Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-11


sary for Congress to relieve themselves
from the heavy and vexatious taxupoh their
more important deliberations, which the
present system Of direct legislation for the
district imposes. They are equally per-
suaded Of the disposition of Congress, to re-
store, by such measure, to the people OF
the district, the enjoyment Of those natural
rights, the permanent deprivation OF which
could never willingly be endured by citi-
gems Of the United States.
That the continued disfranchisement OF
any portion Of our country would ipevita-
bly, impede its growth and prosperity, no
man, we think, can doubt, who estimates as
he ought, the vital and essential attributes
Of a free government. That successive &c.
nerations Of citizens should grow up, who
should become indifferent to those conside-
rations, is perhaps as little to be expected
as desired and especially at the very heart
of our republic, the seat Of ourcouncils,and
the nursery of our statesmen. The estab-
lishment of a local Legislature, upon the re-
preventative basis, has therefore naturally
suggested itself, as the resort to which the
republican principles Of our government
would lead.
Under these impressions, your memorial.
lists have long seriously meditated upon the
crisis which seems at length to have arrived;
and they now submit most respectfully to
Congress, the result of those meditations,
under the fullest assurance, that the conclu-
sions they have drawn, and the wishes they
are about to express, will receive the dis
passionate attention they deserve.
The District of Columbia was coded to
the United States by the states Of Virginia
and Maryland, under provision of the con-
sttution, which was doubtless founded In
wisdom. The great ends intended by the
establishment of the Seat Of government in
this district, and its permanent existence in
the City of Washington, we should be the
last to disturb or put in jeopardy: on the
contrary, we consider this question as being
decided forever and that the glory and
prosperity of the government essentially re-
quire that it should be universally received
as settled beyond doub, or controversy
We trust, however, that in the views we
have taken, and the wishes we are about to
express, we shall not subject ourselves 10
imputations Of disposition, either indiffer-
ent 10 the great national objects connected
with the establishment OF the present seat
of government, or unfriehdly 10 our breth-
rem Of Washington, IN whose actual pros
perity, and still more brilliant prospects,
we most cordially rejoice. But IS il neces-
sary to the convenience or safety Of the GO
verhment of the United States, that the dis
trict of Columbia should extend beyond
the city or county Of Washington? Is it
necessary to the prosperity Of Washington
that the county OF Alexandria should, I'M
der the permanent arrangement that may
now be made for the district. constitute
part of that district? II the wisdom of
Congress shall decide, as we humbly be-
lieve will be the case. that the extension OF
the district beyond the county of Washing
ton, will neither contribute 10 subscrve the
purposes OF the general government, nor TO
promote the growth and prosperity OF the
metropolis, we would in such else respect
fully and strongly express our desire that
the county Of Alexandria be restored to its
parent state.
1t would be difficult TO imagine case in
which fewer motives would exist to mu:
nicipal arrangement which should CONSOLE
date into one community the two counties
Of Alexandria and Washington They are
divided by an extensive river which rem
ders their intercourse ihconvenient, expen-
sive and circuitous Their habits,-their
pursuits are essentially different and must
continue 10 differ in still greater degree as
the City progresses in splendor and opu-
lence Their interior intercourse is sepa-
rate and distinct they have been governed
by laws and constitutions variant and con-
Trajectory. How can we impart benefits
to the citizens Of Washington and George
town by the establishment Of common
purse, or common council MAY not,
on the contrary, feuds and discord be natu-
rally expected from an association, Of inter-
ests so unconnectcd, Of habits so variant,
OF pr6pensities so discordant? To the Jaws
and usages Of our parent state we are we'd
Al ,nJ c,,, ;I;,s,,o Ia, I, hit ,nd 1thax,