Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-25

comfort. which may De ooliyed 10 purrha-e anu
pay for by that kind OF manual labor, into which
YOU have arbitrarily thrown me- If so. let me
next time be tired by fire. a. Be just before you
generous.
Here ended the speech of the spec,re-and here
ends my speech.
MIR. +. Johnson spoke against the bill; and Mr..
Brent in favor of II.
Mr.. McCoy knew very well, he said, that pre-
cedents could be produced for almos, any thing
But the House was not governed by them howc>
numerous. il must act according to its con-
viciions of propriety. For himself, he was sorry
thai he was constrained TO vote against the bill
lie fel,, he believed, strong sympathy with
those who had been deprived Of their homes al
sarb season. as any OF those gentlemen who al
voca el the bill. The gentlemen profes .ed To de-
rive their authority from that clause of the Consti
tuition which gives congress exclusive power of
legislation over the District OF Columbia; but
good rule should work both ways. He admitted
that Congress, as the Legislature of the States
nigh; tax the People committed 10 their care, for
the 6eneii, OF sufferers, if il thought proper; bur
not thst 1t might the States for the exclusive
benefit OF this District. lis could not consent hat
Congress should make donatirn in this District
which 1t would refuse in any Of The States He
was aware tlia, some gentlemen thought Congress
might apply The public money to any object ,hey
though proper; bat he " OF very different upin-
N. lie had no doubt that the distress, in this
case, was very great; but he would rather see a
subscription paper handbag abou, the House Than
hear gentlemen advocating such a bill. In the one
case, he would go far any, but he was
opposed TO disposng OF the public money for
such purposes. He did believe that the
GsEerl Government ever established for
such end, and if it began, there was no
limit TO tie demands that might be made up
on its charity. As to the amour, OF the appropri
alton, he had no objections. He thought the sum
as small az could, with any proprie,y, be given.
But to the principle, he Obj ictcd altogether.
NTr Hat H..
aprrorrialing fifty thousand dollars for the pur
pose OF sending provisions Tor the relief of he
people Ga Caracas, in South America, when suf-
ferins from earthquakes and consequeu, famine
The act of 1912 was read accordingly.
Mr.. Stevenson OF Virginia, rose to address the
House. lie had never been called upon to dis
charge a public duty, in y h:ch his iutlsm en-,
ald feelings were more directly opposed than m
the present instance. No man upon that flor
sympahzed more sincerely ard more deeply in
the recent calamity which had overspread nor
ton ct the District, than he did, and no one
would III willingly contribute an individual
TO give relief and succouf to the unhappy sufferers
over whom ISOLATION had spread lis ravases
ihe measure of this relief. he said w oull be only
limited 10y his ability 10 give. He would pour
ont freely his n,iivi luil fund.- far as he could
TO heal the broken heart, aud administer conscl,-
ilon % these unhappy sufferers. Uu lie had other
and higher du les TO perform than The indule ence
cf his sympahes He could not, as Repr.sen-
tative upon this floor, permit his judgment to
yield TO his sympathes, and hiu> elf 10 be hurried
by gisi OF generous ard noble feeling into the
exercise OF dangerous and Unconstitutional pow.
The power, Mr. Stevenson said which mus,
be sustained by the House before this bill could
pass wa, in lis view, one of gigantic and alarm.
Ing extent, and ght be hereafter resorted 10 as
most dangerous precedent. 1t went to the exten,
OF unlimited sovereignty in the General Govern,
msnt over the District OF Columbia, and to the
FlUnt NJ IL.
and every purpose unresrsiEed and unlilni: ed bur
by the discretion OF Congress. These powers he
could never admit. lie was forced, therefore
to resist them upon this occasion, or TO renounce
forever, all those principles aud opinions which he
had heretofore cherished and held sacred and I'M
on which he had heretofore acted Thus situated
he had no choice TO make, and painful as it was
lie must vote against the BIZ.
Where, MIR. ) demanded, is the power given TO
pass this bill, and TO apply the funds OF Ike nation
10 purposes of benevolence and charity, though H.
mited in lis operation 10 the ten miles squar.s |
call on gentlemen TO shew it. / must bc either
IN The grant OF general power Of legislation for the
Union or under the local power TO legisla:e for
the District OF Columbia.
understand the friends of The bill 10 claim i;
under the local power OF exclusive legislation for
tine District What, sir, are the words of the Con
stiiu;ion! Z" To exercise exclusive legislation in
all Cases whatsoever, over such District tnot ex
csetinS ten miles sqIare,) "a may, BIZ cesson CT
particular Statea, an The acceptance Of Congress.
become the Seat Of Government of the JJoi,ej
States. Now 1t is contended that this clause
eonfeTs upon Congress powers sovereign and su
prene, in iegls,;ing for the Distrct asJ ,Ia, thew
may exercise, in relation to it and lis inhabitants
all such powers as State could exercise; that
the Constitution contains limitation upon the
exercise OF these powers by Congress; and that we
may give and appropriate, if we please, the whole
OF the National fund.-, to individuals within the
limits of this ID strict. Sir, deny tina, any such
power is given by The Constitution, or was ever
intended to be given by the wise men who framed
IT. The leading objects of this power of local
and exclusive legislation were, the necessity of
giving to Congress complete authority at the Seat
OF the General Government. 1t was a power ex.
erclseJ by all the Legislatures in the Union
Whbout sur5 power, the public authorities
might nave been insule ed and its proceedings inter-
Iupied. 1t " ouli have left the members of the
General Government dependent upon the State
where The Seat OF Government was, for protection
IN me exercise OF their duties. 1t was TO shield
ihe'Naiionsl Councils from the influence or inter
ruptIon of the State Governments
Ii never could have been Intended that n ,vver
TO legl'late over District, which cannot exceed
ten miles square, and may not be more than one
nile, should embrace the powers now claimed
/. is well known, To those acquainted with the
rise and progress Of the Constitution that the on
ponents OF II, opposed it upon the grounds that
the very power, now asserted, might be at,
tempted TO be exercised, and thai il was resisted
By his friends as idle and vain.
What, too, let me ask, would be The corse-
qnences which must inevitably result from the ga
ercse OF this power, under that Of exclusive local
and municipal legislation? The right of drawing
from the Public Treasury, all HJituyq the public
money. to be apTlied in the District and Terrific
res OF The United States to local. not national Oh.
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