American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-03-15

humber will admit Of all addition being made 10 it
legislature may, it is true, be composed Of Toe
many members TO be compatible with wise legisa-
lion. 1t may be so numerous as TO destroy its fit
ness for performing in right manner the duties
assigned to IT, But the danger OF running into this
error In Delaware whose population is so small, is
mot great The additional expense to be incurred
will always serve effecual chock TO an impro.
per increase Of Representatives.
i An addition whatsoever made to the representa-
lion in the Legislature should not be confined to one
branch. The senate well as The popular branch
should be augmented. The augmentation Of the
one and not the other would answer little purpose,
as no bill can become law without passing both
Houses. The trainers of the constitution reseeing
the necessity Of increasing the number of members
in both branches after population should have con-
siderably progressed, provided accordingly for MA
king an addition to both, with limitation in regard
than one half nor less than one third of the repre-
srntatves.
4 The power of originating revenue bills is denied
10y the constitution to the senate, whose members
are equally representatives with those Of the popu,
lar branch; but know of no sufficient reason why
it should be SO. More property is required by the
constitution to qualify citizen Tor seat in the sen
ate than in the house Of representatives, it being
necessary that he should possess freehold estate
sonal property or in either of the value of one
Thousand pounds; whereas freehold if Of one acre
Iony, is qualification for representative. Great
er age, which commonly implies more knowledge
and experience, is also necessary qualification for
a senator citizen who has not attained to the age
OF 81 years being ineligible to that trust, although
he may be elected representative on completing
his Gath year. There can be no objection, there
fore, to the senates originating money bills unless
he MI hahn Gle mr. hon
the representatives, be made one. 1t must have
been under this impression, that power is given
in some of the state constitutions recently formed
or revised, to the senatorial in common with the
preventative branch, to originate bills of this descrip-
tion. 1t should be borne in mind that the citizens
elected to either branch are here of one order of
men, for in this country there is but order. In
G. Britain, and most foreign countries it is other
wise. The British parliament is composed Of lords
and commons, the former holding their seats by
hereditary right, the latter obtaining them by the
election OF the commonalty. To the commons,
Therefore, is very properly intrusted the exclusive
fright OF originating money bills In the house Of
lords such bills may be amended, but cannot be in
troduced. This privilege is withheld also from the
senate of the U. States, and with more reason, !
think, than from the senates in the state legislatures
The members of the federal senate are chosen BY
the state legislatures, not by the people and for the
state, and the number cannot be varied either by
augmenling diminishing it. They are intended to
represent the state sovereignties, not population
are the representatives. The federal senate besides
shares with the President Of the u States the pow
er of making appointments, and Of forming treaties
with foreign governments. Different in the mode
OF its appointment, and in the end Of its institution
likewise in several respects, its only points of re-
sembIance to the senate in a state Legislature are,
tErot hat he nj orr hclIhe-
ration, and ensures more wisdom in the enaction Of
laws, than we're they passed by legislature con
|sisting of one body. Secondly, in having assigned
to it the Office Of sitting Judicial body in the trial
of impeachments
1t has been admitted in this discussion that the
property in Newcastle county exceeds in value the
wealth of either of her sister counties. This re-
lquires explanation in which some distinctions are
II to be made. First in the estimate oil property all
kinds must be included. Contine it to freehold es-
ates, and such personal property as is or may be
legally assessed, and believe it will be below the
amount OF like property in Kent and very little if
any above what it is in Sussex, agreeaby to the ex
hbits in the auditors annual reports of the yaua
lons in the respective counties made by the hundred
assessors. The territory OF Sussex though less
fertile in its soil is of twice the extent Of Newcastle,
making up in quantity what it lacks in quality The
| limits of Kent also more extensive. And if in
the upper part of Newcastle there be some lands in
Ia higher state of cultivation, there is perhaps. up
on the whole a. much good land in Kent as in the
latter county 1t is believed there is greater
quanty of corn produced in the former, if not of
wheat.
But, secondly, the personal property in Newcas
tie county which is not embraced in the valuations
made by the hundred assessors is OF much larger
amount than in either Kent or Sussex OF this
description are the stocks belonging to her citizens
concerned in bank and other corporations, in trade
and merchandise. Her millers, mechanics, and
manufactures also employ in their respective lines
a quantity Of capital vastly superior. AS for manu-
facfurers they cannot be said to exist in Kent and