Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-10

mcnt all offenuers against l"e laws :" 49,
respect. The commi,ier, however, In inc ni'
reported by them to the House, reforming inc
penal laws Of the District, have made i.ese OIL
fences highly criminal, and subjected taem 10
peniteniiary punishment. They have hke"se
exported bill preventing persons of color, an
pretended as runaways, who should es''oi>n
their freedom, from being sold Tor Jail Ices: Tor
the reasons, and the laws in The case, they res
peclfully refer 10 their report made the lin
January, 1927.
The second resolution presents 10 tue con-
sidera,ior OF The Committee aqoesron o' the
highest importance, not only as rig 'lds the
rights Of property, but the extern OF regis
powers possessed by congress over t'.s us
trict, land consequently over the suoJe'J as
we'll as the relation in which II STANDS % ''e
surrounding country. l. is true by .ift"e oil
the Consliiu ion, Congress-is Sesed win ex
elusive power Of legislation over the Ois'rlet
Of Columbia; but i, is equally true that '"e
rights OF pi operty were secur,d % tne ot'zeh,
BY the laws aud Constitutions OF virginia and
MARYLAND, which deserve al leas' to b. respect.
ed, if not held sacred, by The Legislature u
The Union. Although, technically spraking'
exclusive legislation may carry with IL me
whole legislation over any subject, yet, IN the
the legislative action of any other body, within
or wiIhou, the District Of Columbia, and GER
lainly does not confer any more or greater pow
err than is consisten, with The general p'ihl'
ples of The Constitution Of the United States.
1t is not, therefore, to be used in an unlimited
sense, as despo,ic power, without reference
10 the Constitutional limit atoms. For exam
plr, Congress has exclusive legislation over all
4, l.I Ia he c, fnr
a. se,.als. dock Yards, &c yet u" one can sup
posi-, for moment tha, il was within the con-
temptation Of ,hs trainers II the CONSTITUTION,
nor is it within the spin, OF the ins'rumrn', 10
vest Congress with the power OF prescribing
rules BY which properly may be held or the
m amer Of its descent, dfftren, from that exist
ing in the respective S,acs. Still, the jurisdie-
lion is as exclusive in the one case as tue OH
er. and ,hp mere force OF po,cer would authorize
i, to the same extent. The Committee do not
mean 10 say that Congress cannot Change the
rights Of persons and VI thing, within thr Dis
trlct. diff, rent from wha they were prior 10 he
cession. But they mean to say, these cannot be
abridged nor taken away, independent OF the
consent Of the people, without doing violence
10 The Cons ,iution. Whenever Congress le-
gislates, il should be benrh, ia'ly. and not de-
s,ructively, upon those rights. It's character.
in this +. soect, is two, fold The one general,
as L. gislature for the Union: he Other local
for the People of this District. IF, in the latter,
II can undertake to change ,ht whole relations
of socie y, cons tutsd, as il is, with Represent
a,i,es from every part Of the Unued STAIRS ex-
orpt the Di,tric, Of Columbia, in opposition 10
Their tDiH hp Constitution has dnnr little more
than er, cted, wi HIN the heart Of the Repnblc,
form Of gov rnment worse, II possible than
desp otism- rs-lf.
III: bt intended under the resolution, to
compensate individuals whose rights may br
aft ried bv the gradual abolition nf slavery,
land /, is presumed il cannot be done withou',)
i, is, in the opinion Of the Commiree, MOI one
of those cases within the meaning Of the Con-
stirurion. which provides Tor III. payment Of
properly when taken Tor pubic purposes. IT
however i, were TO b. done, question equally
important arises, as 10 the power oi Congress
in appropr,tinr the public money 10 objects
here entir ly locai, and no ways Connected, with
the general leg station Of hs Union
Situated as his district is, with slave pop
ua,lon on all sides, every consideration OF pol
icy is opposed to tie Measure. Instead OF
free white population occupying the place Of
slave labor, as is imagined by some, the District
will become the refuge for runaway negroes
and m ADMITTED slaves, (tne mos VICIOUS thu
degraded population that can exis in any com,
munity) toihe great annoyance OF the neigh
bourlng States, and the inhabitants OF the Dis
tric,. In every point Of view in which the
Commi,ee have been able,o consider this part
Of he subject, whether as tn'he right OF proper
ty. the good order of society within theDjs'rict,
or the harmony OF the whole Union, they have
! come to the conclusion that il is better not 10
disturb it, but TO lra,e it, where it now rests,
with toe laws, and the humanity 1t those who
ar. interested in protecting AID taking care OF
,hi, species Of property
There are evils however complained OF by
The ciuzens, resulting from The traffic in slaves
who are frequently quarterrd 9mong them in
gres, numbers, for irng,h Of inc, and from
the constant influx Of free persons OF color,
who t,ke up tatir residence here, which 1t is
though, expedirnt to remedy, and the Com
miuee accordingly report a bill having these
objects in view.
Shooting, with intent to Murder. Mr.
| Darby Kane, one nf the cartmrn of the city, and
an industrious cilizrn, was most inhumanly
| h.,