Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-04
TVsemty-scc0nd C0ngress.--scss. !

IN SENATE, .4prjl >, 1882.
MR.. WEBSTER MADE THE FOLLOWING REPORT:
Inc Select Committee TO trion REFERRED, the 27
Of March the Bill from The House Of Representatives,
ent,tIed "4a an dct fer The oPpotiOnment Of Repre-
senfGtres dnlOng The several States according the
mn census hare had The subject under considerations
and nOJc ash iedUe Ia report:
This bill, like all laws the subject, must be re
garded as OF an interesting and delicate nature. II re
sPects the distribution OF political power among States
OK the Union Ii is to determine the number OF voices
winch Tor ten years To come, each State is possess in
the popular branch OF the legislature. In the opinion of
the committee, there can be few questions which il
is desirable should be settled on lust fair and s,tis
factory principles than this; and avang themselves OF
the benefit OF the discussion which the bill has already
undergone in the Senate, they have given it rene
and anxious consideration. The result is that in their
oPnion' the b ought to be amended. Seeing the diff
cultics which belong the whole subject they are G,ll
convinced that the bill has been framed and passed the
other House with the snccrcst desire overcome hoyc
difficulties, and TO enact law which should do much t,s-
lice possible TO all the States But the committee are con
srainedtosay that this object appears 10 them not 10 have
hccn obtained The unequal operation of the bill some
the States, should it become law seems TO the committee
most manifest; and they cannot hut express doubt
whether ITS actual aP?oronment of the representative
power among the several States be considered as
contormabe TO the spirit of the constitution The hin nro
vides, that from and after tho third of March 1898 the
rouse oil Representatives shall be composed of members
elected agreeably to ratio of representative for every
fortyseven thousand and hundred persons in each
state computed according to the rule prescribed bv the
constitution. The addition oftle seven hundred TO ibo
ioFtYsevtn thousand, in the composition of his r3tio
produces effect whatever in regard TO the constitution
OF the House Itneher adds nor takes from the nurcr
omcmbers assigned 10 any State H. only effect is rcduc-
ton OF The apparent amount Ota fractions they are ,sl
ally called residuary numbers, after the application of
the ratio FOR all other purposes the results precisc the
as il the ratio had been ~. 900
As 1t seems generally admitted that Inequalities do OK
ist in this bills and that injurious consequences will arise
from IFS operation, which il would he desirable to avert if
any proper means OF averting them, without producing
others equally injurious could be found the committee do
not think necessary 80 into full particular state
nent OF these consequences They will content them
selves with presenting few examples only of these re-
ttlfz aftpl,u lsaxr I.p.
with justice and the spirit of the constitution.
I'm exhibiting these examples the committee must nc
ce'a"y speak OF particular States; but is hardly
ccsary 10 say that they speak OF them examples only
and with the most perfect respect only for the States
themselves but for all those who represent them here
Although the bill does not commence by fixino the
whole number Of The proposed House of Representatives
jet the process adopted by brings the number of two
hundred and forty members OF these two hundreJ and
forty members forty assigned TO the State of New
ork, that 10 say precisely sixth part of the whole
This assignment would seem to require that New York
should contain one-siXth part OF the whole population of
the United States; and would be bound pay one-sixh
part OF all her direct taxes. Yet neither of these is c
case Inc whole representative population of the United
states Is ll,929OO6; tat Of New York is 19IS, 623
which is less than onesXt of the whole by nearly 10
900. OF direct tax Of two hundred and forty thousand
dollars, New York would pay only 50 So But it. instead
of comparing the numbers assigned TO New York with fla,
whole numbers OF the House, compare her with other
States the inequality is still more evident and striking
TO the state Of Vermont, te bill assigns five members
" gives therefore, eight times as many representatives.
New York as to Vermont; but the population of New
YORK not equal eight times the population Of Vermont,
by than three hundred thousand Vermont has e.
members only for So persons If the proportion
were to be applied 10 New York, it would reduce the
number OF her members from forty TO -fy-uaknp
difference, more than equal the whole representation
OF Vermont and more tansuicent to overcome her whole
power 10 the House Of Representatives.
dproporion, almost equally strikng IL manifested il
We compare New York with Alabama. The population Of
Alabama il 2G2 2o9 for this she allowed five members
The rule Of proportions which gives TO her but five mem
ber' for her number woHd give 10 New York bat thirty
six for her number Yet New York receives forty Ns
compared with Alabama then, New York has an excess of
representation equal oourhs Of Inc whole representa-
ton Of Alabama, and this excess, itself will give her. OF
courc as much weight in The House the whole dele.
cation Of Alabam1, within single vote Can il be said
then, that representatives. apportoucd these States
gccordipg 10 hel5 respective Hvpbcrs2
The ratio assumed by tlc bill il viii be perceived
leaves large fractions called resiuary numbers In
several Of lc small states, 10 c manifest loss Of = part
of heriust proportion Of representative power Such t.
the operation Of the ratio in this respect that New York
With population less tan that Of New England by thirty
or hiry-hve thousand has yet i1o members than