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

The following named gentlemen were appointed
the select committee OF nine members, ordered at
the instance of Mr.. STANLY, yesterday to inquire
into and report what officers under the last admins
traton wrote for or correspondent with newspapers;
who wrote the party essays signed "Bundelcund;"
whether any absented themselves to make speeches
against General Taylor during the presidential
campaign, subscribed to electoneering funds ETC.:
Mr.. STANLY, of North Carolina
Mr.. ISGE, of Alabama.
Mr.. ScHENcK, of Ohio.
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky.
Mr.. HAYMoND, of Virginia.
Mr.. HIBBARD, of New Hampshire.
MIR. BRIGes, of New York.
MIR. FITCH, of Indiana.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, of Tennessee
The following resolution, reported from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, was re-
ferred to the Committee of the Whole on the state
Of the Union, and ordered to be printed, viz:
Rssolped, by the Senate and House Of Representa
tiues Of the United States of Arnerica Congress
sembied, That the free navigation of the st. Law
river demands the earnest attention Of the
American Government, and that il is highly desi
rable that il be secured to American commerce at
an early day.
Several gentlemen desired to introduce resolu-
tons of instructions to committees, but objections
were interposed
The House resolved itself into a Committee of
the Whole on the state of the Union, and resumed
the consideration of the bill providing for the TAX
ing Of the
SEVENTH CENSUS THE UNITED STATES
The amendment pending was the following, SUBJ
united yesterday by Mr.. VINroN, viz
BE nfDtt1 eaacted, That this act shall continue
in force until altered repealed and il no other
law be passed, providing for the taking of any sub
sequent census of the United States on or before
the first day Of January of any year when, by the
Constitution Of the United States, any future emu
meration OF the inhabitants thereof is required TO be
taken, such census shall in all things be taken and
completed according to the provisions Of this act
Mr.. VINToN briefly explained the amendment,
when the question was taken, and 1t was agreed to.
He then offered the following, namely:
And be further enacted, That from and after
the third day of March, 1852 the House of Repre-
sentatives shall be composed Of two hundred MEM
bers, 10 be apportioned among the several States
in the manner directed in the next section Of this
act.
And be further enacted That 40 soon as the next
and each subsequent enumeration of the inhabit-
ants OF the several States directed by the Constitu-
ton Of the United States TO be taken shall be COM
pleted and returned 10 the Office Of the Department
Of the Interior il shall be the duty Of the Secretary
oil the Interior to ascertain the aggregate rcpresen
tatve population of the United States by adding 10
the whole number Of free persons in ali the States
including those bound TO service for term of years
and excluding Indians not taxed, three ffths Of all
other persons, which aggregate population he shall
divide by the number Of two hundred. and the nro
duct Of such division, rejecting any portion Of
unit, II any such happen TO remain, shall be the
ratio or rule OF apPortionment Of representatives
among the several States under such enumeration;
and the said Secretary Of the Department the Ine
rior shall then proceed in the same manner to az
certain the representative population Of each State
and to divide the whole number Of each State thus
formed by the ratio already determined by him, as
above directed, and the product Of this last dvsion
shall be the number OF the representatives appor-
toned to such State under the then last enumera-
ton Provided, That the loss in the number Of
members caused by the fractions remaining in the
several States on the division Of the population
thereof shall be compensated for by gnng 10 80
many States having the largest fractions addi-
tonal member each for its fraction, as may be ne
cessary TO make the whole number Of representa-
tves two hundred. Ard provided also, That, il
after the apportionment Of the representatives I'M
der the next or any subsequent census, new State
OF states shall be admitted into the Union the rep
resentatye or representatives assigned to such
State or States shall be in addition the number Of
representatives herein above limited, which excess
OF representatives over two hundred shall only
nnue until the next succeeding apportionment Of
| representatives under the next succeeding census
Mr. VlNTON said that the number Of represen.
tativcs proposed by him 1.-TWO hundred) was az
large az il should be; but his main object was. 20
| permanently organize the House
Mr.. ChOWkIL moved 20 amend the amend.
ment, by striking out 1.-TWO hundred and insert
| ing three hundred" He differed from his col
league with great difdence. II was his opnion
that executive, or any other species Of malgn in.
fiuence, could more easily be exercised over two
| hundred than three hundred members Representa-.
ton mas been one OF the great popular bulwarks Of
the House Of Commons. The number Of members
exceeds ak hundred. Massachu setts one of the
model States OF New England and Of the Republic,
with population less than million, has in her
popular branch four hundred members
Mr.. FOWLER corrected the gentleman The
number IL now three hundred Al ono time IL was
nearly seven hundred
Mr.. CROWELL stood corrected and argued, az
long as the five minutes allowed for explanations
OF amendments permitted, in favor Of his PROPOSE
ton; which wac rejected by the committee
Mr.. FOWLER moved TO amend by making the
number OF members Of the House two hundred and
sixty; and the amendment rejected.
Mr.. JONES moved 20 strike out the words "two
hundred" in Mr.. YINToN's amendment He was
in favor of the limit, but desired 10 bring the com
mittee TO definite vote
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Pennsylvania, said that the
subject embraced in the amendment Of Mi. vINror
was very important, and appealed 10 the gentle
man to withdraw IL, that il might be referred to
one Of the standing committees thus sffording time
for deliberation Let IL come before the House ne a
separate measure.
The question taken on the amendment Of
Mr. yoSEs, and IL was disagreed to-yess ~,
nsys73.
Gentlemen, in succession, moved 10 change the
nunnber'of representatives proposed 1.-TWO hundred)
rom that up 10 five hundred: all Of which amend
ments were rejected, one after another.
Mr.: BOWIE offered amendment-tbat there
shall be at least representative 10 every hun
~