Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-07-28
80. 10 A1f.o.1l TEa.sL.legecga.
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,LCoNr1NrED.I

'AAsr Stggio1 or coNcRres.

ASA4S t.Af9 iHeHiOtlS
New-Hampshire s.; Massachusetts n
Vermont 4 Phode-Island . Connect
cut /; New-Yoris II New-Jcrsev 6
Pennsylvania 70; Delaware ! MARYLAND \
9; Virginia p; North Carolina 70 South I.
Carolina s; GeorSia4 /; Kentuei>, 6 Zen /
fessee 3.
On the next day the house went into
committee of the whole on the bin when
Hr' Macon, q representative from North |
Carolina, moved 20 strike out the ratio Of
thirty three" For the purpose OF insert
ing "thirty."
as all the subsisting diversity OF epiai-
ON entertained by different members set
iied down into the affirmative or negative
ot'this question, we shall condcnsc the diff
iuse debate which took place on this as
well as on several subsequent days, into
one general point OF view.
Messrs. Macon, Jones, I. Morris, Den.
us, Bayard, Griswold, Giles, Smile, and
Dana, supported the striking out the ratio
ot " tbirty-threc thousand ;" and Messrs.
Van Ness, Bacon, Randolph, Davis, Eustis,
Mitchell, S. Smith S. Lowndes opposed il.
Those who supported the motion of Mr..
Macon, and Of course opposed the ratio
of'' thjrty-three thousand" were divided
~ option on the grounds of support; some
being in favour Of the ratio OF $4,000, and
others in Favour Of ratio stin higher than
$4,000.
They aijedged, that nc material acohve-
n enoe world arise from the Increased de.
Legations that would be created by an a.
doption OF the ratio OF 10000, the aggtc.
gate OF which would not exceed ! 60 mem
bers, a number much smaller than that of
several state legislatures, wherein public
business had been conducted with inteIji
gene, With order and with pronptness
that ifthe interests of STAKE required such
a delegation, how much more did the in
terests Of the United States, SO vastly ex.
tended, require one equally large; that it
was an object Of primary magnitude to at
tach the confidence, and even the affeGfi-
ons Of the great mass of the people to the
representative body, and that no happier
mean could be devised Of attaining this
end, than that OF an increased representa-
ton, whereby the constituent mirht be sc-
quaInIed with his Representative, and not
depend, as was a. present the case owino.
TO the iargeness OF the d;-tr; 4, on the OBI
MON Of others; that Il was an essential,
principle Of a republican government that
the CITIZEN voting should know whom be
voteG Jf, that las eieoSoV sauGiG be 6eil
acquainted with Che elected ana though
i! was allowed that it was impracti1abls sb-
soI1.eiy 10 reach this point, II was ssiII the
duty Of the Legislature to approach It as
nearly IS possible.
That it was true wisdom toiucraase the
NJ ht4 ~ a..
States; no further, it was Granted, than n
enable It to protest Itself from suDYeysion
o. depression BY the unconstitutional Elf
croachncnt Of the states; thet this strength
was no; to be acquired by extending the
power OF the executive; but by augment
ing the members &c the popular branch.
Whereby the affections ofthe people to the
government would be invigorated; audit
was added by Mr.. Bayard that more real
powell would be conferred by the addition
Often members, than by an army of 10
ooO men.
1t was commended that the House OF Re
representatives. was, and necessarily would
be the mair pillar of the general govern
meat. While it retained the attachment
and possessed the confidence ofthe nation,
the government would endure but &c any
state should succeed in weaving Che alfcc-
tons Of the peopIe from this house and
transferring their confidence exclusively
TO the states, the government would perish.
That it was wise to enlarge The field Of
action and employment under this govern
1pent. SO small a number occupied the
ground upon the aoor Of that House that
The talents and ambition Of the mass of
men aspiring to distinction were direct- !
ed 10 state objects, and seeking the ag-
grandisement of the States, eventually be- |
came hostile TO the general government. !
The representation Of the country was too |
spare, it was not sufficiently united and
bound TO the bosom Of The nation. The
same sympathy and confidence did not
subsist between representative and con- !
s.ituent when widely separated. Under
.thc state governments, the representatives
proceeded from every Deighbourhood.
They were well known, connected by
common interests and friendship, and
thence enjoyed tie entire confidence of
their constituents. Whereas q reprcscu-
tatiye in that house was known by narne
only 70 the greater number Of those who
cleet him.
Thar t1c representation in That horse was
NATIONAL s not that OF states that thence
the necessity Of o large representation, not
merely acquainted wiih state interests, but
also w.tathe wants 5cthe wishesof thcwhole
people; and that the fear entertained that
tho general government might become TOO
strong, BY the means Of great repfcsen-
ia;ion, Tor the governments o. tie states,
was altogether ehimcrical, inasrHach as all