The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-28

Mr.. SEWER said that the question would, OF
course, be first taken on his amendment being the
highest, to insert II 900 the ratio, which would
give hundred and ninety-three members, without
regard to fractions He believed that the House was
too large and the people complained of long sessions
and of doing nothing therefore, they looked upon II
as nuisance. 1t was time to change the number,
and he would go for the highest ratio that he could
get. He then called for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
| MIR. PRESTON concurred with the view ex-
pressed by the Senator from Arkankas, that the
| House should be smaller than it He thought
that the proportion of three members to every Sena-
| tor would be about right He therefore proposed
$4,000 the ratio. BY this, the representatives
which would be apportoned to the various States in
the Union would be one hundred and siXty-fye; and
| by adherence to the amendment with regard to
fractions six more representatives would be added,
making hundred and seventy-one members in all.
This the general result taken in conjunction with
| the rule already adopted.
Mr.. SEWER withdrew his call for the yeas and
nays, to enable the Senator from South Carolina to
| submit his amendment
| MIR. CALHOUN thought that an increase of the
present number of the House would not have bene
fetal effect. In 1870 when the number was but one
hundred and forty, the House was nearly as quiet
and orderly the Senate He thought that the first
thing to be settled was whether they ought to have
large small ratio, they would have great diff
Guilty in fixing the ratio in the manner proposed.
Mr. WOODBURY. in conformity with the idei
just advanced, had drawn up resolution, resolving
the ofthe Senate, that before filling the blank
in the BILL they would first increase the number of the
House of Representatives This, he thought, would
test The sense of the Senate.
! MIR. CRITTEN DEN said that nothing could be
accomplished by such resolution, and that the only
practical and eectual mode arrive the result de-
sired was by voting the various propositions which
had already been submitted. Some of them were
| high, and others low.
| NM
ratio of about 60 600, and that that number would be
more acceptable to the State of which he Sena-
tor than any other. The difficulties in the popular
branch, in his opinion were owing to the construc-
ton Of the Hall, far than any disposition of the
members. He knew that harsh language was some
times used but one-half Of the epithets in con-
sequence of one gentleman not hearing what another
said and that supernduced call for explanation
which led to hot blood and produced i'll feeling. The
desks ought to be taken out and the Hall made square
or some suitable room should be selected, not fol-
show, but utility and then the House would be very
near, if not quite as orderly the Senate.
! Mr.. SEWER said, it was obvious that the House
too large, and to the structure of the Hall be-
ing the of the disorders in that body it all
leather and prunella." There was no question ta-
ken any bill at this, at the last session. but what
they had to make some rule by which to decide the
move the previous question, to put it beyond recon
sderation the next day. All this was the resu OF
the large number of Representatives
| Mr.. BUCHANAN said that the House of Repre-
sentatives ought to be composed of such number
would best consult the interests Of the people, and
render the Representatives directly possible re-
| sponsble to their constituents. He thought that a
House of two hundred members would be sufficiently
large and not too large to transact rapidly, but with
| prudence, the business Of the country. He desired
that the House should be large that the political in
| fuence of the President could not corrupt it he
thought that two hundred would be sufficient guard
| against such result and he would 90 for keeping
| the House as near possible to two hdndred MEN,
bers, and resist every attempt at lower reduction.
| Mr.. SMITH, of Connecticut, understood to
be in favor of increased number of Representa-
tives, and in favor of the ratio came from the
| House.
Messrs. CRITTENDEN, SEWER, CALHOUN,
WOODBURY., and PRESTON, made some further
remarks, and the Senate, at o'clock, adjourned
ERRATUM.-In the list of yeas and nays taken in
| the Senate Wednesday, concurring ia the
amendment to the Apportionment BILL proposing to
give additional representative to each State hav-
ing fraction greater than the ratio of representa-
tion the of Mr.. PRESTON was placed upon both
sides Of the question. He voted in the negative, aud
Mr.. PoRTERs name should have been inserted in the
place of that of Mr.. PREsroN, where it appears in