Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-28
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER %, 1851.
TcoMMUNIcATEp.1

Mr. Sno,pdes,: The District Of Columbia real
ly appears to be the child of Trouble. We no
sooner get rid Of one storm before we see another
rising. The House Of Representatives had scarce
ly disposed Of the great food Of the Pennsylva-
MA petitions, before proposition is made for a
Delegate to Congress from this District; with a
local Legislature, Governor and Council, &c.
with some half dozen new Judges and Courts;
with many other co.ordnates that the common
people like me know nothing about. 1t is true
there was nothing said about Judges and Courts:
but we all know that these would follow, as. a
matter of course. Now, Mr.. Snowden, design
no disrespect to our neighbors of Washington.
Yet will say to them, if they want any more
Government than we have at present, either Lee
gislative or Executive-or bOth,-and Congress
thinks proper 20 let them have it in Washington,
| cannot have the smallest objection: provided,
always and at all times, we are not saddled with
any part of the expense. But if there is local
Government for this District established, we all
know we should come in for our full share Of the
expense in its maintenance, without any thing
like corresponding benefit on our part. AS
Stunning, then, the probability for the fact, will
inquire, first, where would be the State House?
Cd. from where would come the majority Of the
I.egslature? Sd. where would be most or all
Of the ofhcers?-and, in short, where would all
the money be expended in the maintenance Of this
new Government Why all in the City of Wash
iuston. Now |, for one, am not willing to agree
. to all this.
1t has been mentioned, that We Of the District
have great difficulty in getting any thing done for
US in Congress. Why, or how so? We have a
Committee on the affairs of the District of Co.
lumbia, certainly with equal talent and legislative
experience with the other standing committees
Of both Houses Of Congress. cannot, in the
nature Of things. know anything about the extent
Of business committed to the charge of each
Committee. Yet, if we are to Judge of the ex-
tent of business before them by the reports they
make, the Committee on the affairs Of the Dis,
trict Of Columbia have much less than most Of
the other Standing Committees of the House.
But, be that it may, we have, at all events, had
all proper askings granted; and cannot See any
CAUSE Iof an ditciduoh ib oui uVhicsuC COuCeTDS:
without some self-evident Improvement in them
Many Of my townsmen. know, have long since
been in favor Of retrocession to our parent State
have not been in favor Of thus. But of the two
evils, in my opinion, this is far the least: and the
least certainly shall adopt as the last resort.
During the discussion in the House, on Thurs
day last, on the subject of Delegate to Con.
gress, an honorable member inquired whether the
G. mmittee on the Affairs Of the District had in
view Legislative Council, &c.-To which the
Chairman of that Committee gave for answer
they had, and that by petition from the Corpora
tons. Query: has the Common Council of Alex
andra petitioned Congress for local Legisla
nre? ONE OF THE PEOPLE