Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-08
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The President Of the United States, in
his Message to Congress, having, IN the
most friendly disposition towards this DIS
trict. expressed his opinion that its condl-
ton might be improved by the establish,
ment of an intermediate government, for
local purposes, between the Congress and
the people of the District, that part OF the
Message was referred to select committee
in the House of Representatives. The
committee, as preliminary step, address
ed letter to each of the Corporations OF
Washington, Alexandria and Georgetown,
inviting them respectively, to send depu-
tations to confer with the committee on the
subject. In consequence Of this invitation
the opinion of the people has been consult
ed in the several parts of the District, by
public meetings and otherwise, and it has
been ascertained, that the People are, by
decided majority, opposed to assuming,
at the present time, the right and response
bility of self government. On yesterday,
the select committee of Congress received
the tIiree Occupations and heard the repre-
sensations they had to make. Finding the
people dsinclined to except the boon in
tended them, the decision of the committee
will of course be opposed TO forcing it upon
us
There are a number Of our citizens who
thought that a convention chosen for the ex-
press purpose would have been the most
proper mode Of ascertaining the deliberate
opinion of the people on their p esent form
of government, and on the expediency OF
some modification of it which should adapt
it more nearly to the representative form OF
government, TO which, in our country, this
Districts the only exception This course,
however, does not appear 10 have met with
the appreciation Of the majority.
There are Others ofour citizens who are
of opinion that, if nothing more be done,
their interests would be advanced by The
grant of authority TO elect Delegate to at
teLd to their concerns on the floor of Con-
gress. The general opinion OF this subject
has not been ascerta;ned but, we are under
the impression that the majority of The citi-
zens are opposed even to this innovation,
The District of Columbia, will therefore
in all probability, for some time at least,
retain its present form of government.
With that understanding, projects are on
foot for amending the char tiers Of Wash
ngton and Gcorgetown, ifnot of Alexandria,
so as, among other regulations, to establish
Mayors Court, TO take cognizance Of
the cases of petty larceny and disturban-
ces Of the peace, which at present occupy
so much Of the tim of the Circuit Court,
and of those citizens who attend it. Much
advantage also is expected from the adop-
ton OF the code Of laws proposed for the
District, and now before Congress; which
however, is not expected to be acted on
during the present session, further than,
perhaps, to provide, in some manner, for all
examination of its provisions, curing the re-
cess. by those who are particularly inte-
rested in them.
tits understood that the committee, which
has this subject under consideration, has
very politely signi6ed its willingness to re-
cieve, at its next meeting, such suggestions
as any part OF our citizens may think pro-
per to make to it OH this subject.
National inteligencer.