M^r King reported from the Com^e yesterday appointed that the States at
the 1^{st} meeting of the General Legislature, should be represented by
65 members, in the following proportions, to wit N. Hampshire by 3,
Mass^{ts} 8, R. Is^d 1, Con^t 5, N. Y. 6, N. J. 4, P^a 8, Del. 1, M^d 6,
V^a 10, N. C. 5, S. C. 5, Georgia 3.
M^r Rutlidge moved that N. Hampshire be reduced from 3 to 2. members.
Her numbers did not entitle her to 3 and it was a poor State.
Gen^l Pinkney seconds the motion.
M^r King. N. Hampshire has probably more than 120,000 Inhab^{ts} and has
an extensive Country of tolerable fertility. Its inhab^{ts} therefore
may be expected to increase fast. He remarked that the four Eastern
States, having 800,000 souls, have 1/3 fewer representatives than the
four Southern States, having not more than 700,000 souls, rating the
blacks as 5 for 3. The Eastern people will advert to these
circumstances, and be dissatisfied. He believed them to be very desirous
of uniting with their Southern brethren, but did not think it prudent to
rely so far on that disposition as to subject them to any gross
inequality. He was fully convinced that the question concerning a
difference of interests did not lie where it had hitherto been
discussed, between the great & small States; but between the Southern &
Eastern. For this reason he had been ready to yield something in the
proportion of representatives for the security of the Southern. No
principle would justify the giving them a majority. They were brought as
near an equality as was possible. He was not averse to giving them a
still greater security, but did not see how it could be done.
Gen^l Pinkney. The Report before it was committed was more favorable to
the S. States than as it now stands. If they are to form so considerable
a minority, and the regulation of trade is to be given to the Gen^l
Government, they will be nothing more than overseers for the Northern
States. He did not expect the S. States to be raised to a majority of
representatives, but wished them to have something like an equality. At
present by the alterations of the Com^e in favor of the N. States they
are removed farther from it than they were before. One member indeed had
been added to Virg^a which he was glad of as he considered her as a
Southern State. He was glad also that the members of Georgia were
increased.
M^r Williamson was not for reducing N. Hampshire from 3 to 2, but for
reducing some others. The South^n Interest must be extremely endangered
by the present arrangement. The North^n States are to have a majority in
the first instance and the means of perpetuating it.
M^r Dayton observed that the line between North^n & Southern interest
had been improperly drawn; that P^a was the dividing State, there being
six on each side of her.
Gen^l Pinkney urged the reduction, dwelt on the superior wealth of the
Southern States, and insisted on its having its due weight in the
Government.
M^r Gov^r Morris regretted the turn of the debate. The States he found
had many Representatives on the floor. Few he fears were to be deemed
the Representatives of America. He thought the Southern States have by
the report more than their share of representation. Property ought to
have its weight, but not all the weight. If the South^n States are to
supply money. The North^n States are to spill their blood. Besides, the
probable Revenue to be expected from the S. States has been greatly
overrated. He was ag^{st} reducing N. Hampshire.
M^r Randolph was opposed to a reduction of N. Hampshire, not because she
had a full title to three members; but because it was in his
contemplation 1. to make it the duty instead of leaving it in the
discretion of the Legislature to regulate the representation by a
periodical census. 2. to require more than a bare majority of votes in
the Legislature in certain cases & particularly in commercial cases.
On the question for reducing N. Hampshire from 3 to 2 Represent^s it
passed in the negative
Mass^{ts} no. Con^t no. N. J. no. P^a no. Del. no. M^d no.
V^a no. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. no.[128]
[128] In printed Journal. N. C. no. Geo. ay. Note in Madison's
hand.
Gen^l Pinkney and M^r Alex^r Martin moved that 6 Rep^s instead of 5 be
allowed to N. Carolina.