Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-14
IN SENATE.

Tuesday, January 10, 1882.
The following message from the President of the Unit
cd States was received by Mr. Done.on his Secretary
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
herewith transmit report, made by the Secretary oil
the Republic of Colombia, which requires Legislative ac
ton TO carry il intoeiiect. ANDREW JACKSON.
WGshington, 10Th Jan. 1892
The message was read and, with its enclosures refer
red to the Committee on Foreign Relations
The resolution submitted yesterday by Mr. Clay, being
taken up
MIR. Clay said, that the gentleman from Maryland, the
Chairman OF the Committee Finance having expressed
wish not to have the resolution acted upon to-day he
would not ask the Senate 10 into the consideration OF
at this time But from his extreme desire Tor the early
expression of the opinion OF the Senate the proposition
and for the views and wishes of those gentlemen who
might oppose the Resolution, he wished its consideration
with little delay possible, and suggested whether it
might be made the order of the day for tomorrow.
No objection being made, the resolution postponed
to- and made the special order for, to- morrow.
The following motion yesterday submitted by Mr. Taze-
well, was also considered and agreed TO:
Resolved That the Committee the Judiciary be n-
sructcd TO inquire into the cxpediency of amending
the Judiciary act, 10 authorize the judges of the Dis
tct Courts in rdcdtion TO order any vessels cargo,
other property, TO be delivered the claimants upon
bail or stipulation be sold when necessary, in the
manner the said courts authorized to do,
in term time.
BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.
Mr.. Benton submitted the following motions.
Resoced, That the Secretary of the Treasury be di-
rccted TO furnish the Senate with the and titles of
the foreign stockholders the Bank of the United States,
il any document in his Office will afford that information;
Bank aforesaid and lay it before the Senate,
possible, with the amount of stock held by each.
esored mat the Secretary oil the Senate be directed
10 lay before the Senate information first OF the
odcbs due from individuals and bodies corporate the
Bank of the United States and its branches distinguishing
the amount secured by mortgage from that secured by
sonal security alone; and what portion of said debts
considered standing accommodations TO the customers OF
said Bank and lis branches
Rcsoipcd That the Secretary Of the Treasury be d-
rcced to lay before the Senate list of the Directors OF
the Bank OF the United States, and of the several branch
and of hall iii al,
United States with the number of shares held by each,
and the State Territory of their residences ALSO
vaults of the Bank, and its branches distinguishing the
part which belongs 10 the Bank the portion belonging
individuals, and TO the United States
Rcs0rcd That the Secretary of the Treasury be d.
rected TO lay before the Senate the monthly statements
the affairs Of the Bank of the United States, for the year
| 1881.
The bill for the erection Of barracks quarters and store
houses and the purchase of ste the vicinity of New
Orleans, and the bill concerning navy agents,
veray read the third mc passed. and sent TO the other
House.
IWhen this bill was put passage Mr. Smith of Nd
and made ii the occasion of replying certain remarks
of Messrs. Benton and Haync in regard the alleged
increased expenditures OF the government which those
gentlemen made when the bill for arming the Notifications
was under consideration few days ago.
Mr. S. spoke at considerable length, and replied
by Mr. Benton and Mr.. Hayne. The debate animat-
ed and interesting and embraced questions of sufficient
national concernment, TO entte to full report which
will be given early as ii be prcparedAt the
clusion of the preceding debate
Mr. Forsyth and why lie (havnr objected 10
the bill yesterday for want of certain nonaton) should
now vote for it, he had obtained theinormation which
he desired on the subject (and which he recapulated
the Senate and satisfied of the expediency of the bill
On motion of Mr. Polk, of Tennessee Chairman of the
Com nittee on the subject Of the apporonment of Re-
presenatives) the House went into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. Hoffman of New
York. in the Chair and took up the bill regulating the APP
portionment OF Representatives according 10 the fifth Cen
sus.
The bill read lit proposes that representative
be allowed every 900 inhabitants after the deduction
of Indians taxed, and wohs Of the slave popua-
ton: and then on 10 declare the number of Rcprcscn
Nv SaS9 Sta'9 be on ' Ie 81 o x
committee had felt the great difficulty, and mpossi-
biy, Recommending any ratio of representation which
should obtain the unanimous assent of the House The
representation OF the people of the United States
House depended, according 10 the constitutions on the
total population of the Union, but the respective num-
bers of inhabitants in the several States excluding all In
dams taxed, and also two-hs of the slaves and nclu-
ding all other persons No ratio could be adopted which
would be perfectly equal in its results upon all the States
whatever number might be fixed emitting to a re-
preventative that floor, there be fractions left in
most of the States, argerin and smaller others
This inequality however it might be regretted had its
cause in the Constitution itself 1t had been so sensiby
felt when the ratio of representation was established nv
the first Congress- that they had attempted remedy il by
allowing such of the States had very large rcsduary
fractions additional representative. The then President
the United States Gen. Washington mature consi-
Iteration, and after OBTAINING the bill in his hands until the
last day allowed for his decision upon it, it back
Congress with his veto, and the of it, which were
two viz: that no common dvisor would give the States
the number of representatives allowed them by the bill;
and that the proposed number OF Representatives
greater than for every 30000 and that therefore the
bill unconstitutional. The House had acquiesced in
this construction and reported accordingly, BILL the
effect of which that each State sIpernumerarv
fraction. This early exposition of the Constitution
had been afterwards regarded settled and had been act
ed since. The constitution imposed but two im
tations this matter the was, that State should
have representatives that for every thirty
thousand inhabitants; and the other hand that
every State should be entitled to representative.
The effect that the greatest number of represen-
atves at this time could be than 397 smallest
"a The committee had recommended a number which
they considered just medium between these
1t would give House of such dimensions that on the one
hand the people would not be deprived of adequate
presentation and the other, the numbers of members
would not be such 10 render the House multudnous
unwiedly and inconvenient. In $780, the number fixed
entitled a Representative had been 30 0OO in
1900, 1000; 1910, 35,000 and in 1920, 10000. The
bill reported, proposed rs 900. This was greater
augmentation than had taken place in 40 years Looking
TO the unavoidable inequality of the operation of any ratio
they could PROPOSE the committee had also considered the
effect of various ratios in leaving unrepresented fractions
in the different States; and after maurely considering and
comparing the difficulties, they had to the concu-
sion, that 48 900 distributed the fractions equally among
the States other number which could be fixed up
ON. The aggregate amount of all the left by this
arrangement, would be 5i7 1888. The committee had
citerid from which TO judge TO what number ofmembers
the House would be most likely There existed
variety of opinions whose advocates were in favor of
House, less Ifresort should be had
to experience, many Of opinion that the number of
the existing House was quite large enough and might
very conveniently be continued lie had, himself at first
agreed in this opinion: but he had subsequently been in
duced 10 coincide with majority of the committee the