Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-23

Mr.. Ridgley's motion for filing upthe blank
with thirty-6re thousand was agreed to,
yea. So.
On motion of Nr. Dawson, the committee
then rose andreported the bill as amended,
Mr.. Smile spoke against concurring with
the amendment. He was in favor of fixing
the ratio at thiry-seven thousand, by which
no state would lose member, and the house
would be. sufficiently numerous,
Mr.. Fisk was in favor of the number re-
ported. No country, he said, ever lost its IL
berries by being too numerously represented.
Mr.. Potter moved that the further consi-
Iteration Of the subject be postponed until
Monday. Lost.
Mr.. Troup was in favor ola large ratio
He did not wish to see the number of this
house Unfortunately increased. We had ter
rible example before US in the British house
of commons
Mr. Randolph supported the ratio of thirty
seven thousand, but should never consent to
fix the ratio SO high as to deprive any of the
states of their present number of representa-
tivcs. He said the confusion complained OF In
the house would not necessarily be increased
| by an increase of numbers; it was owing to
the manner in which business had been here
tofore conducted. IF it was to be put stop
to, members must be deprived of the pens,
ink, paper, newspapers and novels, (Which
gave the house, the appearance ola large cot
fee-room) as we'll as of the conversation OF
strangers and those persons who were admit
ted within the walls OH the faith of reporting
the proceedings, but who, if judgment were
to be formed from their daily labors, came
there for the express purpose of garbing eve
ry thing that was said Mr.. R. made va
riety of other observations, as usual, on va
riety of other subjects; comparing among O.
ther things, our present form of government
to monarchy in disguise, and so FORTH and
so forth, which any curious inquirer may find
mnch more ably and satisfactorily discussed in
the debates of the Virginia Cow ention, with
out being exposed to the fatigue OF tedious
and disgusting repetitions.
The question was then taken (by ayes and
noes) on agreeing to the ratio fixed in COM
mittee of the whole, and it was lost, ayes 4s,
noes rs; so that the bill remained as first re-
ported to the house.
a motion was again made to fill the blank
with &C forty thousand
This was opposed at length by Mr.. Pitkin,
who conjured the house to reflect, whether
depriving any of the old states of their pre-
sent number Of Representatives, might not
tend greatly to diminish their attachment to
the Union.
The motion to fill the blank as last mention
ed was lost, ayes Sc, noes q.
A motion was again made to fill the blank
with thirty eight Thousand, & lost without di-
vision.
The question was then taken " ayes and
noes on filling the blank with thirty seven
thousand, and carried, ayes lo2, noes 49,
This ratio will make the house consist of ITO
members, (of which New-York alone will
send IS
The bill was ordered to be cngrossed and
read third time on Monday.
And then Quarter, past 81 the house adj
journed till Monday.
IN SENATE, November l8.
The consideration of the resolution intro
duced hu AIR Smith of Marxland on the 9Th