Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-17

the District shall become sufficiently popuous' aN, -
The mean time, local Legislature IL tney nave ho'
oI;,;rai tights thew have great political influence.
8, The trouble and expense OF legisat'hs 10. 'ne
n;.rrt w;Il not be great and will diminish and may
in great measure, be avoided by local
4. THAT Congress, having accepted the cession, can
not divest itself Of the right OF exclusive
and retain its seat of government. ,.:.,,
That Congress cannot recede t'e '""ao'a''' "''"
out their consent
6 If the District should be receded, there would be
no obligation upon the Government to remain III 'h's
place.
s;ve legislation contract was entered into between
the Cedng States the Congress, and the reopie o' 'e
District which could BE dissolved but by the con
sent Of all parties.
| After debate OF two days, the resolutions
were los;, by vote Of 66 20 26.
Propositions for eteding this District, or
parts OF it, have since been repeatedly made to
Congress, aud the last, il is believed, IN the
year $40, which proposed to recede all except
| he City Of Washington. But the House OF
Repre- sen a,ives, in which The proposition was
made, refused 10 consider il. 1t is presumed a
recession cannot be made Cf made at ally with
Gu, the consent Of Maryland and Virgins,
whose views on the subject are unknown 10
your Committee; but',he recently revised Con.
s,i,u,ion OF Virginia may, perhaps interpose
new obsa cle
Ifilis doubtful, then, whether recession Of
this territory would no: be unr nsti,u,ional and
| impraclicable, your Committee beg leave to
inquire as to the propriety Of establishing To-
cal Legislature, as another remedy for existing
evils. This plan has also been frequently be-
fore Congress. 1t has been, or NAY be urged
| in favor Of this measure, that congress withol,
neglcc ing the business of the nation, could no,
devote that time to The legislation Of this Dis.
lrict which its rights and interests imperious-
~ demand; ina, although II is small, vet lis in
habitants require as full and perfect code OF
laws as the largest COMMUNICATIVE same pro-
lection of life, iber'y and property, and that the
laws for this purpose, must De nearly as diver
sfed and extensive for a small community as
for the largest; and that a local Legislature
would give 10 the people, to some extent. the
RICH, Of self government, the exercise OF the
elective franchise; aud tina, the enjoyment Of
these political privileges, would Tend to Gre ate
a spirit Of enterprise and ambi ion, so essen
tial 10 their prosperity, reputation and happl-
ness. To these, and various other arguments
in favor Of local legislature, il has BEEN or
may be answered, that Congress cannot dele
gate TO such body that power Of exclusive le-
gislation, which by the consultation is vested
in Congress alone, any more than the Legisla'
lure OF state could crca'e anoth'r Legislature
for The same purpose; aud that In neither case,
can any portion of legislative power be delega-
ted any farther, than what simply relate to mere
police and municipal regulations. Tha, there
lore, If Legislative council should be establi,h>
ed, its act would not be binding until they had
received the direct sanction Of Congress, and
would be nothing more than the recomme nda-
| lion Of respeo table body ofmen, like lha, of
commissioners, or committee OF Congress-
That The minority Of The local Legislature, and
portion Of the People, would. always be dis.
satisfied with the acts OF the ma jority, and ap
peal 10 Congress az ,inst them; tina, in this way
angry disputes and conflicts would ensur, and
The time Of Congress would be more occupied
than if il should originate all the necessary
laws for the District
This idea is further enforced by the sugges
ton, that the various rival interests OF the three
cities Of the District which would be represent.
ed in a local Legislature, would tend to sharp
en- and incIese these conflicts
The last proposition for local Legislature
was presented 10 Congress, in 1925; by the
Joint Commute Of both Houses for the Dis
Irict Of Columbia; but the people themselves
were opposed 10 it, and it failed.
In view Of all these circumstances, your
SonInittt WIN HOI venture 10 recommend
either recession of This territory or the es.
lablishmen, of local Legislature.
They will next inquire, whether the com
m''ees Of both Houses Of Congress for the
District. in addition to their other legislative
duties, can devote sufficient time TO the revis
ion Of The laws, and the civil and criminal iu.
risprudence Of this territory, as is mani.
fes'ly indispensable.
Your committee think not, and will offer no
further reason than the facts above stated, and
the past experience on this subject
Upon Careful view Of the whole ground,
your committee are driven to the conc lus ion,
that the best remedy which they can recon-.
mend, will be the appointment of capable and
efficient commissioners, who shall be authori.
Fed 10 prepare and report 10 Congress such
| code OF laws as will be best suited 10 the wants
habits, and feelings, Of The people; which
code shall make as little innovation upon the
common law, and upon the statute laws of the
District, as shall be consistent with a perfect
simple. and uniform system, and shall be rath.