Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-19

scitso' ..hIe William Burrill, deceas-
,hs bon" Member of the Senate, from
ed, az s's.e Of Rhode-lsland.
tie o'a a.rtou, from the committee OF
a w.. made report on the petition 20, OF
clal~', M,Nair, accompanied by a bill
HaI ~ relief, which was read.
for n'' THOMAS from the committee on
A pabIic Lands, reported bill to ss-
he On additional land office in the
tdpI's of illinois, which was read.
f'a.o senate proceeded to the ccnsid
4a1 I'M of the bill to apportien the mum
sra'lgo representatives according to the
Der :. census-the amendment report
foa' ,be Judiciary committee, to strike
ed ;oO 900 and insert AZ, 900 as the ratio,
oO.s ~ under consideration. A division
Os s.Ss question being required.
Of W., W. question was first taken on strik
ln .nt 10000 and carried-ayes 90,
n' e., =. question being then on filling the
- with $4,000, a debate followed of
'l's sidsrable duration, of which the fell
Siinr sketch presents only the most
",ominent points.
MIR Knight opposed this number on
- ground OF the injustice which it
lid do to the state of r Island, as
AZ, State would be left with but sim
10 representative for $4,000 citizens;
Ear relative proportion of taxa
.ioo which he exhibited number of
.,.tsments to shew.
NJ r NJ. Johnson, of Kentucky, op
.o.sd this amendment because he was
r favor Of a smaller ratio-contending
that larger number of representatives
~. expedient: that it was impossible to
g. the number which it would in time
reach.--a ne plus ultra of representa-
tiOu That representation ought to keep
mace with the growth of the nation, al
least to the number of 500 representa-
tvss; this being the principle, the main
spring, and the safeguard, of the liber
ties Of the people. He also opposed a
ratio that would reduce the representa-
tiOp ofthe old States, though he feared
that the case of the State of Delaware
was hopeless, sc. sc.
Mr. Smith said the COMMITTEES was
not unanimous on the amendment; he
for one was in favor of lower number,
Of So, 500, for instance, which would
leave the smallest aggregate fraction;
bnt AZ, 600 was the only one they could
get majority for. He had an eye, in
his views, to the State of Delaware,
which he was not without hopes to see
accommodated, The number of repre-
ssntatiyes which such ratio as would
embrace her would give, was not the
highest point which it ought to reach;
nor had the time arrived at which the
number of representatives. ought to be
limited no number which had been pro-
posed would exceed what might be fairly
considered reasonable and proper.
Mr. Barbous adverted to the PROPOSE
ton he had introduced to amend the
constitution so as to Tx the number OF
representatives, Gas he had intimated,
a, aO0)-the expediency of which he
defended, being called on to do SO by
toe remarks which had been made in
the course of this debate. In making
this proposition, be had not trusted his
own Judgment; he had gone to the ora
ces Of the land for counssi-to the vene-
ra6le statesmen who had retired from
public life and were qualified to give an
enlightened and disEassionate opinion,
and from them there was but one re-
SpOnse in its favor--not that he wished
this number or that-not that he pre-
terred goo, Though he had mentioned
Il, sor the sake of round numbers,) for
he was willing to go to the 800 If 1T
should be deemed expedient-but he
wished the principle of Limitation to be
adopted and the number fixed to some
point. He then proceeded to support
the amendment and point out the al
vantages ola ratio of forty-two thousand
which would give about two hundred
Representatives-the disadvantages OF
slarger number, as bearing an undue
Proportion TO this body, which he view
ed as the sheet anchor of the liberties OF
the natioa.
These views Mr.. B. illustrated and
enforced by variety of arguments. He
deprecated the adjustment of this ques'
aon BY looking to minor considerations.
hard as it would bear on the small states
and repugnant as thai would be to has
'eehngs-but there was TO reason GER
alhiy as yet, whatever the necessity
might De deemed for it hereafter, to ex-
coed the number of200 Representatives
lie would therefore yote for 40 600 but