The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-12-15


'eDoye to some stDte, 20 enable them eli.
'her to obtain Justice; or to subject them
selves, IN the prosecution of heir rights
10 the most 'exat;ous delays and oppres.
siye exaction
fhe undersigned will now briefly state
some other Inconvenience, the mischie
oYs effects of which are more ceneraily
Ter, and which might not exist if the
district - iumbia was represented in
| Legislature by which their laws were
made. For II seems hardly possible for
any Legislators, not chosen BY, aud init.
naieiy acquainted with the people lor
whom they act, and ~i'h all their wants.
10 execute this important duty with
knowledge, wisdom, and propriety Il
aoy such body could accomplish this
task, there was reason TO expect, from
one so Enlightened as congress, long be.
! tore this period. the establishment Of The
most liberal, J'st and humane, system OF
~ risprudeDce, both in civil and criminal
cases, extant in the world, and worthy of
this free and great nation. Ins,esd Of
which, TWO distinct codes, civil and cri.
mlnal, have been adopted for the two
counties, of which the district consists,
with all their imPerfections, such as they
existed Iwenty-three years ago, in the
states OF Virginia and Maryland: for
they have since received no material al
tera,ions- certainly no substantial i'm.
provemcnis A system, in civil mat
ters, onerous, expensive, productive off
litigation, deInoralising, and replete with
oppression In criminal, uneq ii, & in
many Instances cruel and debasing
From these causes, and the evils ema.
natiDg from them, there can be no in. |
ducement 10 any individual, who can pet |
foot-hold in any OF the states, to make a
permanent settlement in The district of
Columbia. Therefore, few now seek
such an abode in it -nohc. in fact, come
to II except such as are induced by some |
temporary employment. and the salaries |
or wages which they receive from the |
government. or In pursuit of some imme- |
date transient profit while, on The other |
band. many OF the most intelligent and |
wealthy residents abandon il, for some Of
the states, where hey may enjoy the |
Ine goyCinnle6J "a tue county w-nIcn
they inhabit, and claim due share Of all
its hopors and benefits.
In the civil administration OF Justice, il |
is beIieveda system might be devised, |
which would be more cfTectual than The |
present, for all its OBJECTS, and VIII CHI
would save 10 the parties and itigan,s one
hall OF the eXcessi'e charges which are |
now exacted from them and that pro-
per criminal code, aided by a wel>con-
:lHcted peniteDtiary, might be introduced |
more humane and saluta'y in Its ef. |
lects on the culprits, at The same time |
save almost ali the enormous sums now |
paid by the nation for the punishment |
and prevention of crimes. Ii is but too |
true, chat, IN every community, the vi, |
ces of its first organization are apt to in |
crease with time, till they become so ri |
vited, by use and habit, as at last no, TO !
admit of remedy. The longer, there |
fore, that the district OF Columbia shall |
remain in is present condition, the more !
difficult viii it be found to provide and |
applied, the application must be made by !
the supreme paramount authority of The
coDgtess of The United States.
The undersigned, therefore, cannot |
discern any chance of iesssning or re.
moving the evils of their condition, or |
preventing their increase, but from the |
immediate, serious, and faithful exertion !
of the wisdom of that body in this case |
especially by providing that the district |
shall be restored TO fights, in relation to
the states, of which it has been 50 long
deprived, and adopting some plan by
which is civil Jurisprudence may be
progressively improved Justice more
chcap!y aud certainly rendered aud
litigation diminished and the criminal
code miiigated, and conformed TO the hu
name age in which We live, by appor-
ltioning punishmenls 10 offences and, if
some ofthese reforms be regarded as
beyond the scope OF the legislative pow
iers Of congress, then, by proposing such
amendments 10 the constitution of the u
Estates, as shall hereafter secure 10 the
inhabitants OF the district OF ColGmbia
lequai rights in every state, territorial
government, and representation IN the
house of representatives Of the u. States
ON an equal footing with other territories
and, whenever ITS population shall a
cunt to that Of the smallest states,
representation in both houses of congress,
on an equality with every state or by
adopting such other measures, consistent
Nth the safety, prosperity, freedom, and
quail rights Of the inhabitants OF the dis
rlct of Columbia, and with the general
interests aud honor of the nation, as con
gress, in the plenitude fits wisdom and