on liberal terms, but not for putting ourselves into their hands. They will if they acquire power like all men, abuse it. Th y will oppress commerce, and drain our wealth into the Western Country. To guard agst. these consequences, he thought it necessary to limit the number of new States to be admitted into the Union, in such a manner, that they should never be able to outnumber the Atlantic States.[1] He accordingly moved “that in order to secure the 〈liberties of the〉 States already confederated, the 〈number of〉 Representatives in the 1st. branch 〈of the States which shall hereafter be established〉 shall never exceed in number, the Representatives from such of the States 〈as shall accede to this confederation.〉[2]
Mr. King. seconded the motion.
Mr. Sherman, thought there was no probability that the number of future States would exceed that of the Existing States. If the event should ever happen, it was too remote to be taken into consideration at this time. Besides We are providing for our posterity, for our children & our grand Children, who would be as likely to be citizens of new Western States, as of the old States. On this consideration alone, we ought to make no such discrimination as was proposed by the motion.
Mr. Gerry. If some of our children should remove, others will stay behind, and he thought it incumbent on us to provide for their interests. There was a rage for emigration from the Eastern States to the Western Country and he did not wish those remaining behind to be at the mercy of the Emigrants. Besides foreigners are resorting to that Country, and it is uncertain what turn things may take there.—On the question for agreeing to the Motion of Mr. Gerry, 〈it passed in the negative.〉
Mas. ay. Cont. ay. N. J. no Pa. divd. Del: ay. Md. ay. Va. no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes—4; noes—5; divided—1.].
Mr. Rutlidge proposed to reconsider the 〈two propositions touching the originating of〉 money bills 〈in the first〉 & the equality of votes in the second branch.
- ↑ See Appendix A, CCCXXXII.
- ↑ Revised from Journal
