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

8
isbmen,; and. in consequence Of 'his, ohe.ue'
are nunished by public whipping and imprison
men, in The county tails, under the most loata-
com. and acknowledging circumstances. On
this subject we beg leave 10 refer 10 '"e :"
rrs,;no renor, Of the inspectors OF said pepi'en
| tiary, lately presented to this House.
The laws relating TO slaves require particu'
lar a,,en,iop. and will hereafter be made as
,inct subject Of inquiry, when your comih,''ee
com. 10 ACT upon the petitions referred 10 them
on that subject. -, :; It'll
There is no law which allows ball. IN civil
cases, to surrender his principal, except during
the sitting of the Court, by reason OF which ,ne
bail often becomes fixed when the prineipai' Is
in the Dis,rict; and. in one instance oA'' DC,
came fixed and compelled 10 pay large sum
of money, when his principal died In Jai'' oe-
cause he could no, be duly surrendered before
his death. ,
There is no law which allows the PROOF Of
deeds for registration, executed oy foreign
grantors, excep, by a subscribing witness.
cirizen Of this District cannot sue citizen o.
State, in the Supreme Court, because ne Is
no, himself resident Of any State. inc Juoi
cial proceedings of this District cannot be eVi'
dence in The Sra,e Courts, because II Is not
State.
A, least, so far as regards this city, there IS
no efficient police Gaming, ,umults, and RI
os. are frequently nsuppressed, and 80 unPun
ished; and even more fragrant Offences ale COM
mi,ted openly, and wi IN impunly
There is no adequate provision Tor vagran'
paupers, who pour into the city from all quar-
trrs, as a place Of general RENDEZVOUS, and are
seen at almost every coruer, IN the Character Oh
street beggars.
There is no efficient restraint upon gaming
| and abuses in retailing ardent sPirl's. which are
among the wors, evils il this community; ma,
nv Of these matters, however, are sonJects OF
municipal regulation, and fall under the speoia'
| Jurisdiction OF corporate authorities. But your
committee forbeaI to ennumerate the almost
numberless cases which might be stated, and
which call for Legislative relief they must be
apparent, from the general view which mas
been given Of The history Of this District.
Ii will not have escaped observation, ihat, IN
this small territory, two entirely distinct sys'
tens of laws are administered by the same
court; laws which are interviewer with, and
buried up in, the legislative rubbish which
mas been accumulatng in The Two adjoining
States for more than one hundred years.
Another and more general view OF the condi-
ton Of this District may, with propriety, be
A
in this little territory over whose desinies
they suppose the concentrated wisdom OF the
nation presides? Will they not suppose that
such favored spot must exhibit the principles
and effects Of Republican government 10 the
grea, possible advantage, and afford the hes!
practical argument in their favor, which our
country can produce? Only ten miles square.
placed under the special guardianship Of the
Presiden, Of the United States, and the Amer
lean Congress; surely il may be supposed that
Ibis only child of the Federal Government will
be nursed with sedulous care, and grow up a
perfect model Of all that is valuable In Govern.
nen,, and pure in morals. II such are The i'm.
pressions Of foreigner, who can measure his
disappointment, when he comes 10 witness the
political desolation which pervades this terrific.
ry, and 6pds his anticipation but an ilusory
! dream? Is he friend to free Governments,
his heart will sicken; and, ii not, he would exult
over our degr ada'ion.
| III view OF these facts, your committee cam
no, avoid coming 10 the conclusion, that they
call for the prompt and efficient action OF Con.
gress; and that The prosperity Of this people,
the reputation Of the country, the character Of
our Republican Government, and the general
cause OF iberly, are deeply concerned in The
| result.
For these multiplied and complicated evils.
what is the remedy?
IL il were prac fable, your committee would
not hesitate to recommend an immediate res
toralion of this District 10 The States from
which it was taken, and the people to The en-
Joymen; OF those political rights and privileges
of which they have been deprived, reserving
to the F deral Government, all due control over
the public property, and, if thought requisite,
such other mraos Of self protection as nigh:
be devised. While this would be the best, it
is perhaps the only efftctua remedy which can
be proposed This proposition was made in
Congress in less han two years after its as
stump ion Of The government Of this District.
On The 9Th o. February. 1908. Mr. Bacon, a
member OF the House Of Re presen;alives from
Massachusetts, offered the following resolu
, tons:
Resolved That it is expedient for Congress to re.
cede to the state ofVrgnia the jurisdiction of that part
of the territory which ceded to the United States
by the said state Of Virginia, by act passed the Sd
of December 1879.
"Rssoluei, That it is expedient for Congress to
cede to the State of Maryland the jurisdiction Of that