Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-31

gle enemy 10 that constitution, aud TO The /
principles cf our government, he must exut |
at the prospect which the vote that has Just |
been gwen presents, OLA complete realization
OF these gloomy predictions.
Under the first census the ratio was thirty
three thuusaud-it was the same under the
seconI under the third il was augmented
ooly two thousands but it is now proposed
by Il sudden start, to depart from this slow
and gradual augmentation of the ra;o-to leap
over the number of seven thousand and adopt
ratio of forty-tw0 thousand. When, sir, it
is proposed To depart from n course of policy
winch experience has approved--which at
least has never been subject Of complaint,
1t is natural to require of the advocates of the
measure arguments, not merely spcciOus, but
such as are conclusive, dcmOnstratiye, and
convincing, leaving nothing to doubt. Now,
SIR, what are the reasons that have been Of
| Tered for this extraordinary increase of the
ratio Ii has been said by AN honnrable MEM
Der from New York, (Mr. Woody who, it
seems favors ratio still higher than the one
adopted by the cOmuittec, that, if the num-
Der OF members be increased, public business
VIII be neglected and delayed, and that, to Sc
cure dispatch, our present number ought not to
be augmented. Sir, in endeavor to avoid
tins great evil, as it is now considered, of too
little legislation, we ought to be cautious lest
we run ISto the opposite extreme, of too much
Legislation. The business, sir, which is done
IN this body may be divided into two sorts,
That which is necessary, and that which is not
necessary, or certainly of doubtful expedien-
cy. In the iirstclass may be placed the neces-
sary provisions tUrthe revenue of the succeed
ing ycar-the necessary appropriations for
the civil, military, and naval departments !;
necessary Investigations OF our foreign rela-
mln'>tration of our affairs la the various de-
partments of government into the Official
conduct of executive officers, and their gene
RAJ management OF our concerns. Such, sir.
| generally, Is the necessary business of Con
Sress and II is business which will always he
done; which the public wants and public ext
sences will compel you to perform. No
matter of what number this House NAV con-
s'sl, ai's, the necessary business of govern
ment, cannot he neglected.
with regard to that business which is I'M
necessary, or ut best of doubtful expcdiency,
such as projected changes in the greatpurs,ts
of RE, great and sudden improvements in the
various concerns ofthc people, it is better, for
Tue most part, that they be suffered to lie and
sleep on the table before you, than be acted
upon I" effect. They may, sir, serve for dis
cussIon but, when things have settled down
10 existing and known laws, when they have
become accommodated 10 them-when they
nave become thoroughly undcrs God i'm ali
their various relations, and are sustained i'm
those relations by those laws as by their COM
mon basis, every new legislative expedient
"hich IS adopted produces uncertainty and
confusion. TO prevent, therefore, the increase
Oh the numbers of this body, in order to ena
bic 1t To do more business, is but TO enable il
10 Try greater number of Legislative expert
ments, and, under the name of improvements.
10 Introduce disorder Sir the still auiet of;,
despotlsmis better than the anarchy of fire.
quent change.
Another objection has been urged TO an in
crease oil the number of this house. If has
been said that the room is not large enough
TO admit ofan addition TO our number. This
'ii'eeo' sir, Is an argument that did not ex-
peel TO hear advanced i'll the discussion of a
question OF great national mportance-reallv,
SIR mas it coms to this? Must We inquire of
our architect how many representatives the
people of the Unite,. States are entitled In ,
Are we to inquire of him how long and how
Droad Is tins hall, and then deal out represcn-
tation 10 the states by gcometrcal admea-
sureihcat-by the foot and the yard !? If il be
a large room, then the people of the United
S'ates may have large represcniation-if it
DC small! room, then they must content
themselves with small representation. Sir,
inc interest Oh great nation is not 10 be con-
trohed by considerations like these. The H.
mus oi this nal cannot prescribe bounds to
their representation.
Having, as think, sir, noticed tbe most inn
portant objections which have been nrred In
an increase of our representation in lust pro
portion TO our growth as nation. permit me
10 call the attention of the house TO some con-
siucra'ions which appear 10 me TO Justify such
an increase. And here sir, permit me to OBJ
serve, that the question what number of re
representatives. given population is entitled to.
is question of no ordinary difficulty. Iagrer
WIN gentlemen that ii rests upon underlined
broad, and general principles it opens to the
we" wide and extensive field which pre-
sents no landmarks To direct The course OF the
traveller 10 proper termination. Ii affords
no uata from which to commence our caicu-
atIOus III order to arrive at the propPr CON
clusion. The rule of determining The number
OF representatives by population is II rule en- |
IifeIy OF modern invention. The history of
governments Is silent on the subject. hut this. !
SIR, history yet enables us To- say, with some
1e6ree Oh certainty, that no nation, with a DO |
puIation consisting OF nearly ten millions of
inhabitants, ever had less number of renre- /
'enta;iycs than the people ofthu United States. |
upon tins question the constitution, il must be
but an imperfect guide. That
instrument provides that the number of re-
1resentativcs shall not he less than one for
very thirty thousand, and from this negative
PROVISION an Affirmative power is iAferred TO
Increase the ratio TO any assi5nabIe NUMBER
do not mention this circumstance, sir, for
nc purpose of calling the correctness of the
Inference IN question. feel no disposition 10
hrow myself inio the list against those ycter
'h legislators ~hO framed tie constitution
MA gave II its first constructions hat nn.nfinul
Tor The purpose ct saying, that IL is at most
ILlL % nI5CEnlnnarN ..llA.