Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-02-16

VI more corp0ratiOns. There IS no liini
tat,on on the exercise OF this RICH, If con
eress possesses il at ALL, If she can trans
Ter her powers over.this TERRITORY to go
vefnment within the tea miles square,
wha' prevents her transferring these pow
crs 10 government without IN ten miles
square. Has H.. congress the same right
10 iiansfer her sovereignty over The part
p' the territory bord, ring on Maryland 10
'"a' s,ate' and her sovereignty ever the
par. oil The territory bordering on Virginia
10 mat state, that she would have TO trans
.ef tne same powers To a government with
III the DISTRICT. The same clause which
gives her exclusive legislation is The ONLY
limitation on her power. ny establishing
gosernment for tue district, congress
would be divested of her exclusive lceis-
lauon' by transfer TO Maryland aud
Virginia congress would be d,ves,ed of her
exclusive Legislation also. ), The extent OF
the power exercised in the two cases is
substantially the same.
! there was another point IF view in
| which this question might be placed This
ten miles square is portion of territory
"ith.s the Dnited States. Ii is admitted
that the pcope Of this erritory possess no
Porhch OF the sovereign power. The so-
vcreign power overyihis district then is ei
her absolutely in congress-, or copgress
possesses portion OF the sovereignty. and
'pr residue Is IN the people OF the I,;iiyi-
dadi states or ia the states. IL congress
possessedthsentIre sovereignty she might
transfer as he had shcwn. II Congress
possessed or!7 a-limiicd sovereignty with !
III 'h', district, i; must be desiyed from !
me "a clause OF the 81 section OF the 9Th |
areicie oil ihc constitution which declares I
'iaI congress Shall nave power TO dis.
pose oil and make all neediul rules and re- /
su'siiors respecting the Territory and o. |
Iiier prorerty belonging to the United !
states. Ofin Other word, congress pos
sess=s the same power over tnis Territory
which she has over other PORTIONS of Ter
i"Hsy which possess population without
bciag siales. In the exercise. oil her or
una territorial power, congress during
oe tast session, attached the territory nf
I; upper i-ou's'a 10 Indiana. II congress
pad rishl 20 attach ,hal icrutory 10 In
diana why may she nos ,ransSer This tsr-
riso'y, divide 1t al ste did ,ne territory OF
Louisiana and auacn & psrt 10 MarYiana
AID part TO Virginia, win he consent of
lthese states.
it,ae view he had taken OF the powers
a congress over ihis district was correct
oae ~ would not be necessary to say muci.
on The expedieHcy of measure in,crcs;
ing to the people Of the dlstrll, TO the
people oi ths United States and to- The ma
uonat legislature. The people Of the dis
I'ct IN returning 10 .he n1som OF The re
/ spectife sovereIguties from which they
nave been torn, viii be again resiored TO
| NJ rights ot irecmcn. Ins,ead of a mi
setahie dependence on the VIII of con
] gress, their rights will Stand on he firm
OASIS OF written chatter. Their indus.
Try be Pisccd under the fostering care of
men elected annually by themselves nos.
ssssng the,r feelings and interests. They
vail quickly ex, erience, lbe Difference be
tween that legislation, which Il ~. from a
cold senss OF duty w'thou; respons b,Iity,
ana the active and zesious sxcr,,on exci,-
ed by common interes' ADD kept up bv Z
propse responsibility To doub, the be-
Heiic'ai effects Of such a change 20 the pcs,- !
pic OF thls territory, would ne 10 call IN
1ne.' on The grea prIrc. plies of represen
awe government. Ii true that gen.
tieinan nom Maryland, has .old us, ina,
ne iisnIs oil people aye sufficiently Sc
cure, II those whp govern them have no ia
| crest Ia injuriag them. Aad that the adj
vantage OF Legislative body of ,heiy o,sn.
might We questioned because 100 much ,e
CESSATION was worse ihaa none. The peo
pie OF America have ever deemed th..
night OF eleeling tl.,,Se Win govern them
essential 10 freedom. The line ne hon.
ed, would never arrive in this country.
when this important privileges shall cease
TO be valued. lie should not ais~mpt 10
demonstrate FIRST principle. If the gem
'leman from Maryland had any doubts as
TO the blessing Of self government {. a
people. he would recommend TO him Pc
r'isal OF the history Of hperican ihdepend.
eoce, in which he will ind The patrol
whose shade be had invoked. doyotng the
bss, period Of his life TO toll ard danger
Tor the establishment of that p.inciplc.---
But we are told that the PeopIe OF This
district depyecato q ci,atge, and prefer po-
litical slavery, to a fall participation Of ~
p,erican rights. Do we believe this e. be
a fact If II was fact It was 10 bis mud
a conclusive one in favor &c receding the