Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-02-07
CONG RE S S:
OF THE
u MITE, D. s ia TIE s.
Ha1IsE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, January 8.
OF THE
DEBATE
On rsceding the Districtef Columbia.

Mr., Sloan. Ny friend from Maryland
(Mr. Nelson) has observed that tits Gus
tomary fo-. members to:.xpress their SEN
t;ment. on subjects under. discussion in
this House; not that he expected to make
one proselite by MS obser. atoms. per-
fect.y agree with him that there is no rca.
son 10 believe that he has, for: this plain
reason; he has no. adduced a single fact
in suppor. of his argument but after ex-
n,odins all conclusions drawn from iqDlk
nothing else. -. =:
But, Nr. Chairman, under sanction of
the aforesaid cesto ~ and also from sense
ofduty, beg the attention of this COM
.rnit,ee to some brief observations Oh this
important subject. - consider it as aloge-
TIER improper; unfair and Unjust to bend
q suEect under discussion with others aot
even contemplated and to endeavor TO
ilAueocc the miads OF members with pre-
d;ctions of csrtaih'eveRts, yet in the womb
of iutur,,Y, that may. or may not cometo
pass. 1ae end contemplated by the pre-.
sent resolutions, is neither the removal Of
the seat of government, nor to prevent
Congress from exercising exclusive juris-
dic,on over any territory blu. to reduce
the present suantum But, say the oppo-
sers Of these resolutions, the proposed re-
cession OF part Of the territory, is intended
as an Opening wedge, preparatory to total
recession sndremoval the seat OF govern.
ment ;.
MIR Chairman, LIDO not pretend to a fore
knowledge of any members thoughts be-
fore they are ar.icula,ed in words; those
who have this foteknowledge have great
advantage ever other menbers who have
it not but am free to declare that my
opinion j, quite the reverse; believing
that the recession OF that part of tn. terri
Tory contemplated by the resolutions now
under consideration, would have tenden-
ey to continue the seat Of government in
this place.
Flu, i: has been asserted that we have no
RICH, to make the proposed recession and
from the dictatorial, style of the resolutions
of the town Of Alexandria, and the posi-
tive assertions that we have heard on this
floor, that it was unconstitutional, oprres-
size, and tyrannica!, expected from the
usual accuracy and correctness fthc mem
berwho made those assertions: Mr.: Den
mis- that lie Was in possession Of Gocu-
merts 20 substantia,e the fact .5u:, TO NV
surprise, instead Of such documents, he has
addueed, and principally relied on he Con-
sti,u,ion, in which there is net aeingle.im. :
perativs sentence obligatory oa Congress,
either to receive i cession, or When re.
ceiv.d, to continue exclusive jurisdiction
over,one foot OF territory the plain and
.unsquivocal language OF Tie cons,i ntian
leaving it perfectly optional whether to re.
tain jurisdiction or not HenesI couceIee
thai, no legislative body can BE- justly charg.
ed with tyranny or oppression, for altering,
or, If from experience it become, ncesssa-
ry, disannuliing their own sets ; contrary
opinion l consider as altogether uneonge.
NAL to Improvements. sgsnuloe liberty, aad
the inherers rights of man and as slqhl
hope willeve b. exi..oded ,rlhe e United
States. i
MIR. Chairman, tie cons;itutiopality and
right to recede being settled, j. turns solely
on the principle of,expedieHc5. Here let
nae ask what advantage the United States
derives from exercising exclusive ju1isdic.
tien over shat Part otthe territory prppos.
ed to be receded: lsrotthe city suAi &ionl,
even admitting the u,ili,y or NECESSITY Of
exclusive jurisdiction I conceive that no
possible advantage can be drawn from
larger qnantun of territory. Here let me
cali the attention Of the House 10 the rea!
and obvious disadvantages: these gre, .,
least, the loss of the lime.of 176 menber,
Of Congress, from twenty to ,hsrty DAYS
annually, spent in legislating for the dis
t.ie,, a, an,expence Of, fom thirty tofory
dollars. This enormous expense
can only be justified upon the principle
consended for during ihe late admins.
rration, that a.publie deb. was . pub
lie blessing;" and consequently that the
greater the debt, the greater the .bles-
sing. i
But, Mr.. Chairman, do not consider