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

viii uieui. Inelr QeliDeratlUnS had eiiecteu
the objects TO which they were directed. He
would admit the correctness of the abstract
proposition, but it would be recolec.ed that
tins house had much business TO perform that
was peculiar to il, and from which the Senate
was entirely exempted. Yet it was worthy of
consideration tlatany question which admitted
OF debate, was liable to as protracted d Discus
sion IN that house as in this. The length of de-
bate dad not depend upon the numbers of the
body where it took place. An important
SUBJECTS discussed now until it is exhausted !;
1t will be discussed no longer then. For ex-
perience has shewn that however many may
be prepared TO express their sentiments upon
"a given question, yet they will not, from re-
| gard to their own character, aud respect due
TO the house, when its impatience is manifest,
| repeat arguments that have been frequently
urged. There is "a ms medicatrir in bodies po-
lltic as well as natural, which acts with most
vigor when that vigor Is most required and
the iorbfarance and good sense of speakers,
and the impatience of hearers, is the natural
aud electuai corrective of excessive debate.
If, then, said Mr.. II. we can, without defeating
the great purposes of deliberation, increase the
number OF this house, there were strong rea.
sons, he thought, why we should do so. All
would admit that this house should represent
| the Interests, wishes, and feelings, of the peo-
pie and if we look a little into futurity we
shall find that the desirable end will not be
attained without an increase ofihe representa-
tives.
live cast our eyes forward, in the course
of IS years we shall find, Judging of the future
by the past, that this nation will comprise up
wards of seventy millions of people, Even
then we should have but the sparse popula-
| tion OF 40 OF 30 to "A square mile. But, at the
| limitation proposed, member of the house
would represent more than 100000 inhabit-
ants This, he thought, manifestly created
too great Il distance between the representa-
tive and the constituent. 1t had been SAID by
a gentleman near him, Mr.. Van Wyck. that,
owing to the facilities of communication, il
was now much less nconvenent than former
iy fora member to represent a large number
OF constituents This might be so in the
thriving state of New York, but 1t was not so
| IN the western states aud in some other parts
of the Union.
The comparative numbers was not now
greater IN favor of the House of Representa-
tives, Air. Il. commended, in relation to the
Senate, than it was after the first census land,
owing to the recent cession of Indian reserva-
| tons and territories, aud the admission ofnew
states, particularly Michigan, Arkansas, the
| f'lorldas, sc. there would probably be soon
| dlsproportl"nate increase of that body, if the
numbers Of the House of Representatives was
To be confined within narrow limits With
respect 10 the Inconvenience that had been
suggested, he would ask how it had happen
ed that in the British Parliament not only the
general interests OF the empire were attended
TO, but even the local and municipal regua-
tons of petty districts were decided? How
was it done? In the committee rooms. 1t
is to be recollectcd that they not only have
| TO perform the Legislative duties of this house,
but of the state legislatures, and these multi
Piled functions, large as that body was, they
: found no difficulty in discharging them, with
the aid of their committees. And ssch was,
and must be, he commended, the course here.
| The business of this house, as our experience
tells us, must increase with the increase of our
| territory, our population, and our public es-
Establishments. There was another consdera.
ton which. to his mind, was of great impor-
lance. 1t might happen that an election ot
: the President of the United States might de-
olive upon this house. 1t was contingency
that'dI not merely exist in remote and i'm
probable speculation /; and, if such should be
the case-if the members of this house should
5 from their stations be liable to the operation
of snch conflicting interests would be bro'I
10 bear upon them, it was not difficult to ina
= CINE that the greater the number of repIesen
a tatlves, the less was the danger that they
: could be affected by improper influences. In
e such case he thought all would admit that
safety consisted in numbers and he hoped
that at all events a greater ratio than 10000
would not be adopted.
Mr.. LowNDEs rose to express his hope thai
: the number of $4,000 would be ultimately
adopted, and that the bill be recommittet
administrations TO the committee ofthe whole
e to fill the blank with that number for, al
VI though 1t had been rejected, yet the majority
: was very small against it,.and comprZed, b,
e believed, many whose views would not so wei
q meet uDou any other number ne on that ~ hi ri
J had been refused. On suggestion from tn,
]. chair, however, Mr.. l.. waived his proposition
/ for the present.
q Mr.. CUTHBERr of Georgia, then rose, ant
/ presented his views of this subject to the house
e TO enable one to Judge, and to judge proper
e ly, Ofthe influence of Il greater or lesser mum
Der of members in any Legislative body, moth
= ing, he said, could be more happy than to re
u cur to the experience of another Legislative bo
Is dy. The rising of the gentleman from Soull
Il Carolina, Just now, had reminded him of som
y facts which he had learnt from his
J. respecting the British House Of Commons
y facts which had much influence in conyincin
} llm (Mr. C.) that an increase of the numbe
l. IT the members ofthis house would be- dctr
= mental To- the public interest, by forcing
! mode of doing business which could not b
ID permitted under our free institutions. In III
u British House of Commons, Mr.. G.. said, tn
= business of the house was conducted BY
Is small number of men. Ii cases drawn froi
. the British House OfCommons are entitled
l' any influence at all on this question, il Inu
~ be against the increase Of the numbers Of tn
r. mouse. A very small Number Of members
hat house were in the habit Of engaging
u debate, or even Of taking any interest in VIII
a. was going on in the IIouse-and even tho.
n who voted, formed but Il small proportion
"A