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

rnents-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
d. Extract from the proceedings offhe Com
mihee appointed by the friends ola Ter
viiorial Government for the District O
Columbia, ON Representative basis, al
a meeting held on the sta Instant, at the
City HaHcf Washington.
On motion,
Resoired, una,nnousIy, That il be recon-
mendet to the Signers of each of the Memo
rails presented TO the last Congress, on the
subject of Territorial Government for the
District of Columbia, to appoint immediately
deputa.ion Of their number to meet in the
City Hall, at II o'clock in the day, on Thurs
day the I'D instant, to take into their consi-
derarion the peculiar condition of the said
District, and to devise some effectual plan for
revising analmproving rs jurisprudence, both
IN evil and criminal cases, and tor advancing
the commerce, ana for extending the political
liberty an, prosperity thereof.
Resoirei, unanimoxsly, That the following
Address to the inhabitants of the District of
Colu1.oa, exploratory Of the objects OF the
friends of a Territorial Government therefor,
OH the Representative basis, be adopted.
To the Inhabitants Of the D:str.eicf Columbia:
IL is known % you that, at the hrst
session Of the last Congress, a bill vas
reported to the House Of Representa-
tives, by committee Of that body.
pursuant to a Memorial, signed by
considerable number Of you, establish
ing a Territorial tiovernmen, and Lee
gislative Council for the District of
Columbia, on the Representative basis
1t is also known to you, that Congress,
occupied in discussing important a.
mendments TO the Constitution of the
United States, and distracted by the
ardent contests arising from the Presi-
Dental election, as well as pressed by
the urgent current business Of the Co
vernmenl, and other ~eighty matters,
both foreign and domestic, generally
affecting the nation, had not time to
take up, discuss, and decide on that
bill There was, however, one provi-
sion in it which did not pursue the
prayer Of the memorial, name!y-.that
which subjected the District to the an
nual cost attending its enactment, but
il was believed that this clause, on dis
cussion, would have been struck out,
for the reasons contained in the memo
rial, which objected to "apy plan which
"shail impose on the District of Co
''lumbia, as long as it shall be held and
"governed as Territory, any burthens
'for the support of such government,
sand insisted that all such charges
"shall be defrayed in relation 10 it, as
.sslhey are in relation to every other ter
"ritory, out oil the treasury OF the ma
'stion: and more especially as to it,
sought this 10 be done, when the vast
",alue of the property held by the u
uni,ed States, in il, is taken into view,
"and that this property is not taxed,
"but if taxed, as is tue property OF the
"individual inhabitants, would yielC
"reyenue, more than adequate TO de-
"fray all the expenses incident to SUE n
ga government, and furthermore mat
",ne value of this property must III
"crease WITH the growth and prosperi-
aty oil the District: lie does seem, there
"gcrc, mere justice, that, in oonsidera-
.tion OF this exemption from taxation,
a,bat the nation should defray the ne,
"cessary chai ge OF a proper territorial
Kpovernment over the same as long as
sit shall remain territory" SO ma
n;fes,ly beneficial would such govern
men. be 10 the District OH those terms,
tina, il is believed, if Congle ss would
agree to pay the small charges incident
thereto i'm addition 10 their present
expenditures, that there could be found
none opposed to it, except those inter-
es,ed in supporting the existing motley
ORDER Of things. .
fan, respectable portion ofyou still
continue 10 feel desire to have an d
prncv in their own government, aRoth-
er Congress being now in session, the
,ine has arrived when you ought to
turn your attention to that important
subject, and adopt suitable measures to
,brins il again before that enlightened
body in proper manner.
If. however, there be a majority OF
the inhabitants who feel themselves adj
eouate to self-goyernment, and dread
any approach to the enjoyment of that
noificai freedom, for which their faith
o., commended, bled, and died, "a thing
;mpossible TO believe) then certainly
the government proposed at the last
Session is unfit for them: and one found
ed on an si,rary principles, such as form
the basis Of the existing territorial go
yernmen,, would be more proper