intents
and purposes whatsoever," for which the free states have nothing in
return.

Sec.11. The constitution does not limit the house to any definite number of
representatives; it only declares that the number shall not exceed one
for every 30,000 inhabitants. It requires an enumeration of the
inhabitants every ten years; and the next congress thereafter determines
the ratio of representation and the number of representatives, and
apportions them among the states. The word _ratio_ signifies rate, or
proportion. It here means the number or portion of the inhabitants
entitled to a representative.

Sec.12. But as a representative for every 30,000 inhabitants, after the
population became very numerous, would have made the house too large to
transact business with due dispatch, and would have unnecessarily
increased the public expense, the ratio of representation has from time
to time been increased. But to whatever number the ratio may be raised,
the constitution expressly declares, that "each state shall have at
least one representative." Neither Delaware nor Florida had, in 1850, a
population equal to the present ratio; and without the above
constitutional provision, these states would have been deprived of a
representation in the house, unless congress had adopted a smaller
ratio.

Sec.13. It will be seen by reference to the constitution, that the number
of representatives was for the time fixed at sixty-five. After the first
census, taken in 1790, the ratio was fixed at 33,000, which gave the
house 106 members. After the census of 1800, the same ratio was
adopted, and the number of members was 142.

After 1810, the ratio was 35,000; number of members 182.
After 1820, the ratio was 40,000; number of members 213.
After 1830, the ratio was 47,700; number of members 240.
After 1840, the ratio was 70,680; number of members 233.

After 1850, the ratio was 93,000 and a fraction, making the number of
members 233, of which California had one; but in view of her rapid
increase in population, she was allowed an additional member, making, in
all, 234. Minnesota has since been admitted into the Union (1858) with
two members, and Oregon (1859) with one member.

Sec.14. Representatives are chosen by districts. Each state is divided by
the legislature into as many districts as there are representatives to
be elected in the state; and one representative is chosen in each
district. In most of the states, representatives are chos