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

II
to be deprived of those rights which are
possessed by all the other people of the
". otates--a number, too, which will be
heard with respect by nation derived
nom one common origin, and once pos
sessing one common liberty. IL is ONLY
necessary for the district 10 apply res
pecifuily and boldly to the U. States to
nave their present disabilities removed.
Relief must be sfforded-t cannot be
reused by free and generous nation.
thus placed on an equality with the
rest OF the community, BY the restoration
| OF their political rights, it would soon
see its vacant houses flied with yirtuous
and industrious occupants, and improve
ments OF every kind spreading in every
direction.
Our American people love liberty,and
VIII not. unless bribed to do it, settle in
places deprived of il, and then not per.
manently, but transiontly and will be
ready to fee away on the first favorable
| opportunity, toa land offfeedom.
| That the great proprietors in the dis.
trict should hesitate to this measure, is
really surprising OF that any individual
should have doubt as TO its Justice and
ProprIety if;he district were free from
Its preseDt trammels, there would moi
be single voice for imposing them
butthey would, with an universal burst
OF indignation, be rejected by all. And
have they alrcady,in The course OF went,
three years. become SO riyette BY time
as not 10 be removed But what are the
obstacles 10 their removal
The only government which congress
has established, is 2 judiciary system, ac- !
companied by the adoption of tie laws Of |
virginia and MARYLAND for the two coun-
Ties OF the district. as they existed in each
twenty-Ihfce years ago
The persons employed IN the execu-
ton of this 81 stem may appreuend. that
ant change lettering the condition Of the
inha5iian,s, might Affect their present in.
terests, and deprive them of portion of
Their present emolumcnts But, i, is
believed that tllS restoration To the Jjstric,
oil "qunl political rights with the resi- oil
the nption,. might h2 effected. whom
materially interfering with the Interests
OF these persons; srd, even it their
emoiumenis were in some degree, les.
sencd, they would have The satisfaction
= ---l----.i...s.. So.
derive the most i'm p0riabt UeneiiIs fTom /
the &c possession oil their former liberty
and that their OVID posrerity Gas offices,
happily, amongst us are no, heredIlary)
must mix wrh the people, and would
hereafter partake of these common beue-
fits.
Almost all other persons employed
by the government, except the p,esidenI
OF the United States, hold their Offices al
his pleasure, and their salaries always
subjecI to alteration by congress These
offices, therefore, have no feature OF per-
manency, and can produce in the incum-
ben;s no very strong tie 10 the district
They are, however, essential TO the
administration of the guverDmer;, and
must follow ii In ali It's revolutions though
the same individuals may cease TO hold
ihem. But the occupants OF these Offices
instead oil, as now, generally seeking
temporary habitatlons IN the district, with
the view OF hereafter returning to their
native siates,or removing 10 other regions,
where liberty governs, OH the restoration
to II OF lis political rights, might be ihdu-
ced 10 Fix themselves permanently in 1t,
being satisfied that their children would
hen ENJOY 1t, as we'll as elsewhere, all
ne benefits and Immunltles Of citizens oil
the United STATES.
Every motive, therefore, of interest or
ambition. combine TO UNITE all classes o! |
our citizens IN supporting this memorial
or one similar TO it
The memorial avoids susrDes,in,r any
particular mode ofredress, surprising the
wisdom of congress most adequate TO
devise the best remedy Having inflicted
Inc evils, by assuming exclusive legisla
ton, and exertiDg 1t as has been done, u
is their duty, and il asked, 1t will be
| found to be their ineliBatioD, TO afford the
proper relief Further more, tho memo
nai properly protests rgaiDsl the district
oeing subjected TO the expense of maifI-
tanning any government which congress
may establish IN 1t, as long as it
shall remain territory, for reasons
winch must be satisfactory 10 that body,
and to every liberal man in the nation.
Tnus, IN the proposed application 10
congress, that bugbear, the cost OF
MAINTAINING territorial government, SO
ofIea used TO make the district hug It's
chains is destroyed. A beller territorial
government than the present certainly
might be maintained, at a charge not
grester, perhaps less, than what II now
costs the nation.
10 conclude these hasty remarks, the
memorial only solicIts from congress
i a 4