Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-01-30

t,ve the rayer To cxeic else exclusive lc' !
Il ,iation in All cases whatsoever, over such
.i,s'riSs (soi exceeding ten miles squ7rs)
as may. by cession Of particular states and
the acceptance Of congress, become the
sea, of the general yovernIuc NJ" &c
This clause contempla,es first, place to
be acquired lying at the time wi,hin the
jurisdiction ri some Of the states, but
which was IL be put gu. OF their con,roul
and within the exclusive jurisdiction of the
general government. rsis was To be done
in order, tina, permanent seat might be
established which should not be liable TO
be changed by legislative caprice. and in
order thai The jurisdiction oser the place
in which is operations were to be con
j duct-tl. might be ike the government il.
self, Toe property OF she whole PEOPLE OF
the union and free from The Influence of
any one II its component parts.
This appears 10 5e as much part OF the
! constitution, that you should always have
this federal distriSt, as that there should
he a legislative, executive and jude AIRY
Department..
IDLY. II paints ont rhe manner in which
this dis,ri6l shall BE acquired, ard the a.
lser,s who are TO o~ Instrumental in the
acquisition. The convention on behalf of
the ,.eorie Of the United :, ales, who are
the principals, npppin' congress she attor-'
( nsv Ia isrt - receive The conveyance. and
constitute thelcgislsture ofthcststc- from
| ~hom the cession or conveys. &c i o
be made sisrlnr agents to make 1t. TIE
several a-erts have performed their re-
| spe&livs Offices, The dis rich has been az
quifsd 10 conformity with tbs authority
| given, The right to he properly vested in
The american people, .nJ possession held
of u BY US, for their benefit. for whose
use il wssaequired. All,hc power which
was given rs Ia the acquisition Of the ter
ritory has been exhausted, and no other
| power remaios but that Of exercising
over il exclusive legislation. To explain
and illustrate this subject to the NOS.
ordinary capacity, let me compare the
translation TO a case in common Ide.--
| IL give man a power ef attorney 90
pcrchasc for me a tract OF land, in a par
ticu'sr district Of country of specified
quantity OF acres, leaving it to him to
make the lucaiicI, and he accordingly
| make purchase, aud l consent 10 the
act, receive the conveyance, and take
possession OF it, can my agent afterwards
make another choice, divcst me OF nay
fright, and reconrey the prcp.ny without
my consenil No man VII answer his
q estion a.hrmsiivcly ard yet il is clear
ih-re IS a perfect simiiilude between tie
cases, ard tina, congress arc aPcnls acting
IN this case under a limited authority snd
confined in the exc, else thereof to- spe-
cifc ohj-ct. That congress are SPECIAL
agents, aud not vested With general
power over every possible case is mani.
fest. from the y hole tenor &c the cons,itu-
sicn; ADD viii lay down in this ms ance
a RUE which has been generally recogni-
zcd a. the standard. ny which 10 test the
ex.en, OF Congressional authority in any
given case. II is that congress can ex. =
csse 10 power or any subject but wha, is
exprcssly delegated and specifically emu
rneratrd is tbe Constitution. OF necessary
and incidental 10 The execution Of the spe.
CITED powers. What is their power in
the present i,stance7 To accept a ccssi-
on IL exercise over il exclusive Icgisla.
ton. Can you infer from hence a power
OF re-roc, saion TO do SO IS AZ war with
the amSndmcGt OF the consultation, which
declares, al powers not gwen tc the
general government, are retained bv the
siatesor the people respectively. Was
not the pore confined 20 The acceptance
al the disiria directed TO h- procured for
p srccifc purpose, and ~hen so acquired,
TO conYno. AZ object over which congress,
as permanent body, might always have
u IN ttcir power to exercise exclusive ia
risdiclion. Can you then claim The pow
or OF recovering the district and receive
ing one as often as your caprice may die
tate, or of divesting your successors OF the
same controuI over this distric; witch we
may exercise ourselycs' The power is not
expressly delegated, nor is it necessary
power 70 carry into efrGt any power Civ
en- /; for il will not be coniended,f but we
, may exercise all our powers and perform
| all our duties, and still retain the iurisdic-
ton over the district
1t has been said, that Congress and the
legislatures Of Maryland and Virginia re.
ing tbs parties TO the contract. may Ike
all Other parties by mutual cousent dis
solve the obligation. The premises might
Be admitted, and the conclu<ion do.e no,