The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-06-30


trict OF Colombia,to induce them TO main.
tam the public faith,. by retaining il in its
present position? This public faith is not
only pledged to the inhabitants of the
district, and especially to those of the
city of Washington, (the last having gen.
orally purchased property, and many
from the United S;otcs themselves. on
their plighted word), but it is pledged to
the whole people of the nation. to the
remotest north, west, south, and east.
After inviting individuals to spend
millions in the improvement of Wash
ington and its environs, and after spend
ing millions themselves in the most cost
ly and useful establishments, how could
congress justify itself in me eyes Of God,
or man, and especially to their country,
In running SO many persons and sacrific.
Ing SO much public property, by remov-
ing the government from place so fl,
and proper, Unless driven away by the
contumacy and uo--prshiness Of the In
habitanIs of the city OF Washington and
its vicinity
II may, too. be justly calculated tina, by
a retrocession Of the district, such bene.
fits would result to it, from member
ship with Virginia and Maryland, from
the Improvement of the interior nayipa.
ton OF the Potomac, the natural conse.
quence of such membership, and FROM,
the restoration of its politica, and civil
rights, that, in twenty years, it would re-
qulre such wealth and Importance, that
lfcongress were then to remove the seat
OF government. it would have no yery
injurious effects on its interests.
II is only. further, necessary to refer
10 Philadelphia, which was for ten years
The temporary seat Of of government and
to the "forts, magazines, arsenals. dock
longing TO the UnItea -Iyraney; i.--n
the states of the union, to shezv that il is
not requisite for the safety of the govern
menl, that congress should have the pow
err of exercising exclusive Legislation o.
yer any other portion of the country, 'ex-
cept such parts as are in their actual &C.
cupation for public uses. In fact, they
cannot do itwithout DISTINGUISHING por-
ton ofthe people, and violating this fun
damental principle of free government
that tie governed oughtto be ruled by
laws made by themselves or their refre-
sentatiUeS freely chosen. But all these
points have been so fally developed in
the preceding numbers especially the
first and seconds that it would be waste
oil time and OF the useful columns of the
intelligencer to enlarge on them now.
llremains TO state why the foregoing
views are submitted to the inhabitants of
the district of Columbia.
In that part of the district, the city OF
Washington, the most important and
populous portion of it, the election of the
most numerous branch Of their -corpo-
rate Legislature, and half the other, will
take place in June next and it MAJ
be prudent in the people, entitled to vote
on that occasion, if they approve the o.
pinions expressed in these essays, in the
selection of persons to represent them,
TO prefer those who are favourable to the
object of restoring them to the possession
of freedom, and thus laying the perma
nent foundations OF their prosperity or
the basis Of liberty and equal rights--thC
only sure and safe foundation OF freedom
An application from the corporate
authorities of Washington TO that effect
could not fail to call the serious and so
lemn attention Of congress to the subject
who must rejoice at the opportunity o
Kidding themselves OF an irksome power
to the right exercise of which they ar
incompetent but especially with III
consent Qf'the PEOPLE ofhe district of Co
ium6ta, to release them from their pre-
sent state of vassalage. VALERIUS.