Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-01-08

,oa4tSsr: phi authoritative Instructions -
.aaads,es issued, which shs member &
hsuya Du0aiy sGd implicitly to sbsy, &C
,o.s, and TO afgoe for, though contrary e
me elsssest conviction OF has own Jsd9
nsos and conscience these are thiaSs us
,erly unkncwn 10 the laws OF this land. ane
winch arise from fundamental mistake o
HE whole order and reaor of our constsu
tion.
Congress is rot composed of ambassa
doris from dlffefeat and hostile interests
which interest each must maintain, as ar
agsas and advocate, against other agents
And advocates; bat congress is delibeyas
ips assembly of ono nation, with one lnse.
rest, thar ofthe whole whers not loca
purposes, not local prejudices, ought t.
guide, bat The general good, resulting
from the general reason OF the whole.
Msmbers indeed are chosen by the diff
frrsnt states. and oiSes BY PARTICULAR dis
sicss OF such 8 ass bus when they are
thus chosen they are aat members OF par,
,nular state, er,of aparticuiar district in
auy one ssass, bur shsy are nembers Of tie
congress Of tde United States at America
Il tue local constituent shall have. an in;e
rest, or shoald form hasty opinion. evi.
denly opposiseso the real good Of theresl
OF The community, the member for TIA
place ousRs 10 be as far as aay othar from
any endsavor 10 siysit effect.
1t this doclt:ne be correct, and bv The
By, IFS fefutatiun upon sound principles Oh
political justice is not very easy MISTER,
what are veto think OF the Instructions oil
the legi.la;urelsf Msrylsnd &c their sena
Aars requesting, directing, or commanding
them (for We know not what terms might
have been used 90 this occasion) to eodoa
yor to preventthe erection OF bfidgs o.
yer the Potomac
If the rieM 10 compel an observance OF
inssructions IA any case, be at least pFo
blrma,ical, Ia whatiisst ought those OF the
state OF Maryland TO be viewed. when they
regard sGblect over which i,hss no sort
OF contrsai, either constitutional or &C.
cording 10 the nisgims of ra,ural justice
and seued policy!
This question is as completely without
the sphere of the legislative power OF Ma.
ryland, as fit related 80 ths building of
"a bridge over the Seine, Or the Neckar,
the Gauges or the hrsi sea. Because the
.eonsiltusiop has expressly declared, thas
congress shall have ths entire and exeio.
sve jurisdiction aud government, of the
District Of Columbia.
But adnis1ha. they possessed che pow.
er such an exercise OF il would be ex.
tremely adjust and impolitie. Why Is
this bridge. not TO be erected !? Because
for sooth, IN its effects. or 10 its coase
,queuces;. il is possible hat some how eI
other, it may psose inconsistent with the
siO,erss,s Of the Inhabitants of Geor &c.
Town.
II has always been understood as auun
contested, nay, as self evidenr prepesitI
on in political sciences, ,ha. every country,
and evsrs. portion of territory in any
.couary, BY the immasabe principles OF
universal justice does possess, he righ1
60 improve aed increase, h5 ali fa.r means
the advantages with which the GoI OF NJ.
,ture may have favored them. That they
have right 20 increasc by srti6eat means,
sll tbs benefits which thsy my derive.
from their ns.Gra! situations. Il has Ass
been universally understood. and admitted
thatindisiausl and local interest must b.,
subservi-ns to- the general good. Bat the.
legislature OF Maryland, have reversed
this political axiom aud according to
their ins,ructlons, tbs convenience, ad.
vantage aud Interests not only of AIsSsn-.
dria, but of the cilizens of the United
States a. large must be sacrificed. because
the establishment cay not be altogether
'coosissent with she local views aud indivi-
doal interests of George Town. For no
one can seriously contend for moment,
that the facilitating the communication
between different add disssu, sections of
re Usited States, without the .expsadi.