The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-02-12

their charity begin ut home; there they will
hnda full opportunity m extend and improve |
the fyftem Of rrprefertatipn.
Mr. Chairman, WAS IN inhabtant If the
diitri6 of Columbia. having but a fmail
property, I think that ] fhauld be very
little anxious % better my condition BY going
TO live in Virginia. / know that my political
influence would hc there merely nominal-I
know that whatever my moral worth might be,
could not fand in competition with those
who poiicfs that kind of property, which is
entitled To representation. l know that my oc-
cupation and habits would keen me ftrangsr
among my neighbours, and render my ituati-
on uncomfortable, perhaps difeufing.
Had Cogrcfs the power TO efufe 20 leciflate
ever the dftri6f of Columbia, nay, had it the
power to cede Tint dario to MARYLAND and Vir-
GINA, would ii be expeder' % do il For my
part, avow that do not fec great utility in
the constitutional provi6on, which authorizes
Conerefs to accept diG,id. lam one ofthofc
who believe that the fafe.v and independence of
Cougrefs muft ref upon their regard 20 the true
interetts of the people. of the United States,
and the virtue and fpirt of that people. be-
heve that when thofe things mall he wanting il
is idle to think that the diftria of Columbia
can make up the deficiency. However the
fages who framed the contribution thought that
diftriet might be ufefu, the Coperefs that did
accept the diftria, and the feveral ConcreGcs
that did lei it exit, are authorities Of great
weight and refpettabili,y. feel averfe to undo
what future Consrefs cannot do again. IF we
cede TO Maryland and Virginia any part of the
diffr6 of Columbia, is it 10 be expected, in cafe
another Congrefs fhould with TO have thofe parts
rcftored, that Maryland and Virginia, after hsv-
ing experienced the Versatility Of the prefrnt
Conerefs, would content TO make another ceifi-
on Ii PLAINLY appears 70 me that, II the reiolu-
tions now before the committee be adopted, a.
NY future ConerefS will become vir ua1ly dfabed
from reftorins the diftrf to its prefent extent.
This unavoidable confcQuence adds, in my
mind, importance 20 the quehion. Thofe that
Will MT within thefc walls next year will have
more recent evidence of the peoples conf
dence than that which we now pofItfs.
Would it not he more prudent to leave them
the opportunity of eXercifing their opinion
upon ttefe revolutions
As the expedencyo of the contemplated cefi-
on, 10 far as 1t relates to the inhabitants of the
diitriet, fhaN not undertake 70 fay any thing
They know much better than do what fuits
them, and fit was their interea to be ceded a.
gain, we would have feen them offering here
their content, or petitioning for the cefIion.
MIR. Thatcher was oppofed to the motion for
2recefiiou, and he had heard only two reafons
urged IN favor ofthe neafurc that the exercife
OF executive legilation by Congrels over the
ditrIct of Columbia was attended with an I'M
due expente of the public money, and occupi-
ed 10 much or their time, that the buincis of
the union was interrupted and put 70 a Raud
by the interference of the local concerns of this
place. This ftatement he did not believe 10 be
perfectly correct no doubt fome of their time
was taken up, but he would leave il to every
gentleman to fay, whether ifthey had even more
butnets before them than they had, there was
not time enough 70 tranfatt it. The houfe ufu-
airy let from J O'Clock till three; but it muh
nave eentrcdpentiyobfer that the adjourn
nent took place much earlier for want of buff
nefs TO employ them. But he was not an adj
vocate for the prefent mode of conducting the
buiineis oithe diRrif it would perhaps be
better way 70 give them subordinate govern
ment, controulahle by Congrefs--or commit
Zee Of congrefs might be appointed for the pur-
po'e. He did not fee that the complaint of
too much legillation was yell founded, in any
thing that had taken place during the pre-
lent teiiion-If the little labor they had had to
perform was too great for :hem, what muft the
labor OF their predecehors have been, who had
Pahed all he laws in eXiitencc for the govern
rnent OF the diftri6t, and vet he had never heard
any complaint made by them on the ground
now taken they knew that the contribution en-
joined upon them the duty ofexercifing excu-
we ies'nrton over the Ter r.'les !i%a.e, :aaaa
they performed it with patient attention.
His mind revoltcd at the idea of rccefjon
Gentlemen had contended that the powers ex-
ercifed over the pc op'e of Coluntia, were de.
rogatory of, and inconifent with the prime ipes
Of free government-Yet what does this motion
for receflion propofe Why to transfer them
and the territory away, in the manner prat1ifed
IN Rulia, in the transfer of provinces or manors,
transferring the vaf!als with the foi--This may
be truly called derogatory TO the principles Of
freedom Nor is this all you do not transfer
them merely without their content, but in the
face of their ferrous remonfrances againit the
transfer.
When he confidered the donbts which had
beeen fnggefted as to- its being constitutional or
not, he declared that fiich circumfance would
decide him to vote againft the meafure, and he
iuppofed it would decide the vote of every
member, who was not fully and clearly intisf.
ed that Consrefs pofeGed under the grants of
the contribution the power of recefion. But
five have constitutional right to recede the
jurifdiction, we may transfer it to whom we
pleafc ; hut fuch a meafure being merely an
sctof Congress, could not bind up the hands
OF future Conefefs TO aGnme the power over
IT at fome future day; and if the parts of the
dfri6 were feverally given to the ffates Of Ma
Tyiand and Virginia, what is 20 prevent then,
from giving the whole back whenever Congrefs
might require il. From this view of the cafe.
he did not Zee that the members in favor Of re-
ceiiion were likely to fix it ON any durable
foundation.