Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-18
FOR THE GAZETTE.

To the People Of Alexandria County
NO. /.
The subject Of receding the county OF
Alexandra to the state of Virginia. is a.
gain to agitate the minds of the people OF
this county.
tits subject which,merits the serious.
unbiased and Observation-Disclosures OF
those who are most materially to be affect
ed by the measure. The following consl'
derations demand our careful consideration
and attention.
LIST. What will the people of the coun-
ty IN general, obtain by recession.
Cd Will there not be additional burdens
as consequence, TO which the people
must submit, and will they be ovsrbalanc.
ed by any privileges orsrights in the pow
er Of the state OF Virginia to bestow on
US.
Sd. Can Congress constitutionally re-
cede the whole or any part OF the lis
triCt. and can the states accept the ces-
sion. =,
1t is my intention to consider each ofthe
questions before stated with candour, and
a. concisely as their nature and importance
will admit of-with the sincere hope that
those citizens of the county, who may
read the remarks | shall make, aud who
feel an interest in the subject, will give
them an impartial consideration and not
suffer either feeling or imaginary advanta-
ges to influence their judgment.
1t too often happens with communities,
as with individuals, that an impotence to
arrive at the summifof their wishes indu.
ces them after making a short trial OF a
particplarsyste or situation, to De anxi-
Gus TO lchange it for another. and which
prompts them TO believe, they will be GER
tainly enabled to obtain all they desire.
Let not those who are unwilling to keep
the people in a state of instability, join
with the, advocates Of such measure
We ought to hesitate when we recollect,
that the General Assembly of Virginia, in
the wear 1889, as an inducement to Con-
gress to bring the seat of government TO
the Potomac, passed law, ceding ten
miles square, within the state, 10 be loca-
ted on the banks of Potomac. This, the
General Assembly would not have done,
| had they not been convinced that the PEG.
pie inhabitng the ten miles square, would
not be injured by the cession, but on the
contrary benehtted.-Let it be remember
ed, that that Legislature was chiefly com
posed OF the tried patriots Of Virginia
and that the Congress, which in the year
1890, accepted the cession, was compos-
ed of men Of the irst standing IN the ma
| ton, both as to intellect and virtue. 1t IS
a part of the history of this act, when
| congress was about to fix on site Tor the
permanent seat of the government OF the
United States, the Members from the
states of New York, pennsylvania, Mary
land and Virginia, each laboured to have
| the permanent seat Of government fixed IN
their respective states, to the exclusion OF
all state authority. The people OF New
York, were willing, as far as the votes OF
! their representatives was evidence OF their
wishes. that i, should be fixed in the city
! of New York, and that great and flourish
ing city, taken from under the state GO
vernment, and placed under the exclusive
| government of The United States.
So were the members from Pennsylya-
! MIA willing to fix it permanently in Phila-
deIphia, on the same terms-as were also
the members from Maryland willing to
bring il to Baltimore, and the members
from Virginia were willing to bring il to
| Alexandra, on the same terms.--ln this
contest-the north side OF the Potomac,
between certain points was agreed ON by
the members from Pennsylvania, uniting
with the southern members. The Penn
sylvania delegation being willing to adopt
! any reasonable measure, in order to get
| il from New York. After it was fixed 10
he on the Potomac, leaving the President
! to select the site on the north side OF the
river. between particular points, our great
and good neighbour, Gen, Washington,
| who was at that time, the President, with
a view to benefit the town OF Alexandria,
| fixed It so near the town. as TO make it a
| part of the permanent seat OF the national
goyernment-He did this because he felt
( Convinced that if the Union lasted, the
town would feel the benefit tit. Although
tbs benefit might not be immediate, yet
in time we should feel il. Here would ask
my fellow citizens, 10 pause and inquire,
whether the short space OF twenty years
| is sufficient 10 test the value and wisdom
4 of thi. location, as to our town, so as TO
authorize as, most of whom are but OF
Yesterday in point Of wisdom and exneri.
| snce, compared with those who laboured
| to make Alexandria part of the perma-
| nent seat of the general government, to
solicit of Congress to change our situation
{ II will in the remarks, mean 10 sub
nit to the consideration of my fellow citi-
zens, endeavor to shew, that Alexandra
has teen benefited by being included in
the ten miles square.
II we are disposed to treat lightly the
+, opinions OF those great and experienced
| men, who were instrumental in securing
to us, this which they thought great
nnnd lat nc hava some rpSnpcf to our