Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-01-12

Of confidence, or eoniolidztion, ne. deem
ed it mere queaion Of wor,ls,r II was
riph, that we lhouh CONDUIT the in'ereas
Of eur continents, becaaie we were bet
ter acquainted with them thaa with 1hoie
Of the other aates.. But shat we fhoula
excluG, ely confslt them, to the dhlesard
Of the general principles OF juitioe, OF the
great intereRs Of the United Ssates-.uch
a principle ought not to be teleratet.-
Though the, queaion was, in a'greas nea-
fare, one Of calculation, yet hew.s,aso-
nihed at All avewal Of ose gentleman TO
conform to unjua principles, becaufe ano-
Their gentleman had, inhis opinion, adopt
ed the fame coul{e.
Mr.. D. then wen: into de allied COM
PARTON of the different bearings OF the
two ratios, from which he was in tayo, of
10000.
He then proceeded. The queRion De-
tween the two ratios is not Gmp!y inpSr-
tant as it relates to this louie but as il
lettles the relative weight of the Gatcs in
the election of cur two 6rit executive ia
gifrates. Juf as you diminih the ra'lo
you incseale the weight Of thelarge i}a's.
And this may be done until you lhal
give the large fate, the entire monopoly
of executive power. He would not ly
that the large itates were not entitled to a
monopoly Of thi, power. He would MT
fay, that majority Of talents and VI.
tue, cofrel poudent to the magnisude'os
the aates, did not fubGa but untihe
was iure OF this, he would not be or
comforting monopoly Of power on fur
ha,es. Tho!e Ga;es being the moe ~
portant, it may be thought RICH: TO ss;e
the chief executive masiitra,s from thss,
and the other chief officers; ard this :ay
become 70 much a matter Of courie, hat
it may be deea,ed injurious to diturbtfe
eaablifhed harmony of things. For tlsie
reaions Mr.. D. wa, againa the raio
Which gave undue weight to the lage
Rates.
Mr.. Euai,. faid, there was found
principle which applied itfs!f to the ell.
cidation Of this quceicn. The preie't
ratio ha, given general fatisfaaion.-
As to the aharast aaeaions which had
been difcuhed, they were wholly irmi-
terial. Let US 60 back and view tie
circumstances under which this houie was
organized. 1t was conaituted 70 as TO
afford lthe people Of the United States AZ
opportunity of expecting their feelings,
and representing their intereis. Has any
inconvenience relulted from the ratio o1
$4,000 long fnce adopted ? Has it moi
been recommended by experience! Anc
will not any deire to augment the repre-
lentation be fully atisfed by the increaft
from 1o6 to ,4z. Whether the number was
great or ln,all, he had no idea that the
powers OF the houfe could receive corr-f-
pendent augmentation or dis,inution. He
believed that body 50 men would Got
want Idecltion to oppoie unconstitutional
Entertainments, and that boay CT 1000
would not dare to tran(cend confitutiolal
powers.
Though he felt for the l,uation of De-
laware, yet if the principle was corlca
that the ratio of $4,000 would continue
a body efficiently large, we mua of ne
GETTY abandon any particular regard to
that fate.
There was another circumstance wor-
thy of mention. A diminution of pow:r
was abAorvent to all bodies. If a greet
increale of the members of the houfe IT.
created its power, and aprecedent be nov
fes Of greatly charging OUT number, it
may be followed in future until the houie
becomes 10 large as to render it nuiiancs.
The committee roie, reported progrefs
and a&ed leave, to 6t again.
Adjourned.
PROM The BALANCE,