The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-21
From the Burlington Free Press.
The Census Bill-Remarks of Mr..
Meacha1n,

Meacham.
This important bill has passed the
House, and only waits the action of the
Senate aud the President to become a
law. 1t is to be regretted that it was
not passed months ago. since we believe
the several Marshals are required 10
make their reports within period which
affords them scarcely sufficient time 10
perform the important work assigned 10
them with the fulness and accuracy that
are contemplated by the bill, and that
are, indeed, indispensable 10 the useful
ness of the result.
In the course of the debate on this
bill, in Committee Of the " hole, on the
9TH inst. MIR. MEAcHAM addressed few
remarks to the Committee which we
copy from the Congressional Globe. The
question under consideration was on the
amendment moved by Mr.. ViNToN lim-
ting tia number of Representatives.
hereafter, to 900. We quote the remarks
of Mr.. MEAcHAM more because we De-
lieye this is the first occasion OH which
he has participated in debate, than be-
cause there is any special Importance in
the proposition submitted by him. Iu>
deed, his amendment was offered, spe-
officially, in order to afford him an cp-
portunity 10 sa" word on that Of Mr..
VINroN. Our readers will agree with
him, however, that it was aud is mop
perfume to cucumber the Census Bil.
with embarrassing amendments that have
no necessary connection with H.
Mr.. MEAcHAM will prove an easy, per-
spcuous and forcible debsier. The
Globe says -
Mr.. MEAcHAM moved to amend the
amendment, by substituting tho number
of 246 in lieu Of 600. lie had offered
the amendment (he said) that he might
have All opportunity Of making one or
two remarks.
1t certainly did appear to him, that the
amendment Of thu gentleman from Ohio
Mr.. VINroN] was entirely out place.
1t seemed to him (Mr NJ J that the gen>
tleman should withdraw it, in order that
time might be allowed for more care,
ful and deliberate examination of the
question than could possibly be given 10
! It in the circumstances under which the
Committee was now acting. As he view
/ ed The matter at present, he was inclined
to the belief, that by reducing the nuns
Der of Representatives as contemplated
by this amendment, the effect would be
to throw the whole legislation of the
country into the hands of few of the
larger Staies, leaving the smaller States
mere ciphers; aud especially at this par
ticuIar period in our history, when We
were receiving vast accessions to our
territorial boundaries-
Mr.. BococK intcrposed, he said 10 a
question of order. lie submitted to the
Chair, whether it was in order, after a
vote had been taken on the proposition
of the gentleman from Ohio, and a cal.
1 for division had been made on another
amendment. to make these remarks
The CHAiRMAN said it was in order.
No question had been taken, nor any di-
vision been had
Mr. BococK submitted that avole had
been taken, and decision had.
The CHAIRMAN said there had been
no inal decision.
Mr. MEAcHAN proceeded with his re-
marks. They had, he said, in Vermont,
two hundred and forty members aud on
ly about eight thousand square miles of
territory. lie thought the amendment
was especially inopporlune at this time
when our national limits, instead of being
decreased, were increasing rapidly; and.
he thought, liberal and enlightened
policy would require that, so far from
diminishing the number of Represents
lives, it should he increased. la his
judgment, the amendment was altogether
, out of place. Let the matter go over
until the census should have been taken.
> Let us know what new States were to be
admitted into the Union, and what was
the number of Representatives which
might be desired in different pFrts Of the
country, and then let the question be de-
cided. Let time be gwen for delibera-
tion-for a comparison Of views-or let
committee be appointed to inquire
into the subject, and to make report
upon it. This was the best and most
proper mode of disposIng Of the guess
, ton and more especially so, because it
was his conviction, that 10 adopt this
amendment would result in arraying az
d gainst the entire bill more formidable
J, opposition than really existed. Tie be