Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-21

passage of bill relative to foreign coins.
This bill was then twice read by the
house, and referred to q committee or the
whole. .5
Adjouroed at half past o'clock.
GMr Eppes is the chairman of the CON-.
mi;tec on foreign re,at. ons.
December Is.
Mr., Barry, from Kentucky, appear
ed and took his seat; and also MIR AL.
len, from Massachusetts, both new
members.
Mr.. Mpmford presented a memori-
al from suudry merchants Of the city
of N. York, stating that they had made
large purchases of British manufac
lures antecedently to the issuing of the
late proclamation of the president an.
nouncing the repeal OF the French de-
creA that by the operation Of the nom
intercrures law, unless Great B:itain
revoked her edicts, their goods would
be great loss 70 the mselves, aud the
capital a loss to the country; and pray
ing relief in case of such peculiar
hardship. The memorial was referred
to the committee On foreign relations.
Mr.. Johnson submitted the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, that the committee of
ways end means he instructed to pre-
pare and hri 8 in a bill, fixing the mum.
Der and compensation of clerks In the
several departments ofthe government
of the United States.
Mr.. Mitchell presented petition
from the Cayuga Salt Manufacturers,
ofrhe State of New York, praying an
exemption from the payment Of GER
tain duties on imported instruments or
boilers for the manufacture of salt, in
consideration of its value to the coun-
try. Referred to the committee of
com anerce and manufactures.
The house resolved itself into come
mittee of the whole on the bill fixing
the apportionment of representation a.
moDg the several States--Mr. Basset
In the chair.
Mr.. Fisk moved to fill the blank with
forty FIVE thousand inhabitants for each
representative to this house. He tho't
the number would increase the men,
bers to f55 at least.
The question was taken on this mo-
ton, and negatived; yeas SO, nays So.
Mr.. w. Aston was in favor of a
larger number of inhabitants for each
representative. The house of repre-
sentatives would otherwise become toe
numerous to transact the business o.
the nation. An enlargement of the e.
lection districts would also destroy tn,
practice of electioneering, which hac
become so prevalent in the northern
country, but which he believed wa'
not common TO the eastward. If tn,
districts were more extensive, candi
dates could not find time to ride thro
every part of them for this purpose
He therefore moved to fill the blanl
with fifty thousand.
Mr.. Boyd was in favor of NOR
numerous representation and of act
ing upon the principle which had 60
verned the federal convention, in pro
viding that the people should be full,
represented.
Mr.. Macon was DESTROYS that tn
number of representatives, to which
the house should be entitled, could b,
fixed before the census was completed
--Sthen the ratio might be adjusted 81
as to give to each stare a due proporti
on Of members according to their pc
puIation. His objection to- lsrg
number Of members in the house orr
pinated in the belief that it would b
impossible for them to deliberate an
debate TO advantage, or able to hea
one another when they were speaking
AS to eIeotioneering, it was the neces
sary effect of free government q
long as liberty existed in the country
and as Iong as one man was thought b