Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-12

there Can be no doubt that a better go
,ernment thar the present might be a
dopted on that principle. A govern
ment, like that Of the territory of Mi
chigan would be better, in which, out
of certain number Of persons chosen
by the people, the President of the T.
uited States selects and appoints half
as Legislative Council, in the manner
in which he appoints all its principal
Executive and Judicial officers, by and
with the advice and consent of the Sc
nate; or ike that OF Florida, the mem,
bers Of the Legislative Council OF
which are selected by the President
out Of the resident inhabitants, and APP
pointed by him, as are lis principal Ex-
ecutne and Judicial officers, by and
with the advice and consent of the Sc
nate. (See acts Of Congress passec
5th Feb 1924, and Sd March, 1925.
concerning those Territories.) Such
government would be better, espe
cialy as the charges incident TO II
would be betrayed by the United States,
and the Legislature derived from the
Inhabitants: And, also, as, like those
Territories, it would have a Delegate
on The floor of Congress, paid, too, by
the United States, 10 watch over, and
explain its peculiar interests. Yet, at
the last census, Michigan contained
but $500 persons, and the District of
Columbia S3,o2s; and probably the
population of Florida is not equal, even
now, 10 this last number Both Of
these schemes offer better prospec,
fer the improvement of their civil and
criminal code, than is afforded by the
present Territorial Government Of the
District Of Columbia, which, has no in
termediate body, derived in any manner
from the People, (not one even selected
by the President 20 propose laws for
the impro ement of their jurispru-
Gence on those important subjects, Oh
which the weli-belng Of every society
so essentially depends, and which re-
quire the most constant and vigilant
supervision, to prevent and correct a,
buses Another advantage would be
derived from such an intermediate bo-
dy, though selected by the President:
1t would form. safe and certain chan
mel OF communication between the Peo-
pie and their Rulers
1t cannot be denied, that one memo
rial from Georgetown, two from Alex
andria, and one from the City Of Wash
ingtun, were presented to the last Con-
gress, adverse to the bill then before il,
Let US, for moment, analyze their
contents.
One IF the memorials from the coun-
~ OF Alexandria acknowledges the ne
cessity OF a change in the Government,
OF the District. especially as to that
county, am urges, in strong terms, that
any change as to it would be futile, ex-
cept re,rocession of jurisdiction TO
the State Of Virginia, which alone Can
remove the evils and opprobium of it's
present situation. and restore it to that
liberty which is the only sure founda-
ton of virtue, power. industry, wealth,
and happiness. This memorial, it is
said, was signed by majority of the
people of that county, and great ma
jority Of the disinterested, if the names
to the other, Of Office holders, bank di-
rectors, bank officers, SC. and their nu-
merous dependents, were deducted.
The other memorial from Alexandria
and that from Georgetown, principal
ly objected to the measure, from an a
vowed jealousy Of the power of the CT
ty of Washington; because, from its Sal
perior population and that Of the adj
joining part of the county, it would
have larger representation in the le-
gis ative council than either Of those
places, though it was manifest, if the
re resentatives from Alexandria ard
Georgetown united, they might always.
having the greatest number, prevent "a
ny measures injurious to those places.
But, it is difficult to conceive how any
measures injurious to those places
could emal,ate from the proposed
scheme, the power Of the Legislative
Council being confined TO the subjects
Of general, excluding those of local poii-
latter being left, as now, un-
der the sole management Of the res
pective corporations and levy courts;
And, especially, as any law affecting
the general polily, could not BIZ perma-
nen,ly established Till it had been re-
vised by Congress, and received its
sanction These memorials, too, OBJ
lectrd, on account Of The additional
taxes which might be imposed ON the
District for the support OF such Go
vernment; but if the United States pay
this Charge, this objection must be en-
tireIy abandoned The counter me
mortal from the city of Washington,
was more strange; il represented the
Inhabitants Of the District as incapable
of seif-government, or even Of suggest
ing any improvement to their jurispru-
dence and 70 the present expensive