Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-09

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ne ieels the same degree of responsibility. in
relation to subjects. which come under dis
cussion IN tins house-whether he investigates
then win the same patient attention and Ia
POROUS research that he would do if thew
were to be decided upon by less numerous
Dody ui which he was "A constituent member ,
Mr.. y. also contended that, by increasing the
number OF this house, it would receive too
mach the character OF popular assembly
Ihere was danger of its becoming a theatre
upon which passion would usurp the place of
reason, and where imbecility and seifsbness
would become the willing instrument of de-
magoSues within, or of men in power without.
This, 1T Is true, is the popular branch of our
government; aud know it is said that. m or
der to secure the predominance in il of a gem
| ulne democratic spirit, it is necessary that If
should be numerous. Sir, said Mr.. e.. 7 shall
never b. found in opposition TO any measure
which believe calculated to secure the true.
original, theoretical character of this house
hope always to see it what it always ought to
be-ihe faithful organ of the peoples will
the hrm and incompatible guardian Of the
peoples rights.
But, sir, if you would give 10 it this charac-
ter, you must restrict It's numbers within mo-
derate limits. BY rendering it multitudinous,
you may indeed increase the aggregate of DO
pular feeling, but you will inevitably weaken
the iorce, the consistency, and the wisdom of
Its operation. Sir, said Mr.. C.. this house
must depend for its democratic character. not
upon Its numbers, but upon the mode of its
constitution. From whom are its members
chosen From the great body the people
10y whom are they chosen ? BY the people
at large with little restriction. And for what
period For the short one of two years. Is
there then any reason to apprehend that a re-
| preventative Tins chnSan vii
~ democratic? Or that one who is to return
10 his constituents at the expiration of two
years, TO receive their appreciation or censure,
wlli become aristOcratic during the term of
his service /? For one, said Mr. c. have no
fears upon this head.
Something had been said of the British
House of Commons, though Mr.. C.. did not
very well understand what use it had been in
tended TO make of it. He hoped it was not
held up as an example to be Initiated. He
knew but little, indeed, in the modern his
try of that house worthy of our imitation
What asked MIR. C.. is the British government
at this day? He knew well what il was in
theory; he had heard of its checks and ba-
iances, and of the nice adaptation of its parts
but In practice 1t Is IA military despotsm
know too, said Mr.. c. that the House of c ON
mons Is, III theory, the popular branch of that
government. Bot what is it in fact (? Dove
not, year after year, see a firm, unwayeripg
victorious phalanx IN that house, moving for
ward in the line marked out by the minister
and giving its sanction to the most tyrannic
measures! Besides, II Is well known that
; nearly one half of that house is chosen bv
> little more than five thousand votes and it is
: well known, too, that not more than one-third
of the members are in the practice of at
, tending.
Much, said Mr.. G. has been said about the
} danger of Executive influence. He would moi
say, with the gentleman from North Carroll.
ma, Mr.. Sanders,) that he believed it imagina-
ry bW this he would say, that a numerou:
l house would be murh more obnoxious to 4
than one of an opposite character.
One word, said Mr.. G.. in regard to such o
the old states as, by the adoption of high IA
i ito, will lose part of their present number o
S Representatives. This has been treated a,
something humiEating and degrading to thos,
states; aud even the gentleman from NortI
: Carolina, (Alr. Sanders,) who argued in fayo
of high ratio, seemed to counlenance tina
), idea. But, sir, said Mr. G.. moments re
iiecton must convince any gentleman that thi
is altogether imaginary for, establish wia
D ratio you will, and, the relative weight of the
states viii of course continue the same. Ant
: the loss complained of is nothing else than
consequence of the unequal progress of popu
a lation, rendered altogether inevitable by tn
u principles of equal representation.
e Mr.. Tucker, of Virg. had proposed SO ,0O
t as a ratio, because it would be convenien
l to the state of which he was Representative
IS las it would give to that state its present de
u legation, and thus save its legislature the trou
IS bic OF making new arrangement of its dis
IS trcts. He felt, however, no great solcitud
IT whether the number was 80, 80, 40, III. q
S $4,000. He was only solicitous that the mum
2, Der should not be too large. He paid it'll
e regard to fractions. III, by any particular, on
n state lost, it will universally be found that b
u the same number, a neighbOrng state gainet
q He had compared the effect of different mum
q beers on different sections of the Union, an
,, found that no number would make much dill
o terence between these great divisions. Ii
IS thought we ought To continue the policy W
" had hitherto pursued, and increase the mum
~ Der of the House as well as the ratio H
e knew 1t was tue opinion of some gentIeme
,e that the number of representatives was q
1 large, or nearly SO, as was consistent with tn
:. purposes of debate and deliberations If th;
III opinion were correct, we ought not to il
E. crease the number, however desirable il ma
Oi be otherwise. The evil of too weak "A cor
at nectlon aud intimacy between the represent,
10 tive and his constituents was irremediabl
Ia He thought however, the dangers apprehent
$ ed from further increase of the numbers
ut the house ideal, and be would briefly state h
nc reasons. The state legislatures. it was tru
r had, IN many instances, limited their numbc
re- to 100; and for what good reason could n,
IN be easily OWNED, unless to conform to Il
d specuIat'0us of French writer, who sal
that any legislature of more than 100 membe
D. was a mob. The state of Virginia has had
il number double that prescribed-but no su,
re result has followed. This house. also. n
" had about 600, and yet the order and decoru
IN for which il had alNyays hren disllnr.,ish..