The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-10-25
!Skekch cE Ire Debaies, dc.


under consideration on Thursday forenoon,
he Hon. Mr.. WHITMAN, made the following
observations as near a. they could tie COlIec-
ted ~ favor Of limited representation -
Mr.. Whitman, Of Portland said that from the
number Of schemes this day suggested it would
be apparent no two members were agreed on this
subject; and he trusted the Convention were, by
this time, sensible of the difficulties the commit
tee had encountered in coming to agreement.
The scheme by them presented was compromise
al about medium between the extremes of opin-
ions. The committee had nearly, if not quite,
IS many views presented as are now before the
Convention. The scheme ofthe CON mittee said
Mr. w. is not my scheme. Mine was totally
different Before sit down | viii take leave TO
explain it TO the Conveniently not in the hope or
expt citation that it will be adopted /; for as
could not convince the committee, OF which
Lad the honor 10 be member, cannot suppose
shall be more fortunate here.
We are. Sir about to establish a form Of gov
ernment-not for one section or another Of the
State-not for the present generation only-but
ior The whole commonly and for posterity. The
construction of the Legislative body is the most
important, aud, at the same time, the most diff
cult part of it. We want House of Representa-
tives that shall not he too large TO transact the
public business in a reasonable time A.; and which
shall be large enough TO embrace the talents and
INTEGRITY of the State. G entiemen seem TO me TO
pave erroneous ideas Of the objects Of a Legisla
tfve body These have originated, no doubt, IN
some degree from the construction Of the Legisla
ture o. Massachusetts, Legislature the worst
constructed in the Union 1t is perfect anoma-
~ there is nothing ike it in any other State. Its
House of Representatives has at times cons ted
Of nearly seYen hundred-sxty of which made a
-
aoceut and no great inconvenience has been
experienced from Il that legislative business has
hcop transacted with facility. Sir, il may be so
-bW how has il happened? can tell gentlemen
how Il hes happened. These seven hundred
sEaIn bers have not assembled for the purposes of
legislaton-They have assembled 10 try the
,;Iength of political parties-and for this purpose
only. This done. and they have dispersed. This
huge body has vanished, and left, perhaps,
Quorum behind. IN very few days after his
.emblaee had met and organized the government,
we have found the Speaker scarcely able TO mus
ter quorum Of sixty. If more remained it has
rot been for tie purposes OF general legislation
but 70 accomplish some paltry local object. The
members entrusted with petitions, or the &C
rishment OF some triLins object, have remained
after the multitude had dispersed Those who
have remained have been the real legislators
and have transacted the public business. Til
thus reduced the public business could not he
transacted.
We are never 70 have Representative Body,
trust like that Of Massachusetts- a body per-
feCtly hangeable--compOsed n ono sci ci men
ta-sl-sy- adG another to-morrow--and that IN the
same session. proposition md on one day
before one set of meu. would on another, come
up before an entire different set and finally be
considered by, perhaps. third The members
being paid by their respective towns, and being
but scautily paid. consult their own convenience
attend when they can As well not A.; aud no
longer than, their towns are willing 10 pay them.
Hence the towns aud their Representative are
habituated to consider il as no part Of their duty
TO attend to any thing like general legislation.
The Representative is expected to attend as
kind Of agent for the town, TO effect local objects
altogether Hence it has happened that the
wealthy towns, that are able and willing to sup
port their Representatives the whole term, have
exercised the whole power Of general legislation
il eve;y othec Stale the legislative body is con
stituted Of such members, and Of such members
only as can be kept together for the whole ses
sion ; and as are convenient for the despatch Of
business The State of New Y orl1, with IFS mil
lion Of inhabitants, has a representative body Of
about one hundred and twenty-six. The great
States Of Pennsylvania and Virginia have each
one Of nearly the same SIZE. Gentlemen here
three states. are aszealoas republicans AZ We are
Yet they have never deemed numerous host Of
representatives either necessary OF proper.
Gentlemen may see, M this ConVention, spe-
cnen Of what body of three hundred could &C
complsh Here are with all our variety or
opinions and each tenacious If HE own and
each feeling himself bound to vndcate his own
What progress would this body make in enactiug
!; tar niutilarious laws, necessary to put the
nnw Covernment in operation? Each member
W auld propose his amendments, and offer his rea
sol,s IN relatiun to every section Of every bill
A representative body of one hundred is as large
as ever ought 70 be formed. In such body as
much of talent and OF wisdom could be comprised
as could be found, aud as would be requisite. A
greater number 1cull unreasonsbly impede the
progress Of the public business.
The first representative body under The con
-titntion ofthe Uaeed States which organized
ne new government, TO whom was entrusted
tie mighty affairs OF this nation--the power Of
aking war and peace tie control over the
purse and the sword--conss;ed Of about sixty
members And never were such important af-
airs. before or sioce, So ably managed. The or
-snization of the government was complete as
o have remained, in manner, untouched to the
resent day So perfect is the Treasury system
hen OF ganized that as have been told, late
secret airy Of the Treasury, when making applica
ION 10 another Office, on being told that his tai