Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-25
RICH MOND
runsDA, MonNINa. JANUARY a5


No. we are esdcavOrins TO dad out the cause ct Tho
lcrcgulsrtv In tire receipt OF the whis la Brunswick
o'her eauniies down south-~hh view to removing IT,
.iPportiOnnsai Of Representation ia Congress
The Select Committee in the House of Rcprcsen.
Ia,ives have reported bill, asse ming one Represen-
,atve every 6soOO. The bill was referred to the
committee of the Whole.
This il the mos, important subject which will en-
gage the deliberations Ct Congress during its pte.
sen; Ssssion-unlsss the adjustment Of tho Tariff
takes precedence of l.; and it should, therefore, he
most deliberately considered, before il is finally act
ed upon.
The present bill proposes to reduce the House Of
Representatives to a13. We ore opposed to it in
toto. First, because the reduction il not great
cnoush-if there is to be any rcduclion,--aud %,
because tho number should be increased greatly
rather than diminished. The late disordetly pro-
eeedinss OF tho House h,vo created a general i'm
preston that /, IS too numerous-and this impress
sion we fear, will 20 Tar to reconcile Congress and
tho People to reduction of the number which
will he ate nded with any other than beneficial re-.
suits.
There are. we take il, two grand essentials to the
constitution Of proper House of Representatives
Isl, Eficiency-and %. A full reflection of the feel.
inss and opinions of the whole body OF the people
The first, it may be coniended, would be mora Ger.
tainly attained by small House bu, then. small
House would fail Il furnish the other and ,,o,.
important requisite-thu, of a full representation.
Blu, $40 too many Cor efficiency and good order
Experience has shown that that is abou, the worst
number, which could be selected. Il is too large
for efficiency, and no, large enoush TO rspresept tie
e.,
doieS, IN order 10 despatch the public business
not to 6o eumb'ois and unweidy, the number
should no; exceed hundred. But this, as before
rema' ked, defeats the oher ard fai more important
reqaiste-a voice in the National councils for cv,.
ry interest and Tor every condition a.. rc,pie in The
land. Our own decided opinion is. thatthe Cd con.
sii;u''ona limiteton OF oue for every thirty thou
sand is the hes, which could be adop,ed-more con
genial TO our Republican institutions, and NOR. col,
dueve TO the honesty aud Independence OF tie 80
pular branch of Congress. England, with a Mons
7'ion very Little exceeding ours, and with On ey;r,
oi territory ana diversity of interests not n all
comparable TO ours-hss a House Of Commons, 81
ceedins SIX hundred. TINS numerou, rcprr.en,,
uon OF tic people has constituted the great bulwark
OF the liberties OF that coun,rY agsins, the patron
nge and prerocaiive Of the Crown. IL is easier IN
buy M twenty than hundred. Similar cause.
will be attended with similar results here A House
Of Representatives Of 500 will neither be in,imida
ted by Executive power, nor seducei bv Executive
hlandishments--whena House Of 200 NAV C,l n
prey 10 either, or both combined. But a numerous
representation is not only essential 10 the p.esery,
ton OF the public liberty, but is demanded 10y the
genius Of our institutions. Every interest. in ,bi,
" de spread land, OF multfsrious and diversified
pursuits, Is entitled TO ReDr-sontntive the Ma
tionnl councils. The farming. the plantinp. ,b.
commercial and the manufacturing interests. with
all their divisions and sub divisions have rich, IN
be heard. The rich and the poor, the ignorant and
the wise-ha born fool and the native genius should
al have Represen taiiVe-that the Congress Of the
Union should b. wha; it purpotts to be-a faithful
representation ofIhe American People.
Only two objections to numerous House occ,,
to US; Firs,-tha, it will be too unwei.dy and d;,
orderly for the despatch Of public business. Til.
objection will Toe obyia,ed in the same way thu, i,
is in the British Pertinent. From the necessary, ~
the case, the business Of the Republic will b. n,.
tended to by the men Of senss-whilst others of
dere Mt cast will be coushei down or no, listened
to- Seconiy-the cost. Iris IS As dust in the scale
opposed to the immense advantage, OF high rub.;c
character, which will result from large r-presen.
'a'on. But this may he obvia'ed, by nbolishing the
irarklng privilege and allowing each member
fixed s'lary not exceeding $1,000 year.