Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-12
submitted: If any portion of their pee

arbitrary government as TO oner their
necks to the yoke, could the United
States grant the unhallowed request
would they not rather advise such per.
Suns 10 leave laud Of freedom fol
Turkey or Hindostan! WouldCongress
acting for a great and free nation, lis
ten for moment to such a petition
Is it not rather bound TO remove every
vestige of arbitrary rule from the sigh
of their people?
The above delineation Of the differ
ent memorials referred to, has bee,
principally introduced to shew tina
our people are much divided as 10 wha
is best to be done in the peculiar anG
unparalleled condition ofthe District o
Columbia, unlike that of any Other
claiming 10 be free" and to demon
strate the necessity of endeavoring It
ascertain, by friendly communion be-
tween the different parties, if it be MOI
possible for them 10 combine in some
united effort TO- the improvement oft:
government and laws.
IL is, therefore, recommended, in tht
words of the resolution, that the sign
ers to each Of the aforementioned me-
MORALS immediately appoint - OF
their number to assemble, as Com.
mi,lee, at the City Hall, in the City oil
Washington, on the 22d day of Dec
next, 10 take into their consideration
the peculiar condition of the District
of Columbia, and to devise some effec-
tual plan, for revising and improving
its Jurisprudence, both in civil and
criminal cases, and for advancing the
commerce and eXten ling the political
liberty and prosperity thereof.
Certainly no person can object to
measures which, while they might ex-
petite the administration ofjustice be-
tween creditor and debtor, would di-
minish tn" enormous expenses which
attend litigation in our Courts, in
wnicn oflen three or four suits are
Drought for one cause Of action, and
the Costs sometimes amount to more
than nalf OF the original debt. In fact,
the present forms of administering JUS
tice seem to have been invented to put
into the pockets Of the oflicers.and &C
credited attendants on the Courts, eve
ry possible sum, which, by every pos
sible arr, can be squeezed from the liti-
giants.
1t is believed that not less than twen-
ty thousand dollars are annually eX-
lracled from this small community, un-
der Tue presen! forms Of administering
Jlslice, which mig1t be saved to them
ii the District had Legislature, cho-
sen by, or even appointed by the President,
as m Florida, from the People, and,
therefore acquainted with their situa-
ton and interests.
As to the criminal code, especially,
it is different in the two Counties Of
Alexandria and " ashing,on, and the
same offences are sometimes punished
differently in each. And in the Two
counties they buy and sell by different
weights and measures. Can any per-
son. ih...f..ra, -.i,j art ~ ---~io;o~ Of
the law, SO that crimes may be punish
ed in more just and equal manner,
and goods sold by common standards?
Since Pennsylvania has, with so
much effect and humanity, introduced
the penitentiary system, now, it is be-
lieved, initiated by every State, gradua-
ting the punishment to the offence, is it
no, disgrace to the District of Co
lunbia, the Seat ofthe Government Of
The United States, that similar system
has not been established in it?
Though Congress has exercised ex-
elusive legislation over it for i,ceafy. JfUe
years, this important subject, like ma
ny others, has been entirely pretermit-
ted. Are not these matters worthy of
the serious attention Of every inhabi-
iant oil the District Of Columbia? Can
any person object to meeting and calm
ly deliberating on subjects ofsuch high
import? Can wise systems providing
for such objects, be injurious to any
part of the Dislri t, or to any indivi-
dual in it? And who SO likely to sug.
gest the proper measures as those most
deeply affected? 1t is, therefore, hoped
that every person residing in the Dis
tricJ, aud interested therein, will accept
this aviation. Every other territory
has Delegate to Congress, and local
Legislature to prepare laws for its go
vernment The District of Columbia,
now containing probably 100000 per-
sons, almost double the population Of
Michigan and Arkansaw together, and
more than florida, 10 denied these pri.
vileges. In ten years more, its popu-
lation must increase to a great size,
from its being the permanent station
Of the government of a numerous and
growing people, in spite gifts peculiar
disfranc bisenents; for men not accus-
toned to, or, not ,valuing liberty, lured
by Office, or from the mere love of lu-
Gre or Of pleasure'-opportuni,ies for
the successful pursui, Of both, existing
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