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

Ii will be recollected by many q tho
present inhabitants Iof the town-ihat a.
bout twelve years ago. Mr.. Dawson a
me mbsr OF the House of Representatives,
from Virginia, submitted to that house
resolution 10 recede the District 10 the re-
spectiye states. On that occasion. the cl-
tizens of Alexandria were assembled TO-
gether. in a town meeting, for the purpose
of expressing .heir opinion onthe sub]ect.
There was q numerous and respec'apie
meeting of the citizens. That meeting
unanimously demonstrated to Congress,
in decided and strong language, against
the measure, among those who took an
active part against it, was gentleman OF
high standing 10 the town, and who mao
filed distinguished station in the admin
istration of the General Government
Recently the gentlemen composing the
Grand Jury, and while assembled assuch,
stepping out of the line Of their appropriate
duties, again agtated the public mind
with the subject, and caused another town
meeting, TO consider the propriety OF pc
tioning to Congress to recede the county
of Alexandra to Virginia. Again there
was full meeting Of the people; at winch
they with an almost unanimous voice oeci-
ded against the recession.
The subject is a third time brought be.
fore US by some aspirants after dignity and
fame, who fondly imagine that by restoi.
ing Alexandria to Virginia, their way Will
be clear 20 seat in either the state or ma I
tional councils, perhaps to the supreme
executive of the Union.
Let it be remembered that the present
constitution of the United States was form
ed by delegates elected by the state legls-
latures in the year 1887 TO meet in gene
raj convention, for the purpose OF dallbe-
rating on and forming proper government
for the u. States, which they did on the
18th day of September. 1887. 10 this
convention Virginia was represented al
the head of the delegation was the father
of his country, associated with the other
worthless of the revolution, who well un-
derstood the principles Of freedom, OF taxa
ton, and OF representation. In this con-
vention was the clause adopted which
gives Congress the power to exercise eA'
elusive legislation, in all cases over the
district of country which should become
the seat OF the national government:
In this convention, the people OF Alex
andria were represented IN common WIN
the people OF the states who by the Dele
gates from the state of Virginia gave their
consent to this clause OF the constitution,
i he constitution as agreed to by the
General Convention, was afterwards sub
mit,ed to the state conventions duly eject
ed for that purpose; the convention Tor ,he
state of Virginia, which was composed OF
some of the most enlightened and patriotic
citizens OF the state, who had tolled,
fought and bIed in our revolutionary war,
or The 26th of June, 1888, adopted the
constitution.
la the same convention Of the state OF
Virginia, the people OF the county OF Far
fax, of which Alexandra was then a part;
were re represented by the late Dr. DaVio
Stuart, and Col. Charles Simms. the latter
OF whom went from the town OF Aiexan
dria, and thus did the citizens OF Alexan-
drla agree 10 the clause of the constitution,
under which the general government
now exercises exclusive legislation over
his District. The proceedings OF that
convention shew that both OF the delegates
from Fairfax voted for the constitution ana
consequently for this clause OF it. lhen
have the pc ople of Alexandra given twice
their deliberate consent to be placed under
the exclusive government of he Y. >. IN
the state convention the speakers on this
particular clause, of the constitution were
William Grayson, ) George Mason John Nj
cholas, Patrick Henry Edmund Pendleton
and James Madison, the late president
All these gentlemen agreed in the propr!e-
ty OF having the permanent seat OF the GO
yernment under the exclusive legislation
of Congress, but differed as to The extent
Of power to be exercised there by Con-
gress. Their fear was, the Liberty OF the
states would be endangered by the ex-
tent of power given Congress over Inc
District, and not on account ot Inc iioer-
ties Of the people here.
But the pretext for disturbing the peo-
pie with the question OF returning to vlr-
ginia, is that it is placing the people Of A,
lexandria in situation OF being taxed
without representation, and the principle
of the revoI ution, that there ought not TO
be {" taxation without representation, IS
relied on as a reason for being restored
back to Virginia. =
The difference between requiring con.
tinent such as the United States, with an
immense population, to submit to be taxed
by government having no common inte-
rest with it, separated by a vast ocean,
restrained by no principle of appor'ion,,
ment, and by no NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., ana
associated by no common feelings: and Inc
permitting the government OF the United
States, acting under common constitution
and under the restraint of that constitution
to t,x mart nj the same people who have