately withdrew from the Hall, leaving the House without a quorum.
The Speaker ordered the clerk to proceed with reading the bill, which being read through,
Mr. Chambers and others repeatedly demanded the yeas and nays on its passage.
No attention however was paid to the call.
The question "shall the bill pass" was put and the Speaker announced that the bill had passed
Mr. Chambers asked for a call of the House, which was seconded, there being evidently less than a quorum within the bar, but no attention was paid to the request by the Speaker.
The questions on the engrossment & passage of some bill in relation to the currency, the title of which the reporter could not hear, were successively put,
and declared to be carried and the bills as having passed.
The speaker then put the question on adjourning till to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock, which notwithstanding the loud calls for the yeas and nays, was put and declared to be carried.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Ohio Legislature
Congressional Districts
Bill Amendment
Printing Motion
Resignations
Quorum Disruption
Bill Passage
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Clark
Mr. Taylor
Mr. Chambers
Mr. Byington
Mr. Bliss
Mr. Bartley
Mr. Leonard
Where did it happen?
Ohio Legislature, House Of Representatives And Senate
Story Details
Key Persons
Mr. Clark
Mr. Taylor
Mr. Chambers
Mr. Byington
Mr. Bliss
Mr. Bartley
Mr. Leonard
Location
Ohio Legislature, House Of Representatives And Senate
Event Date
Wednesday, Aug 10, 1842; Thursday, August 11, 1842
Story Details
Debate in the Ohio House over printing an amendment to a bill dividing the state into congressional districts, listing proposed districts and populations. Motions to table and print fail or are contested. On the next day, mass resignations in Senate and House disrupt quorum, but the Speaker declares the bill passed without yeas and nays, amid protests for fair procedure.