390. APPORTIONMENT BILL, Veto of Advised.—
Viewing this bill either as a
violation of the Constitution, or as giving an
inconvenient exposition of its words, is it a
case wherein the President ought to interpose
his negative? I think it is. * * * The
majorities by which this bill has been carried
(to wit: of one in the Senate and two in the
Representatives) show how divided the opinions
were there. The whole of both Houses
admit the Constitution will bear the other exposition,
whereas the minorities in both deny
it will bear that of the bill. The application
of any one ratio is intelligible to the people
and will, therefore, be approved, whereas the
complex operations of this bill will never be
comprehended by them, and though they May
acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do
not understand.—
Opinion on Apportionment Bill. Washington ed. vii, 601.
Ford ed., v, 500.
(1792)
