The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-04-05
tBy Parfieular Request.

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which hes OF late, occupied so MANY CO
'nms OF your paper, il has been very Sc
r'ously commended by more than one wri-
ter, that congress has no right TO retro
cede, and that the states have no right to
receive again, any portion OF the District
ct Columbia, with which they have part
ed. This suggestion, though heretofore,
often urged, and as often refuted, ought
not to pass, at this time, unno,iced. II is
entitled to the most serious consideration,
not more from its immediate bearing on
the question Of retrocession, than from It's
equally obvious connexion with very
dangerous system of politics, at this mo-
ment, prevailing in many OF the most
powerful states in the Union. The cry
of "sfdte rights" which has so long re.
sounded IN our ears, is sufficiently alarm
ing. But when the same narrow and IL
Legitimate rule OF constitutional construc.
lion. BY which, two or three states are en-.
deavoring to elevate themselves at the
expense OF the rest OF the Union, is re-
sorted to, for the purpose of establishing
the exclusive claim of small disfraD.
chised territory, to constitute the perma-
ment seat of the Federal government.
without regard TO, and possibly in oppo-
si'ion 10 the best interests of the whole
community, it is proper that this applica-
ton ct the rule. at least, should be seri-
| ouslv and solemnlv resisted
| The propriety, and indeed the absolute
| necessitv, ofgiving to every government,
the power of designating, at all times, the
\ place, from which its laws shall emanate, ,
and at which, its various operations shall
he conducted, must be too obvious, to re-
quire any labored argument 10 prove il.
That the people would have q right, in
the first organization oftheir government,
or at any subsequent period, to limit and
restrain this power. is not denied But
are there any prudential considerations
requiring such restraint! And would not
the soundest dictates OF policy forbid a
limitation. that would cripple the govern
men:, without benefiting the people
The power OF locating the sea, Of go.
vernment. surely cannot be considered too
dangerous power, to be entrusted to
those, to whom we are willing to conHde
our lives, our liberties, and our property.
And deplorable indeed would be the stu
alton of that government, which should
be confined, at all times, and under all
circumstances, in the exercise of its func-
tions, to single spot. Disease might af.
fict, or an invading army be in pos
session of the established capital
Every consideration too, which induced
its original location, may have passed
| awav, and the best interests of the com.
munity require an immediate change
Would it be wise then to compel the go.
verpment, in such an exigency, to resort
to the people, and 10 wade through the
tedious Gin relation 10 the Federal go>
vernment. | might almost say the end
less forms of constitutional amendment
to the Accomplishment! of an an object,
whose value perhaps, would depend OH
its immediate attainment Let the expe-
Tience and the uniform practice of the
world answer the question. Show me
| the government, no matter what its cha.
| racter, thus limited. Shew me the state,
even in our own Union, whose public au-
thorities do not possess, in relation TO this
point, the fullest and most ample power,
But | am aware that the federal 90
/ vernment, is government Of specific and
| defined powers and that no department
OF 1t can exercise any authority that is not
delegated to it, either expressly or by ne.
cessary implication. Let us suppose
then, that the constitution had been en-
tireiy silent on the subject of the seat of
! government, what would have been the
powers of congress in relation to it Ha-
wing certain specific duties assigned to it,
1t must necessarily have assembled at
| some place to discharge them. And as
to 1t exclusively. is given the authority,
"to make all laws necessary and proper,
for carrying into execution, either its own
| powers, or the powers Of any other de-
partment Of the government" to it, Of
course, must have belonged, the right,
in the first instance, Of locating and es-
isblishing the seat of government. Nor
would lis powers have stopped here. II
may very readily be conceived, that the
lnterposition of numberless causes, mo.
raj as well as physical, may have render
ed the situation, at first selected, not only
IDcenVeDient, but wholly unfit for the pur.
poses, for which it was designed. Liza
bleness TO disease, exposure to an enemy,
moral depravity, political turbulence, re-
moteness of situation from the greater
part of the population Of the country
these, and thousand other considerations
might arise, rendering it entirely unfit
Inn yIrslo la,-. II. 4