Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-03-06
LOCAL LEGISLATURE.


Mn. SsowDExAThe committee Of the
House OF Representatives for the District
of Columbia, have reported d bill for its
government, 10 the tate of this bill. the
people Of the county OF Alexandra, have
a deep interest and it becomes them TO
oppose, 10 q becoming manner, the pas.
sage Of this or any other bill, whose OBJ.
ject is the same.
I Before notice The bill itself. | must Ell.
press my regret, that the chairman OF the
committee Of the district, did not think it
due 10 the people Of Alexandria, to com.
municate 10 the public authorities, OF Ell
ther the town or the county, that petitions
from portion Of the people Of Washing
ton, bad been presented to Congress, or
the subject Of territorial government,
and referred TO the committee. The il
formation tc be derived from the news.
papers, ought not 10 be relied upon;--tbe
editors Of which are under no legal obi.
CATION to publish any of the proceedings
Of Congress. As the people OF the dis.
trict have no immsdiats representative in
Congress, il is not unreasonable to expect,
that whenever subject is brought before
that body, in which the district 10 gene
raj is concerned, the committee created
for the purpose of attending exclusively
to the affairs oil The district, wosld by
some mode communicate the proceedings
to the people, who may be considered as
uniformed Of what is in contemplation {;
and thus give them an opportunity OF ex.
pressing, if they deem it expedient. their
views and wishes upon the subject.
The bill winch has been reported, con.
templates that, after the first Monday in
May next, the District of Columbia shall
be governed by Legislative Couacil.
The ed section of the Bill debates, that
" the municipal and iegislotive authority
OF the Legislative Council, shall extend to
all such matters and things as may be ne.
cessary and proper tor the municipal 60
vernmeut OF the said district, not inconsis.
tent With the constitution Of the United
States" II is provided, That the char.
ters Of incorporation granted tothe city Of
Washington, Alexandra, and George.
town, and the charters OF incorporation
granted to the several banking, road,
bridge, and csnal companies, and other
associations within the district. shall re.
main valid and unaltered, for and during
tie terms respectively "ior which they
have been granted" SC. By the prece-
ding provisions, Congress is to transfer all
the power Of immediate legislation, upon
all subjects to this Legislative Council of
the district, subject TO the control oil
Congress in the manner in the Bill
provided. The laws OF 1.-THE Legislative
Council ale 10 have effect # not sent back
to the council, and thus become valid and
binding on the peopIe-not by the direct,
but indirect or implied assent Of Congress.
Twill now proceed 10 inquire whether
Congress, under that clause of the cons,i-
ton, which gives them power TO exercise
legislation, in all cases wbatsoe.
yer. over the District Of Columbia, can
transfer to any body Of men, under any
name, or under any Limitation, the power
OF legislation, except the regulation Of pc.
lice matters; or can they legislste upon
particular subjects by deputies or power
Of attorneys can the deputies Of The PEG.
pie Of the United States, without an sr.
press authority 10 that purpose, deputs au-
other set Of deputies to legisIate for them
the District Of Columbia.
ihCongress, on any subject than mere
matters OF police, can depute a body of
men 10 legislate for the people Of this dis.
lrict, Why may they not legislats in the
same way for the whole United States?
1t is clear to my mind, that upon all
subjects not immediately relating TO The
police Of the district, Congress is bound
to legislate d,restiy, and canno, substitute
Legislative Council 10 act for them.
The FIRST clause Of the constitution express.
.
ly declares, that call leg;stas,vs powers
herein granted, skalI be vested 10 a Con.
gress OF the United States. which shall
consist OF senate and house of represeu.
tatives." Among the legislative powers
given to this Congress, |. that Of legisla,.
ing for the District Of Columbia. Can
this, or any other legislative power Of