The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-08


suggestions made, that there no public opinion
upon this subject; and, as it was of the utmost i'm
portance, gentlemen should consult with their con-
| stituents. What be of greater importance
than the ratio of representation? What Of greater
Importance for the preservation OF the liberties Of
our country, than the reflection of the sympathies
| interests, and wishes of the people? Gentlemen
must be confident of some inward defect when they
say that this body is too large To say that the
body has grown to be enormous il to say that two
hundred and thirty.one representatives are too
many for twenty millions Of people. II was a most
monstrous and precipitate conclusion. How very
lew OF the members are acquainted with the inter
ests they are sent here to represent. How many OF
their constituents complain that they cannot be
heard in Congress; not because they have not
constitutional right to be heard, but because they
cannot command the attention Of their representa-
M 9i,, Gentlemen mistake II they think that TOO
constituents think that there is too much. He
trusted that the time would never come when any
man would say that he had not enough to do for
the seventy six thousand persons represented by
| him.
The question being taken, the amendment was
disagreed to.
Mr. CLARKE moved an amendment-that the
number Of representatives shall not be less than
| two hundred and fifty five. He thought 1t neces-
sary that the present number OF members should be
Increased rather than diminished. The great in
terests Of the country required this; and beside the
| disproportion between the House and the Senate
| was not great enough
| The amendment was rejected.
/
brought forward his amendment at this time, and
| he opposed it,
| Mr.. STEVENS, Of Pennsylvania, said that it
must be apparent TO every body that this was a
| most unfortunate proposition from beginning to
end II this is put into the BILL Congress will have
| another good month to go on. They were now
considerably advanced in May, and every thing
| connected with the census must be done within the
| remaining days of the month. He knew that if
1 this amendment should be adopted, many men
would vote against the bill, because of that clause.
| 1t has enemies enough already. II the law should
| be passed now, upwards of three thousand pounds
| of blanks ETC., would have TO be sent out 10 the
marshals every day in this month. Should the
passage of the bill be procrastinated, the census
| cannot be commenced on the day named-the first
| of June.
Mr.. MEACHAM offered an amendment. He
| said that the proposition of the gentleman from
Ohio was entirely out of place, and he asked him
to withdraw it, to give time for consideration. If
it should be adopted, il would act injurousy to the
| smaller States We ought to increase rather than
| diminish the present number Of members. Let the
census be taken first, and then make the apportion
| ment.
Mr.. LITTLEFIELD was in the Congress which
| made the last apportionment. He was aware Of
census was taken. He was aware Of the, trouble
which will take place if the apportionment shall
| be delayed, as heretofore. But he thought, upon
the whole, that il impolitic in this hasty man
ner to adopt an important principle, and therefore
| he had concluded toyote against it.
| Mr.. TAYLOR proposed to increase the number
of representatives to two hundred and forty-two
He said that it not contemplated by the Consi-
tuition to make the apportionment before the census
was taken. Two hundred and fifty men could bet
ter represent the interests of the people than two
hundred.
| Mr.. vINTON remarked that his amendment pro
posed that the apportonmcnt should be made after
| the census should be taken.
| Mr.. TAYLOR understood that; but we are, he
| said, Judging for those who are to come after US.
Why should not these who are to be in this House
hereafter understand the intereats of the country
| as well do He believed that one member for
| every hundred thousand persons would be fair.
| Mr. THOMPSON, of kentucky, was in favor of
| Mr. vIsToN's amendment. Owing to the large num-
| Der, there much disorder in the hall gene
rally that he could not hear what was said. Were
the number smaller, this complaint would not exist
Should there be but few men In the House they would
be of different order; not such as those who, just
| emerging from college, too extensive for their
breeches sent here if going to the State legis
| lature. [Laughter.] If the country should not
like the limit TO two hundred, they can change it
| through their representatives
| MIR. McMULLEN said, if any thing were super
| huous, it was the amendment of the gentleman
from Ohio, (Mr. VIsToN.) If 1t prevailed, he
pledged himself, if he stood alone, to vote against
| the bill.
Mr. KAUFMAN preferred that the number of
representatives should be less than it was and
1 advocated the amendment
| MIR. JOHN A. KING said it not the large
| number that caused confusion in the hail. but
want of reflection. There occasions when
4 the popular body should speak out. The Senate
| are not SO likely to do So holding their Office by a
| different tenure. Two hundred and fifty men
| would not be too many 10 reflect public opinion.
| Mr.. GENTRY proposed that the number be two
| hundred and seventy. The House ought TO be not
only large enough 10 represent the entire republic
but large as 10 be placed beyond the reach Of all
| improper influences, which might pervert il from
legitimate and faithful representation of the will
and interests Of the various constituencies II had
passed under his observation more than once, with
in the last ten years, that measures OF a public
Irh. r2or fntrn md de nod. hu
| Executive appliances the would not undertake 10
indicate the particular instances) the propositions
1 were renewed, and condemned, and again renewed,
slightly varying in phraseology, but the same in
/ substance, until at last they commanded MAORI
/ ~ of votes. This nation is now extending itself
! greatly; the patronage Of the Federal Executive
/ has been largely increased within the last few
| years. In the hands Of some interruptions Presi-
/ dent IL could be used badly. He should like the
| House 10 be so large as to be placed beyond the
| reach Of Executive inhuence-that the members
mi ht act and speak with entire independence. As
10 the confusion Of the House, he thought they
| as orderly as the Senate. fLaughterl
| Mr.. yENABLE moved TO make the number two
/ hundred and one. He would rather undertake 10
| corrupt a town meeting than grand Jury; and TO
corrupt five hundred men, than ffteen or twenty
| Pass law preventing man from holding Office
| by Executive appointment until certain period
after he goes out of Congress- and this would strike
at the root Of the evil The smaller the number the
| less is the liability Of corruption. large,
wieldy House was great evil.
| Mr.. DURKEE went for the largest number. He
had received letters directing him to vote for FIVE
| hundred II had been said that they could not
trust the public In the future. Let gentlemen un-
| dertake 10 cramp the public mind, and they would
| soon be sent 10 their homes. The public voice is
the law Of this nation, and IL is the business Of
/ members 10 conform TO IT, For the minority 20
/ prescribe is contrary TO the principles Of Demo
4 cracy. He repeated, he went for the popular will
| az the national law. The we approach 10
/ this, the nearer we come 10 popular liberty.
/ Mr. TOOMRS did not wi the nartic,,l,r nro;,,
dces Of thousands of sub divisions Of country TO be
/ represented. Government could, thus embarrassed
| not work at all. Congress legisate only ON a
few subjects Of general interests Congress has no
control over local feelings, the tendency Of which
il to distract legislative action As 10 the idea of
corruption, did gentlemen suppose that IL IL more
difficult 10 control large than a small number
/ The general law OF trade is, that commodities
| cheaper with the supply. II can now be
bought with ehargeship, he could then be bought
with pair Of boots, should the number be enlarged