Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-12-23
Congrefs oftbe unitfo States.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
Friday, December IS.

On motion OF Mr.. Giles, the houie went
into committee Of the whole, MIR. Nj
eholion in the chair, on the bill for the ap-
tortnnment Of reprsSntGsives, According to
the fecond Genius.
MIR. Macon (fpsakerl moved TO ttr'ke
out "thir.y three" the ratio fixed by the
bill, for the purpofe Of inier,ing ''th'r'y'
Mr.. Macon oblerved that it did not
appear from the different ideas exp'eiied
b. different gentlemen ,hs. any material
inconvenience would re!ult from the inc:ea-
fed number of members that would be ere
a,ed by the ratio of thirty tkoofand being
adopted. Whereas on the ground ofprin-
ciple great benef, would fow from it.
In his opinion to fecure the confidence OF
the people in the government, it was e.
iential 10 leten the difriets as much as
pofIible, that the eleetor might know the
elected. At prefent particularly in North
Carolina, they were 70 large that vo-
ter depended more upon the opinion ct
others, that upon his own information.
The ratio of 80, 900 would not introduce
into the Houfe more than 100 members,
which number did not equal that of the
members in feveral of the fate Legislatures,
ofwhich no complaints had been made,
and from which no Inconvenience had r.
fen. He felt particularly for Delaware,
which would be feverely Affected by the
ratio in the bill,
Mr.. Giles hoped the motion would
obtain. As far as rel peaed the fate OF
Virginia he fel, little or no anxiety.
But he, on general principles, preferred
the fmal.cf ratio. 1t was an eGential
principle OF republican government that
the people voting thould know whom
they vote for; that the eieetor ihould
be we'll acquainted with the elected
To infurc this efea the dittriets fhould
be fmall. He was aware of the impofli-
bility of reaching this point p'eeifely !;
but it was Our duty to approach 1t as
nearly a, pofible. Though, in relation
TO the fituation Of Delaware, he did not
fubfcribe fully toshe ideas otfomc gentle
men, as the cafe was an extreme one, and
he knew the improperly of relying
UPON fuch cafe, as the reafoning from
an extreme generally led to an extreme,
get bbesla tAsrsh and Virginia, as a,ed, to
be correct; for it was fact that Virgil
MIA, entitled to z. representatives was
not 70 much affected by any giysu f'astion,
As Delaware, entitled to but one repre-
tentative.
But the reply to the inequality Of her
representation here is, that lhc has two
representatives in the Senate and 1t is
inferred that ihe will hence derive a lar
ger weight in the union. Such was the
theory Of the thing. But what was the
refuls of experienced Mr.. Giles faid he
had once iuppcisd that the imall itates
would have an undue advantage over the
large lates. His opinion had -hnce al
tered. All the imalI fates were iurroun-
ded and conpreGed by large ftates, and
derived their political fympathies from
them. 1t was true the fnall ifates had
each votes in the Senate. Yet what
iuperior advantage have they in the 60
vernment generally! He was, therefore,
clearly of opinion that the claims Of the
finall aates to the Target representation
that could be confisutionalsy given them,
ought not to be affected by their reprefen-
tstion in the Senate.
The fact was that this hou!e was the ba-
Gs of confidence in the government. We
had heard much about an alarm, abou'
diforganization, and the difpohsion Oil large
Rates to fwallow up the rights of all the
other iases. He would ak whether the
adoption of large ratio would leRen
this Glamour, promote the general conf
dence, and u,creafe the liability Of the go
vernment. :.
Mr.. Jones hoped tie amendment would
prevail. There was not doubt out that
the flsa!l itates would Be materially at
feaed by the ratio in the bill. 1t was
true, that according ,o,he theory Of our
government, the members OF that houfe
did nos rcpreiens the itsses. But what
was the fset :, In truth our repreEentaii-
onwas that of abiolu,e locality. Can /,
laid Mr.. Jones, repreieus as efettually,
n