The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-06-08
From Ike GjOJc, My 80.

TIE RATIO OF REPRESENTATloE.-Ihe Sen
ate mad. ;o-ddy IL radical Change III tie apPor-
l:Ua!cnl Ulil tic liOuSc. Inc House l"c:c;!S-
ell the ratio OF representation "om t"riV-scVch 10
ftIuugm /. diminished the nj Cnbcr OF members
one-lIlth, for tie new census I.oni what II would
have been If tie Old ratio lad remained, never
theiess added soine sixty odd members TO the
House. This saved the representation OF every
State. The vote OF Tie Seuae to-day reduced
the present number OF the House, by about tiiir-
ty-hve members; raising the present ralo upto
seventy thousand SIX hundred and ei-hy.
This proposition OF cutting down the representa-
tive body, although warmly argued III the Senate
was, II VIII be seen by the vote, not at all party
question. 1t seemed to us that both sides were
r.sht IN their views, although they differed so
much III their CONCLUSIONS; each looked at the
kepre> enlalve body with al eye to different
functions.
The unweldness of a large representative
body-its tendency to excitement and confusion
|-,ts napltudt lOr deliberate and yet prompt
legsiaiNe acllon-the danger oT its lalhng INTO
Iact.ouS, and surrenderng the conduct OF lis
functions to leaders--were topics urged with
..IeaL Iorcc on iilat side winch lGokcd 10 the
IiUuse with an eye particularly tU is Legislative
lacul;.eS.
On ti:c other hand, those who behold in the
:iouSc great political council OF tic na.:On-a
Coay Designed 10 preserve popular institutions,
rGther tndn 10 enact municipal laWS-urncd the
importance ol having It 50 constituted as 10 have
atiina:e synpasLes with the peop.e. They IN
sisted 'l:at ne constituency uug.it not to be So
Ia: extended as 10 render II Impossible to know
tIer cpresentatvc-:hat Tie Representative
BODY sHOG!d DC NUMEROUS enough 10 DriHT to-
.-etner, and under revew III tie national C0ul!-
CHS, ali Tie Information and nlelilgencc--al tile
peculiar interests, feelings, ard wishes ol the
ncignDorlng countries and toWnS OF every State
III inc Un.Un; that tie Representative body should
IN TACT, be lie nation IN immature. Iney INSIST
C! liza, III i!ius bringing Tie nation together, an
interchange u sent.inel!t, Oi ideas, OF schemes OF
poIIcy, Was brought about, Which vastly ncrcas-
cd lIc volume OF knowledge, influence, and
ability # The body representing the people; and
that, while il was great school for the states
men OF tho Republic, II disseminated among the
Ecoplc themselves, by their intercourse with
lLem as constituents, Inuchmcwly acquired nlor-
NATION III csard To Their own rights aud inter-
es.s, and lie modes OF maintaining them. II was
arr ucd With great lorce, that the concentration
Oh tile lowers oi this great ComIcdeTacy in the
hands OF q single Chlci Magstrate-ln Senate
o. fifty two members, irresponsible for SIX years
-!ua Supreme Court OF nine members upon
lie establishment, without the counterpolse OF
Numerous, imposing, and powerful popuIarrepre-
scnallUn, would be an abandonment OF the Demo-
cratic principle i'll our National Government, and
end in converting 1t into an ar!stccracy.
The value OF a numerous representative body,
in binding tie Union together, by the personal
interest which each member would lave i'll the
preservation ot a sys,em in winch his own per-
sonal distinction, as well as interests, were so
near concerned seems not 10 have Lccn at all
impressed on the Senate in the debate. To us
it appears matter OF great .u.omcnt-cosider-
ing the House as political body-one out
weighing all t!io coavcn!enees Ola small repre-
tatJ.:, having al eyesingy 10 it as Legislative
body. U4r lao.;o is, ia: "I!:e ac2rtG is goccrred
100 aauch;" and, Therefore, we would pre.cf a
nuincIous iiouac OF Representatives, which IS
capable olges!stng too mach government, TO a
small body, which wou!d undoubtedly be more
powerful and capable in law-making.