Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-01-22

BY Mr.. Tracy, Of New York 90 ooo
BY Mr.. Williams, Of N. G. 4Sooo
BY Mr.. Upham, of N n. $4,000
By Mr.. Mallary, Of Vermont 47,oo
BY Mr.. Abbot, of Georgia, $4,000
By Mr, Wood, OF New York, 45.ooo
By Mr.. Barber, of Ohio, 1000
BY Mr.. Gebhard, of n. Y. $4,000
By Mr. Edwards, of N. G. 1900
By Nj. Ross. of Ohio 4I,oo
By Mr., Rochester, OF N. 4. 10000
By Mr.. Gist, of S. e. $4,000
By Mr.. Tucker, Of Virginia $1,000
BY Mr.. Baylies, OF Massachusetts 37,ooe
By Mr.. Farrelly, Of Pennsylvania $4,000
By Mr.. Baldwin, OF Pennsylvania $4,000
Mr.. Wood IN support Of the number
(45.o oo) be had proposed, remarked that
il va. impossible 10 tx any standard.
that should give a precise ratio for repre-.
.entation. 1t ought, however, 10 be such
as would be most sure to introduce intelli.
gence, integrity, and despatch in the per
fnrmsRce OF the duties conhded to this
house by the constitution. Seventy i've
thousand and thirty FIVE thousand were the
extremes that had been named. In medic
txtamen. Seventy Ave thousand was, in
his opinion. too large; aud thirty hve
thousand too small a ratio. The humber
should be 50 small that the elector and e.
lected could be supposed reclprocally 70
know each other, and that the repre-
sentative should fully understand the 10.
terest ofhis constituents. II would be re.
collected, however, that the facilities OF
intercourse were greatly improved Hi'nla
the last twenty years. A bill could nara'
ly pass through the house with the ordln-
airy forms, before its DRIFT and bearing
were not only known. but discussed. even
in the remoter states of the Union. Iasre
was less necessity, therefore, than former
ly that the districts should be large; 10
addition to which il would be considered
that the qualifications Of 4 Representative
to Congress and a member OF q slate l'
~gislature, were very different. In the ln'
ter case a minute local knowledge Of ls
concerns OF their constituents was necesa'
ry; but in the former case the kno~leass
required was less OF local charactet-
1t was general in its object; i: related y
questions of war and peace. foreign leis'
tons. revenue, &c. The policy o. w
nation was settled. and the wheels oil go
vernment we're moving on. Where . nuAi'
Der war agreed to of great extent, there
was a better opportunity OF selecting lnsu
OF talents: but, on the other hand 2 oou'
il too small, was more liable to In;r'gus'
The ratio of $4,000 wonld increase Wv ~,
present number of Representatives wv
one, and the present was, IN bis oplnU",
a sufficient number for the despatch y
public business. A greater number woula
diminish responsibility; and, so Tar IS pun,
lie sentiment ia the stats be had The no"J.
in part I . represent, had been exPresseu,
both by the old constitution and thai plo.
posed by the recent convention, u ~"
opposed to a numerous Legislative boy.
MIR. Campbell, of Ohio, stated thai w.
ratio aud numbers that had been berc!v
fore successfully adopted. ln the a..
Congress. the number Of represensau'see
was IS. but the a~pportionment was p 60
upon an uncertain ratio. 1t was the cut.
OF mutual compromise and opinion. A.n.
census Of 1880 the number OF represents
tives was increased to 1o1, upon fauv~
49, AT the census Of 1900 the ss% ~
ratio was retained, which increased ~
number Of representatives to III Al W. ~
census of 1910 the ratio was increaseu
$4,000. which gave the present numDs.w
1877 representatives. The hrst 'nI A..
was So. the second 40. and the third ~,
He M. c. was in favor Of the nun.et
of4s.oo Under the present apport,en men,
which would give an increase Of thirteen ;.on
with lib the prosrs.. Of wealth and p0 gps.ss
, tla' bod i g acted Ft upon to executive i nas.
ences; and 4 small body must ever I ., ger
sidered as more a.sailabls than : ,41 New
York, fMr. WOODY that by reducing hssouas
rate to $4,000 the body weala ~"