Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-01-11
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

The following is from the pen OF citi.
gen, than whom no man has ever, thro.
a long life, more undevistingly pursued
the narrow path Of political rectitude and
truth. It is the draft Of a Memorial, to
which, we understand, in a few days the
signature of our fellow citizens OF this dis
trictis to be invited, with view OF its
being presented to congress at the pres
emit session Nat. Int.
To The Senate and House of Representa-.
tsyes of the United States.
The memorial oil the undersigned, citi-
zens of me District of Columbia, respect
fully represents:
That the inhabitants OF the District
considerably exceed thirty thousand. That
the District has, consequently reached
that point OF population which. in the ter
ritories OF the United States. has generally
been considered as emitting them to the
full enjoyment of political rights. That
this population is principally composed OF
those, who, until lately, were citizens Of
the respective states OF this UnIon,, and
possessed, in common with the great body
of the American people, the civil and po-
litical rights OF freemen.
That in placing themselves under the
protection of the General Government,
they were not ignorant OF the nominal
surrender OF Some of these rights; bur
they confded, that while the final power
ofleeislation resided in congress, it would
be so wisely and benigny exercised as to
secure to them. inviolably, every civil
right, and to extend to them. as far as the
constitution did not inhibit, the enjoyment
of those political franchises which are not
less the pride tkan the safe guard OF our
country
That these expectations have been dis
appolated
That they have witnessed with sorrow,
in one department OF government, the
maintenance OF doctrines, whose eventual
prevalence threatens The subveTsiOn OF all
heir distinctive rights as freemen;in anoth.
err the entire inability, from AL unacqualn-
lance with their situation, 10 extend to
them the blessings of correct leglsla
ton; and in another, total abortion OF
all effectual responsibility arising from the
utter impracticabiity oil devotlng 10 the
execution oil the laws the requisite time
and attention.
To shew that these are unaggravated
truths, il is only necessary to refer to the
acts Of the several departments of the
government.
Aereeably to the decisions OF the SUI
preme Court, the inhabitants OF the Dis
trict are not constilutionaliy entitled to
many of the civil rights of citizens of the
states. as guaranteed to them. merely be-
cause their rights are secured 10 them as
being citizens of state, although this can
struction gives Congress power, in regard
to theDistrict, to tax exports;to give pre-
terence of commerce and revenue 10 its
ports over those OF the stales; TO compel
vessels sailing from state to the District,
to enter, clear and pay duties; to direct the
trials of crimes, committed within the
District, at such places (even without the
District) as they may direct, and renders
entirely imperative, so tar as regards the
District, the constitutional provisions, by
which the President is made commander
in chiefo he Miita-by which full faith
and credit are directed to be given to its
public acts, records and proceedings, with
out its imts-by which Congress are en-
powered by penal laws, to prescribe the
manner in which such acts, records and
proceeding shall be proved, and the effecl
hereof-by which the citizens Of each
state are declared TO be entitled to all the
privileges and immunities of citizens OF
the several states-by which fugitives from
Justice from the District can be demanded
from the state TO which they may fly, OF
or fugitlves from Justice from state to the
district can be demanded from the District
and by which slaves escaping from any
state into the District, may be delivered
up TO their masters, or be prevented from
obtaining release from their servilade
should an act OF federal legislation SO or
dain. In all these important respects and
perhaps in some others, affecting the states
almost as vitality as The District, accord
ing TO this decision the discretion and pow.
er of Congress are absolute. Your memo.
rialists respectfully say, that they do not
believe such doctrine W as anticipated by
the trainers of the Constitution, and theil
view in making the declaration, in thl.
place, is to shew the necessity, in case il
shall be considered well founded, OF Civ.
ing that organization to the District which
may enable ii to pursue the proper legal
means for maintaining its rights inviolate.
Ii we review the proceedings Of Cong
ress in regard to the District, we shall
Ind that, while every state in the Union
has been steadily amending and improving
its civil and penal codes, and none perhaps
more so than the states of Maryland and
Virginia, no reform whatever has been