The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-06-06
DOMESTIC.
From the Nationnl lntelligencer.

From the National lnteligencer.
SERIES OF FACTS....yALBRIUs No. i.
The following are respectfully sub
mitted to the solemn consideration ct the
inhabitants of the district oil Columbia,
being full Development Of their pre-,
sent condition:
The district Of Columbia, including
the city OF Washington, and the towns
Of Georgetown and Alexandria. now con-
tain population ofabout thirty thousand
inhabitants, number, which, OF itself,
ought to have some weight in the coun-
ellis Of our country. 1t is, therefore,
time, unless these inhabitants prefer bon
dage to liberty, for bondage, even to a
kino MASTER, is bondage still, he may
change his character and become cruel)
to claim some direct agency i'll the af-
fairs OF a nation Of which they form a
prominent, ifnot, powerful part. 1t is
time for them to loOS into their rights
and to assert them, il they wish either TO
prosper in their private pursuits, to nour-
ish in the hearts Of themselves and their
children, the principles OF freedom, or
to enjoy privileges possessed by every
other portion oil the people OF the United
Statcs.s
The reluctance with which congress
devote any portion Of their time TO the
district OF Columbia, must be manifest TO
all (; and what is devoted is rather yiel>
dcd 10 the importantly oil individuals
having some personal or confined local
interests, than 10 that lofty ambition and
proud sense Of duty which animated a
Lycurgus and Scion, in giving funda.
mental laws 10 the two most renowned
republics which ever existed in the
| world.
What is The power possessed by con-
gress over the district Of Columbia 3
his is to be found in the 10th clause of
the 9Th section Of the 1st article of the
constitution Of the United States, in these
words: "1he congress shall hGVe hoqver
To exercise exclusive legislation, in all
cases whatsoever, over such district, not
exceeding ten miles square, as may, by
cession of particular states, and the &C.
ceptanCe of congress, become the seat Of
government, OF the United States, and to
exercise like authority over all places
purchased by the consent of the lcgisla-
iure Of the state in which the same shall
be, for the erection of forts, magazines,
arsenals, dock yards, and other needfi
buildings" The power conferred by
the clause quoted, is certainly in the
most ample, il not, unlimited terms. Ii
is, however, construed by some 10 con.
vey power OF which congress cannot o.
init or decline the exercise land, there.
fore, ,hatthey could not originally sus-
pend the exercise oft, or after assuming
jurisdiction over the district, decline the
| exercise Off.
| This IS construction not warranted
! by the terms, by which the power is con.
ferred.
Like all the other legislative powers
conferred by this section, congress may
or may not exercise it 1t might have
suspended the exercise of it altogether
and after once exercising it, it might
omit or decline the exercise of it for .
time, and again resume ii as it has &C
ted on the subject of bankruptcy. Con
| gress once passed uniform law on that
subJect--which was permitted to expire
| and no other like law has been enacted
since. Yet the omission 10 exert this
power, does not deprive congress of the
right OF hereafter exerIng it, whenever
in their judgment proper occasion shall
occur. So now if congress shall recede
tothe states of Virginia and Maryland
Legislation over those parts the district
OF Columbia which were coded by those
states, it may hereafter resume that pow
or, whenever the public interests or safe.
ty may require. But it is probable that
such an exigcncy will never exist. Il ia
SAID that an insult offered to congress BY
an armed mob in Philadelphia, during
the confederation, not suppressed by the
government Of the state OF Pennsylvania
was the sole inducemeni to the insertion
OF this clause into the present cons,itu
ton. But the clause was wholly unne
cessary, as now congress and the govern
ment possess all the control oil the physi,
cal force of the nation, for Its protection
which IL had not then.
III, then, congress may, or may not, un.
der the guidance of sound discretion.
exercise this exclusive power of legisla
ton over the district of Columbia, the
following questions seem to be fairly pre-
sented for the consideration of that en-.
| frightened body, and of the people mos
interested in the decision:
lst. Whether congress can properI,
exercise this power?
| Cd. Whether they have properly ex.
arciaad fhto pn.y.r