James Madison, a former Delegate, from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to the Constitutional Convention, using the penname “Publius,” publishes “Federalist #58,” advising that the membership of the House of Representatives should be kept to a low number, lest the triumph of “passion over reason.”  In paragraph two he writes,

       Ignorance will be the dupe of cunning, and passion the slave of sophistry and declamation.  The people can never err more than in supposing that by multiplying their representatives beyond a certain limit, they strengthen the barrier against the government of a few.  Experience will forever admonish them that, on the contrary, AFTER SECURING A SUFFICIENT NUMBER FOR THE PURPOSES OF SAFETY, OF LOCAL INFORMATION, AND OF DIFFUSIVE SYMPATHY WITH THE WHOLE SOCIETY, they will counteract their own views by every addition to their representatives.  The countenance of the government may become more democratic, but the soul that animates it will be more oligarchic. … [emphasis in the original]

       [restored 12/7/2024]