M^r Gorham. Some provision of this sort was necessary in the outset. The number of blacks & whites with some regard to supposed wealth was the general guide. Fractions could not be observed. The Legisl^{re} is to make alterations from time to time as justice & propriety may require. Two objections prevailed ag^{st} the rate of 1 member for every 40,000 inh^{ts}. The 1^{st} was that the Representation would soon be too numerous: the 2^d that the West^n States who may have a different interest, might if admitted on that principle by degrees, outvote the Atlantic. Both these objections are removed. The number will be small in the first instance and may be continued so. And the Atlantic States having y^e Gov^t in their own hands, may take care of their own interest, by dealing out the right of Representation in safe proportions to the Western States. These were the views of the Committee. M^r L. Martin wished to know whether the Com^e were guided in the ratio, by the wealth or number of inhabitants, of the States, or by both; noting its variations from former apportionments by Cong^s M^r Gov^r Morris & M^r Rutlidge moved to postpone the 1^{st} paragraph relating to the number of members to be allowed each State in the first instance, and to take up the 2^d paragraph authorizing the Legisl^{re} to alter the number from time to time according to wealth & inhabitants. The motion was agreed to nem. con. On Question on the 2^d parag^h taken without any debate Mass^{ts} ay. Con^t ay. N. Y. no. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay. M^r Sherman moved to refer the 1^{st} part apportioning the Representatives, to a Comm^e of a member from each State. M^r Gov^r Morris seconded the motion; observing that this was the only case in which such committees were useful. M^r Williamson thought it would be necessary to return to the rule of numbers, but that the Western States stood on different footing. If their property shall be rated as high as that of the Atlantic States, then their representation ought to hold a like proportion. Otherwise if their property was not to be equally rated. M^r Gov^r Morris. The Report is little more than a guess. Wealth was not altogether disregarded by the Com^e. Where it was apparently in favor of one State, whose n^{os} were superior to the numbers of another, by a fraction only, a member extraordinary was allowed to the former: and so vice versa. The Committee meant little more than to bring the matter to a point for the consideration of the House. M^r Reed asked why Georgia was allowed 2 members, when her number of inhabitants had stood below that of Delaware. M^r Gov^r Morris. Such is the rapidity of the population of that State, that before the plan takes effect, it will probably be entitled to 2 Representatives.