Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-15

Nr. POWERS, for the Committee on the District q
Columbia. to ,ohieh tie subject had been REFERRED "aoe
the fo!lo,cing
The Committee for the District Of Columbia,
10 whom was referred Resolution Of ihis
House, directing them TO inquire into the
expedency Of providing by law Tor the APP,
poinlment Of Commissioners, to digest and
form code Of Civil and Criminal Law Tor
said District, to be submitted 10 Congress,
or such other measures as they may deem
best calculated TO remedy any existing evils
in the present laws of said District, or in the
administration thereof, beg leave 10 Report:
That the siogular and anomalous condition
in which about $4,000 people are placed IN this
District, has induced your Committee 10 extend
their inquiries somewhat, perhaps, beyond Inc
literal import Of the said resolution, bot not
beyond its supposed spirit and Intention, or the
general duties Of your Committee.
The suggestions, views, and facts, which
your Commillse propose 10 present 10 the con-
sidera,ion Of the House, will relate
first-To the circumstances which led to
or were connected with, the cession Of this
District = the Federal Government, and a
general history Of said District, from that Pc
Iiod 10 the present time.
Secondly - us preSeHt SoHCiuoh) aua S"S
evils under which it suffers; and;
Thirdly-To a remedy for those evils.
IL is we'll known, that the First Congress OF
,be Revolution met at Philadelphia, in Septem
Der, IVA, and these held their sessions, until
December, l77s, when, in consequence OF the
approach Of The British army, they adjourned
and met at Baltimore, in February,l777, where
,hey remained but seven days, and then adj
iourued. 10 meet al Philadelphia again in March
following.
On Sunday, the l4,h Of September, l7!7,
Congress resolved, that il il should be obliged
to remove from Philadelphia, Lancaster should
be the place where they should meet. few
DAVIS after, a letter was received from Colonel
Hamilton. which satisfied Congress Of the i'm
mediate necessity Of leaving Philadelphia; and
in pursuance Of their resolve, they met at Lam
caster on The 27lh Of September, and on the
same day adjourned TO YORK, where they met
on the sOth, and remained until he latter part
Of June, in the year following; when, having
received information from Gen. Washington
tina, The British had left Philadelphia, Congress
adjourned, to NEE: again al that place, on the
I'd day Of July l7Is.
On the 4,h Of June, 1888, 1t was
Rssoired That copies of the act of the Legislature
of MARYLAND, relative to the cesson of the City of An
and also copies of the OF the Legislature of New
York relative the cesson OF the town of Kingston
for the purpose together with the papers which
accompanied both acts, be transmitted to the Execu-
yes of the respective States and that they be inform
ed by the President that Congress have assigned the
first Monday in October next for taking the said offers
into consideration"
On the els, Of June, it was resolved by Con
gress,
That the President and Su preme Executive Coun.
Gil of Pennsylvania informed that the authority of the
United States having been this day grossly insued, by
the disorderly and menacng appearance of body Of
armed soldiers about the place within which Congress
were assembled; and the peace OF this city being
dsngered by the munous disposition of said troops
the barracks, il is in the opinion of Congress- neces
sary that efectua measures be immediately taken for
supporting the public authority"
IL was further resolved,
That the Committee be directed to confer, with
out loss of time, with the Supreme Executive Council
of Pennsylvania the practcabity OF carrying the
preceding resolution into efect and that, in case it
should appear the Committee that there is not
tisfacory ground for expecting adequate and prompt
exertons Of this State for supporting the dignity Of the
Federal Government the President, ON the advice OF
the Committee, be authorized and directed to summon
the mbers of Congress to meet on Thursday next at
Trenton or Princeton New jersey IN order that fur
ther and more effectual measures may be taken for
dignity and authority of the United States
" Resoired further, That the Secretary of War De d.
rected to Communicate to the Commsndern-Chief the
state and disposition of said troops, in order that he
may take immediate to despatch to this city
such force he may judge expedient for supPressng
any disturbances that may ensue."
No effectual measures having been taken TO
seizure the safety Of Congress, in Philadelphia,
and the clamors of the soldiers for pay not be-
ing appeased, Congress assembled at Prince.
ton on the 3oth OF June, upon the summons Of
the President.
After various negotiations between COM
mi,,ee on the part Of Congress, and he author
tiles of Pennsylvania, in relation TO the above
subject, 90 the Is, September, 1888. the dele, !
rates from that state laid before Congress the
resolutions of the General Assembly
IF Pennsylvania:
Resolved unanimously, That, unit! Congress shall
determine upon the place Of their residence