Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-23
From the National IqteIiigenccr.

A petition is in circulation for sigma
lures, in Detroit, praying of Congress to
authorize the election Of a Delegate TO re-
present the views and interests OF the peo-
pie in Michigan Territory, on the floor OF
Congress. Nothing can be more rcasona-
BILE, surely, than this request, from a peo-
pie isolated from the rest OF the country hy
an interior sea, and a wide extent OF will
derness and we lope they will not be
p, rmitled 10 petition in vain.
The situation Of tne Territory of Michi-
can, unrepresenled but through the casual
kindness Of the representative of some
neighhorrg state, forcibly calls 10 mind
the situation of the District in which we
live. We do not know that the District of
Columbia has much reason 10 complain OF
the GOODNESS of TIE government towards it.
! The successive Presidents have, on the
contrary, deserved our gratitude for just
sentiments towards us {; and even the Con-
SItsS nave DtstO"tt Wv ". iNih'i'7' %
much attention as could be spared from
affairs of create moment. But that Which
is OF great moment to US, is of little impor-
lance in the eyes OF Congress and appears
the more dminutive, from the magnitude
Of objects with which it comes in COMPETE
ton as our goodly houses dwindlc into
insigniEcancc beside the magniticence Of
the public buildings, which at length pro-
mise to be worthy of great Republic.
There is a natural repugnance in man 10
the change of established political systems
there are even yet living, persons who
believe every thing has gone wrong, and
that even mother earth has ceased 10 yield
her wonted bounty of produce, since the
prostraiion of the regal authority in these
states, or provinces, as they like still TO call
them. There is the same sort of repus-
nance perceivabe in this District, to en-
terine on the consideration Of our political
condition, and he possibility of improving
it. But, watcher the people Oft the District
of Columbia are forever 10 be debarred
from the privileges ottner fellow citizens;
whether they alone are to be excepted iICm
the right OF representation common 10 all
the other inhabitants OF the Republic, is
question which must be before long decj-
del. A population not much larger ihan
that Of this District, in each Of the states ot
Louisiana and Illinois, is entitled 10 two
senators and one representative in Con-
gress ; and in both states heir Legislatures
exercise the attributes CT sovereignty.
This district containing thirty thousand
souls, and which will in ten years comprise
al least double the number, mas no govern
meRt but that of Coneress-parcntal, we
acknowledge, in its regards, but nccCssa-
ri!y sparing in its benefrc,ions. On this
head let a single fact suffice 10 shcw the
defect in the constitution of the govern
ment OF this District. That part OF it on
the Eastern side of the Potomac, was coded
by the state of Maryland, and that on tie
Western side by the stale OF Virginia, to
the United States alou; twenty years aSc.
II was then ordained that, until further e-
gislation thereon, the laws OF Maryland and
Virginia should be respectively observed
in the territories coded by th'm. Thus
the Potomac divides the District, narrow
a. are lis bounds, into two govcrnmentS-
under distinct laws. and totally dis Irct
practices in the coarts. Worse than this.
we are now governed BY the laws Of Ma
rylanG and Virginia, as they existed twen-
ty years ago, without the benefit OF the a
mcndments of their particular laws, or of
the general progress Of ameIiofatIon in thc
civil code, and humanizatiOn OF The Grim
inll law. II we had remained either a
part Of Maryland, or OF Virginia, We
should have had the benefits OF the Peni-
Tertiary system, instead of being obliged 10
branding in the hands, an exposing the
persons of criminals, even women. at the
whipping post, or condcmning them 10 in
active confinement in the pestilen, cells oil
a loathsome dungeon. as the only aIterna-
tive TO absolute IMMUNITY.
When we wrote the first line of this ar
ticle, little did we intend thus incidentally
to open the question we have touched; and
we viii! not pursue into its details the a.
nomaIy OF our system OF government, under
the provision which gives 10 Congress ex-
elusive jurisdiction over this territory
That provision we have no desire 10 dis
tnrh not considering il at all incompatible