Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-02-23

mob Of Lord Gordon IN country ovei
which the government had an entire ju-
rifdistion.
The queaion was then taken on she
hrit reiolution, for receding TO Virgins
the territory originally attached TO that
ftate--and lot Ayes II.
When the qnyition, was taken on the
2nd retoluiioa, and lois without a dl
vihon.
The committee rofs and reportea
their disagreement, TO the refolutions.
The Houfe Immediately took Up their
report.
Mr.. NicholG0n called for the yeas
and nays
Mr.. Claiborns fpcl<e in favor Of the
refolutions.
II was propofed TO take the qaeRion
upon 10th he reiolutions together.
Mr.. DAYTON moved to divide the
qucttion. He faid he ihould vote for
the hrh relolu,ion thar receded to Viz
ginia thar portion of territory original
iy attached to her and for the fecond,e
with the exception of the City of Waih-
ington, which be thought ought TO be re-
ieryed.
MIR. Elmendort obferved that Of the
conilitulional power of Congrels to recede
the territory he entertained no doubt.
He, therefore, viewed the preient qaefi-
on as quefion Ct expediency ; and, in
this view he could no, conceive how a
Jingle gentleman could conceive'it expedi-
emf to continue TO legillate for people
who were not repreien5ed.
Mr.. Randolph faid, as he believed the
houie incompetent TO legilate for the pco-
pie Of Columbia as he believed the in
tefetts of the ieyeral parts Of the :cfri,
tory were as hottie as any in the uni
or, as IT was manileit that there was an
Alexandria, a George Town, and CT
~ intereit and even within the city,
a Capitol hill interef, ard PreGdent's
houle intereit which were irreconcilea-
bic, he ihould vote for the amendment Of
his colleague (Mr. Dawlon.) To attempt
TO legiilate for the diaritt was, in effect,
to confitute Ike chairman of the commit
tee, or at any rate the committee itfelf
on the affairs of the territory, the Solsn
or Lycurgus of the place. 1t was well
known that the irdolence Of the other mem
bers, 'orstheir difference, inleperatle from
the ftuation in which they were placed,
would prevent congrefs from Iegifa,iDg
wi,h4a full understanding Of the objects
before them. He, therefore, thought il
expedient to recede all the territory ex-
cepting the city of Warrington. This
difpoftion of the territory would leave
entirely untouched TIE queition which a
rofe from the interelt OF individuals who
had made purchafes of property under the
faith Of congrels retaining the jurildi61i-
on. It,was probable thar in fuch event a
corporation might be eitabliihed in the
city, thar would anfwer the ends of 60
vernmgn,, without two thirds of the time
of the national Legislature being con-
famed.
Mr.. S. Smith faid ne had liifened with
great attention TO the arguments of diff.
terent gentlemen during the debate
The gentleman from Virginia Mr..
Randolph had told the houle in that
debate thar congref, were not competent
TO leg'flate for the territory, and yer be
is now about to legiAate for them in
concern OF the utmolt Importance by civ.
ing them away, without their content, to
The itates.
Mr.. Holland fpoke in favor Of recef-
hon.
MIR. Randolph in reply to the gentle
man fromiMafyland Mr.. S. Smith) would
ak whether the people Of the territory
were ceded by Maryland and Virginia
W III their conientf
Mr.. Bayard aiked what the gentle
man from Virginia meant by content |?