The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-10-25
THURS lfrGFSooN, OCT. q.

HOUSE .dS ludI Oi UtHa CHbtutf, " IOihhi's
the whole subject 10 new committee to di-
gest the various propositions which had been
made, and report new scheme.
Judge Bridge said, if the gentleman from
Monmouth (Gen. c. would withdraw h's mo
ION, he would move, in order 70 try the ques-
ton Of limitation, 10 strike out goo and insert
800 as the highest limit Of the number Of Re
presealatWes.
Gen. Chandler was willing 10 give that mo-
ton the preference.
Mr.. L sher wished The motion TO be divided,
| and be taken first TO strike out the goo.
Judge Bridge declined dividing his motion.
This motion was lost Sc in favour and 100
against.
Mr.. Usher then moved that the number 200
be stricken out in order 10 take the sense of
the Convention on the subject of fixing a linn
itation to the number of Representatives.
Col. Moody said he was unwilling The Con
stitution should 60 to the people with an IN
limited representation.
The question was decided in the neg alive,
lO6 TO l29.
Judge Cony moved that the section be a
mended so that the number of Representatives
be not less than 100 nor more than $50 He
said be believed that the people expected a
limited Representation, and that COnstitu-
ton providing for such an one would be &C NJ
ceptable TO them.
Mr. WhttmGn observed, that as gentlemen
complained Of him in he morning for not Of
fering a substitute Cor ;bat part Of the report
which he would reject, he now rose to move
| that part of the second section be struck out,
and the following be inserted For the ppr
pose of electing Representative, each county
shall be divided into districts, consisting Of one
or more entire towns comprising contiguous
territory, The exterior limits Of each OF which,
| If consisting of more than one town, shall be
as nearly equi distant from a common centre
as NAV be and not exceeding or falling short
more than 10 per cent of the precise nUmber
| of inhabitants requisite 10 enitIe such distric'
| TO send one Representative. But whenever
district cannot be formed in manner aforesaid.
consisting OF more towns than one comprising
the number Of inhabitants 10 entite To elect
one Representative. district nav be formed
in manner aforesaid. containing the requisite
number or within 10 per cent. more or less
thereof to entiile IT to elect greater number.
being as few as practicable, and in no case
exceeding FIVE Representa- tives ProUaded,
hopeuer, that any single town containing with
in 10 per cent. more or less than the requisite
number Of inhabitants 10 emit tie il to elect one
or more Representatives, shall be considered
as district for the purpose OF electing the
corresponding number of Representatives
r ~Lol 4.
tiled 10 Representative shall be equivalent
i near az NAV Be 10 the product Of the whole
number q rnhabFarig 10 such county, divided
by the number Of Representatives assigned
to IL.
The question on adopting this amendment
was decided in the negative. cor TO 80.
Mr. Holmes then brought forward the propo
sition which he had suggested in the morning
Judge IhGcter was pleased with that part
Of the amendment which left the people to
decide whether the number should be increas-
ed, but he also wished they might decide
whether il should be diminished also
The vote was taken on Judge Cony's no
ton TO have the limits 100 and $50, and neg
atived
Judge Thacher moved to amend the amend
ment OF Mr. Holmes by inserting diminished"
90 as to give The people power 10 increase or
finnish he Representatives, and the question
was decided in the affirmative, 159 10 80.
The question on Mr. Holmes amendment
vas then taken and decided in the affirmative
~ large majority-l6 only against it, !
Gen Chandler called Tor the question on
his motion TO recommh the several proposals
Some opposition 10 this motion as made
~ Messrs Paris. Holmes Green and T'hdch
en- mr.. Holmes said il would be ! waste ot
lime, and wished The sense of the Convention
to be taken on. The principle Of the report.
MI Dearhorn, of Halowell, opposed the
commitment, unless special directions should
be given to the committee. We have (said
Mr.. d. already bad this subject before large
and highly respectable committee. and it was
confidently hoped that on this interesting and
all important question Of forming House Of
Representatives, their labOurs would have pro.
duced some scheme or project by which fair
and equal representation of the people would
he returned to The House.-But Mr. President,
have they done il I? answer no. Of all in
strumehts whet up and sharpened for the pur-
pose of carving and dissecting the State into
unequal parts, this, (said Mr.. D. } the scheme
Of the committee, is the most complete. Dir.
ID wished the whole question in relation to
that body which is 10 hold the purse strings Of
the State. TO be brought fairly before the Con
ven ton, and not be committed until the pro
iect reported by the committee was sifted 10
The bottom.